By Haleema Adaba
The premiere of the long-awaited adventure movie The Artifact, which debuted on March 21, 2025, in cinemas nationwide, took place in Lagos that same month.
Top media industry guests thronged the exquisite J. Randle Centre at Onikan, Lagos—an outstanding venue complete with a museum, swimming pool, and more.
The star-studded guest list featured theatre impresario and director Bolanle Austen-Peters; Theatre Arts Professor, Duro Oni; former Director General of Nigerian Television Authority, Vincent Maduka and wife; Prof. Wale Awodiya; and several actors in the movie, such as Prof. Sola Fosudo and Gabriel Afolayan.
Other guest actors and actresses included Kiki Omeili, Demi Banwo (producer, Gangs of Lagos), and comedian Kenny Blaq.
The corporate world was also well represented. Apart from sponsors—Fidelity Bank, Rite Foods, Oriki Gin, and 440 Shopping—guests included Flutterwave CFO, Ife Orioke; KPMG Partner, Aminat Jegede; and Opeyemi Anipole of Feuille Blanche Ltd. From Standard Chartered came Tony Akarah; Segilola Aboaba of Multichoice; and former Chairman of Vitafoam, Dr. Dele Makanjuola.
Some 300 film enthusiasts and young-at-heart guests watched the film by the poolside on the big screen, complementing the bigger treat at the main hall with about 100 special guests. Fun and partying continued until almost midnight.
“The Artifact is… a childhood dream come true.” — Tolu LordTanner
The Artifact, a breath of fresh air, is an adventure-laden film directed by one of Nollywood’s freshest names, Tolu Awobiyi, a.k.a. LordTanner. It takes the audience on a gripping, thrilling, and jaw-dropping adventure across Nigeria.
The story follows four brave young actors as they embark on a perilous expedition to unearth three precious stones and uncover the secrets of a mysterious artifact—perhaps even other rare art treasures gracing foreign galleries.
Surmounting cryptic clues, hidden dangers, and shocking cloak-and-dagger criminals, this film aims to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The cast features an all-star lineup, including Gabriel Afolayan, Bimbo Manuel, Sola Fosudo, Okey Uzoeshi, and Wendy Lawal. It also introduces four upcoming actors—Adeoluwa Akintoba, Miracle Inyanda, Ovy Godwin, and Sharon Rotimi—who brave the cross-country rollercoaster ride in the film’s production.
The making of The Artifact took the team of 80 filmmakers and production crew, led by LordTanner, through seven Nigerian states. They filmed diverse landscapes and scenes, including three resplendent waterfalls. These kaleidoscopic scenes were shot on location at Erin Ijesa in Osun State, Ngwo Waterfalls in Enugu, and Assop Falls in Plateau State.
This film deviates from the usual mystical African genre, exploring a unique format to create the first-of-its-kind live-action adventure film in Nollywood—one that promises joy to both the young and the young at heart.
In the words of the Director, Tolu LordTanner:
“I wondered what an African Indiana Jones film series would look like. What would a story set in the world of African museums, ancient artifacts, stolen monuments, and valuable art and gemstones feel like on screen? As a child, I read the Famous Fives, the Secret Sevens, and wanted to tell African stories to African kids with that same zeal. Becoming a filmmaker now offers the ultimate opportunity to explore this uncommon genre. The Artifact is, consequently, a childhood dream come true.”
The film was first screened at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in November 2024.
The writer/producer/director says this is the first in a series titled The Artifact Series, which is set to travel across Africa. The next planned sequels are expected to feature East and Central African nations, with Tanzania and Rwanda likely to be the next ports of call.
