In a landmark moment for grassroots storytelling in Nigeria, the historic Ojoku Palace in Oyun, Kwara State was transformed into a community cinema as over 1,000 residents gathered for Cinema in the Hood, a bold cultural initiative championed by Kwara Creatives Filmmakers Lead Abubakir Aliu Abiodun bring film directly to the people.
The event marked a significant step in community-centered creative engagement, blending heritage, film and public participation in a way rarely seen at the grassroots level, while spotlighting the growing influence of Kwara’s creative ecosystem on the national stage.
The initiative featured the screening of Ìṣe Mi, Èbùn Mi, a movie produced by Abiodun Aliu (Abbey Creative) and Kazeem Hammed Olatunji (Temple Visual).
The project turned the palace grounds into a vibrant cultural hub, attracting over 1,000 residents who gathered to experience cinema in a shared, community-centered environment.
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Speaking at the event, the King of Ojoku commended the initiative, describing it as “an innovation worth encouraging,” and adding that “you turned my palace into something beautiful with your movie.”
His words reflected the broader community’s appreciation for the creative effort and cultural relevance of the project.
The event also drew notable entertainers and creatives, including Baba Kamo, Paranti, MC Desktop, and other media personalities all of whom came out to support the initiative and celebrate the growth of creative expression at the grassroots level.
Cinema in the Hood was supported and coordinated through Kwara Creatives, a community led by Habeeb Shuaib Ishowo, reaffirming the group’s commitment to amplifying local talent, fostering collaboration and using storytelling as a tool for cultural preservation and social impact across Kwara State.
