Abeni (film)

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Abeni is a Nigerian-Beninese romance film directed by Tunde Kelani. It was produced by Mainframe Film and Television Productions and Laha Productions, and stars Jide Kosoko, Kareem Adepoju, Abdel Amzat, and Bukky Wright. The 98-minute movie, released on March 31, 2006, is in Yoruba and French. Set in Yoruba-speaking areas of Nigeria and Benin’s Cotonou, it follows Abeni, a wealthy young woman, and Akanni, a man from a modest background. Although they are engaged to others, their meeting challenges those plans. The film explores social divides created by colonial history despite the close geography of Benin and Nigeria, and uses code-switching between Yoruba and French with gestures to help characters understand each other. It was a joint project by Mainframe and Laha, and distributed by Mainframe Film and Television Productions. Physical copies were sold in post offices, banks, and fast-food joints. The Nation praised its humor and its portrait of the Yoruba urban middle class moving between Nigeria and Benin Republic. At the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Abeni received 11 nominations and won 2 awards.