Jade Osiberu Unveils First-Look At New Romantic Comedy ‘Christmas in Lagos’ To Feature Ayra Starr

Nigerian filmmaker Jade Osiberu has unveiled her latest project, “Christmas in Lagos,” a romantic comedy set during Lagos’ festive “Detty December” season. The film, produced under her three-year output deal with Prime Video, is set to feature prominent stars, including Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr and other notable Nigerian talents.

Shock Nigeria released the official cast list for Christmas In Lagos, which includes Teniola A. Aladese, Shalom C. Obiago, Rayxia Ojo, Shaffy Bello, and others with on-screen appearances from some of the biggest names in Afrobeats, including the 22-year-old vocal sensation Ayra Starr, and singer-songwriter Adekunle Gold.

The film intertwines multiple stories centred around four friends navigating love, friendship, and loss during the chaotic holiday season in Lagos. Among the main characters are Fiyin, who is heartbroken after realising her best friend Elo is in love with someone else, and Gbemi, a 59-year-old torn between her current boyfriend and an old flame. Ivie, a London-born character, returns to Lagos for the holidays, only to unexpectedly fall in love.

The film marks the final title under Osiberu’s exclusive deal with Prime Video following the platform’s sudden exit from the African market earlier this year. The production is noted for its ambitious scale, featuring concert scenes and lavish wedding parties designed to capture the true essence of Lagos during the festive season.

In an exclusive interview with Variety Magazine, Osiberu emphasised the importance of Afrobeats in the film, “if you’re making a Detty December movie and you don’t put Afrobeats in it, it just feels very inauthentic.”

If we’re going to make a Christmas film, let’s make it the best, biggest, most exciting Christmas film we can make out of Nigeria. So when anybody sees this, they get a sense for what it’s like to spend Christmas in Lagos, and they want to be there as well, she told Variety. 

Despite challenges securing top-tier talent like Ayra Starr, Osiberu was committed to ensuring the film’s energy was accurately conveyed on screen. Prime Video executives were reportedly eager to back the project, aiming to create the most exciting Christmas film from Nigeria.

“Christmas in Lagos” is anticipated to be a significant cultural piece, offering international audiences a glimpse into the vibrant holiday season in Nigeria’s largest city. The film’s release is expected to generate considerable local and global interest.

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