29th March, 2020
By Preye Campbell
It feels unfathomable at the moment to even dare to think or write about anything else because we have on our table, a global pandemic. The Coronavirus outbreak has taken the joy out of almost everything.
If you are visiting Earth for the first time today you will find the unsavoury presence of the chaos that has claimed lives and shut down economies.
In Nigeria, the cases keep rising day by day. I do shiver at the thought that by this time tomorrow, there will be even more cases to handle. Self-isolation is the way to at least try to weather the fiery storm that is upon us.
Self-isolation has also got me thinking, since I’m less occupied, about a post coronavirus era where millions will rejoice. One where relationships will be revitalised. One where nations will recoup what has been lost. The streets will come to life once more. It will also be one that will be characterized by a new movie from our darling Nollywood about the trials and victory over the virus.
Nollywood has always been one of Nigeria’s grandest gift to the world. I mean, face the fact; second-biggest industry in the world after Hollywood, churning out quality movies and humongous talents.
If you follow Nollywood, you know it has only become a tradition for the industry to mirror films after certain occurrences. Of course, I cannot forget 93 Days, the 2016 thriller about the Ebola Virus outbreak in 2014. That was one movie that mirrored the travails of a nation and those who became our heroes.
Perhaps, we could have something of that nature this time?
And what will this be called? 20 Days? The Pandemic? What about the cast? Will the artistic and fortuitous displays of the grandmasters such as Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, Genevive Nnaji, Richard Mofe-Damijo be on the screen once more? Will the services of the modern-day talents like Ramsey Nouah, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Shola Shobowale be employed?
I am even keen, for my sake and for everyone all over the world, about the storyline. How will this one play out? Will someone risk their life for a solution? Are we going to have another Stella Adedavoh in the cards here? Will someone find a cure? Will it be a Nigerian or someone else as the hero? What will be the world’s reaction? Whose lives will be saved? How near or far are we from witnessing such day? Will things only get worse before they become better?
Questions and more questions continue to roll in my head as I think these things through. As it is, we are not out of the shadows just yet. At this point, we can only follow the stipulated rules and move closer to who or what we believe in for a miracle.
A source of reprieve to myself and any other weary soul out there is that sooner or later, there will b a new movie that tells the tale of a virus fought and overcome. One day, it will be there, controlling the cinemas nationwide.