TheCable

Nollywood actress Omotola Jolade, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos state governorship Jimi Agbaje and elder statesman Emeka Anyaoku were some of the celebrities who attended the Selma movie premiere.

The Premiere which was hosted by a Nigerian church, House on the Rock, in conjunction with the United States embassy in Nigeria saw the presence of many political bigwigs and social commentators unite for peace.

Selma is a movie that chronicles the “tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition.”

House on the Rock and the US embassy said the movie was aimed at sensitizing Nigerians on the need to vote, tagging this times as “one of the most defining moment in her” history.

Nigeria as a country with over 500 languages, and various ethnic and religious beliefs ought to peacefully coexist, the Rock Foundation says.

“As Nigeria embarks on this critical task of further entrenching its nascent democracy, we are using Selma to speak and embed in the consciousness of all Nigerians the benefits of employing non-violent methods to achieve credible transitions.”

In attendance at the Premiere, which held at the Rock cathedral, Lagos, were David Oyelowo, a British actor with Nigerian descent, who played MLK, US envoy, James Entwistle, former state minister for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Nollywood star, Joke Silva and her husband Olu Jacobs among others.

Selma was nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, including best motion picture – drama, best director, and best actor, and won for best original song, while garnering nominations for best picture and best original song at the 87th Oscar awards.

The House on the Rock is a centre for Social justice, reformation and equity.