By Ejiofor Toochi
In 2023, Editi Effiong produced “The Black Book,” a global sensation which made waves in the streaming world, and set a groundbreaking milestone for Nollywood.
The story centered around Paul Edima, whose son was unjustly killed by corrupt officers. It went beyond exposing corruption and delved deep into the emotions of a father losing his son.
Effiong’s ability to authentically portray the pain and anguish of a father’s loss in “The Black Book” suggests a deep personal connection. It’s quite likely that Effiong’s own heartbreaking experience of losing his son shaped the storyline.
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In December 2015, Effiong tragically lost his 24-months-old son. He opened up about his experiences with grief on different levels in a recent interview with Chude Jideonwo.
He shared, “My child is born, 24 months and then he’s not going to make it and I was in church and I can remember walking from my seat to the altar and just laying down there, crying.”
The movie producer also previously faced the devastating loss of his younger brother, whom he regarded as his first child, to cancer.
“My younger brother was my first child, I raised that boy. I lost him to cancer; it’s the absolute worst way to die.”
“I had to be strong for everybody. I had to buy the casket, I had to arrange funerals and I had to be strong when nobody else was. And about ten months later, waking up and I had cried in my sleep for an entire week. Every night, I would cry in my sleep and wake up, my bed wet because I hadn’t found courage to grief.
“I know grief, I’ve seen too many levels of grief,” he added.
It’s a known fact that personal experience often serves as powerful sources of inspiration for artists. However, regardless of how his grief may have shaped the movie, Editi Effiong managed to create a masterpiece with the “The Black Book.”
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