The year was 2006. And we would tune into Tajudeen Adepetu’s ‘Everyday People’. And one day when returning from service, I saw Femi Branch on TV, Edo Broadcasting Service to be precise, playing Oscar. I loved the character. I said, ‘Yes. Finally, a smart and sophisticated show to watch.’ However, it felt different. I was watching the end credits and it was stamped on the screen. Domino: Written and directed by Kabat Esosa Egbon.
In my head, I was like, Esosa is definitely an Edo name. But this programme looks too posh, too sophisticated, too engaging. I would love to meet this genius writer someday. The problem then was, I had no single clue what the entertainment industry really was about.
I would watch ‘Egg of Life’. Then I would watch ‘Ijele’. And these shows all had that ‘thing’ about them. They were not just good, they were timeless classics. They were memorable, like the childhood game of Tetris; it stayed with you your entire life. I am talking about the recurrent signatures of the ‘Klassic Kabat’.
So you can imagine my euphoria when he first called me on the phone some in 2022. After the phone call I was stunned like, Did I just talk to the man who wrote ‘Issakaba part 2’? Do dreams really come true?
Kabat has a bulky and intimidating profile on IMDb, with references to the films he has written, directed and produced over the course of three decades and counting.
But aside from that, he has a conscious and ever active desire to help creatives climb, especially since the industry in Nigeria can be quite tough and unforgiving.
With a passionate and dedicated filmmaker like Kabat Esosa Egbon, you will understand that respect and experience are not things you buy from the market. They are products of sleepless nights, sacrifices, resilience, self-discipline and hard work. But we already know all these. So let me take my favourite slices of his filmography and show you what I have gleaned from them. These are the ones I have watched and I believe you will enjoy watching too because of the beautiful lessons I learnt from them.
HUSBANDS OF LAGOS: I love this series created by Mary Remmy Njoku and written and directed by Kabat Esosa Egbon. Especially the insecure husband Livinus (played by Uche Odoputa), whose wife Isioma (played by Peggy Ovire) was studying for a degree and he was afraid that she would leave him for a more educated man. It explores the emotional dynamics of relationships especially in the urban arena of Lagos. It teaches us that beneath all our sophisticated outlook or dispositions, we are still humans with real emotions.
ATOSA: I love Efe Irele. Everyone should. And Kabat’s direction of this ROK Studios classic is quite phenomenal. This film teaches us that no problem can be eliminated unless its root has been exterminated.
IZODUWA: Etinosa Idemudia was tasked with quite a heavy role in this film as directed by Kabat Esosa Egbon. It tells the story of a young woman who had to disguise herself to lead her people or face grave consequences. Kabat’s profound comprehension of Edo culture plus his strong ties with other veterans in the industry helped make this film a classic – one of my friends call it a film of ‘rewatchable’ value. This film reminds me that where there is a will, there is a way.
QUEEN OF QUEENS: Nosa Obaseki and Matilda Obaseki Mozia ‘finish work for this film ehn’. I believe the ending of this star-studded film will bring moisture to your eyes. The theme that stands out for me in this film is that of love and sacrifice. You will never know who loves you until the chips are down.
These works are just the tip of the tip of the iceberg’s tip.
Kabat Esosa Egbon has over 30 years’ experience in the entertainment industry. He is a writer, director and actor of several award-winning productions ranging from stage to motion picture. Considered one of Nollywood’s cerebral minds, he has countless writing and directorial credits for many award-winning movies like ‘Igodo’ (co-writer), ‘Issakaba 2’ (writer), ‘Egg of Life’ (writer), ‘My Love’ (writer), ‘Across the Niger’ (writer) – this was premiered for President Olusegun Obasanjo and also won the ‘Heart of Africa Award’ at the 2008 AMAA Awards – ‘Waters of Gold’ (writer – a project with Princeton University, USA), ‘Exquires’ (writer/director), ‘Queen of Queens’ (writer/producer/director), ‘True Love’ (writer/director), ‘The Promise’ (writer/director/executive producer), ’Golden Jewel’ (director), ’11 Days 11 Nights’ (director), ‘Fading Blues’ (director), ‘Fury’ (director/producer), ‘Ebomisi’ (director/producer), ‘The Shop Girl’ (director/producer), ‘Vampire’s Call’ (director), and many more.
He also has writing and directorial credits for several television series like ‘Domino’ (writer/director), ‘168’ (director), ‘Hopebay’ (director), ‘Separated’ (director) for Alphavision Multimedia (owners of Soundcity/ONTV), ‘Festac Town’ (writer), and ‘Husbands of Lagos’ (writer/director), for Iroko/ROKtv. He has also been involved in several workshops, seminars and collaborations such as Mutation Workspace, a German-sponsored project using the Internet as a workspace for creating, and sharing, ideas long before the ‘explosion’ of the social and new media space. He was sponsored by Heinrich Boll Foundation as a delegate/speaker at the Identity and Globalization conference in Berlin organized by the Heinrich Boll Foundation. He was also a participant of ‘Out of Anthropology’, a Goethe Institute/2ebureau (Berlin-based performance group) project. He was one time Supervising Producer for Televista, owners of Soundcity/ONTV channels.
Kabat was also at one time a management staff at IrokoTV where he was part of the team that set up Rok Studio. His experience also covers television, management and media consultancy. His skills, intellect, teamwork and leadership abilities have been of considerable importance to several organizations and clients. He is a recipient of several awards and honours amongst which are MNET/Dstv Reel Awards Screenplay of the Year Awards (2003), National Film and Video Censors Board Film of the Month with ‘True Love’ (2002), Best Director of the Year 2007, presented by the Actors Guild of Nigeria (Abuja Chapter), Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) in four categories (2018), and many more.
Kabat Esosa Egbon is constantly motivated by the urge and need to break barriers and be the best in his chosen profession.
CONCLUSION: Kabat Esosa Egbon is a devoted veteran who has remained dogged and dedicated in promoting our home-based talents. In the past, creatives had to go to Lagos to shoot their films but he made the crucial sacrifice to return home and help reconstitute the filmmaking industry in Edo State which has provided and has been providing a lot of opportunities for our home-based talents. I believe in giving honour where it is due and my sincere prayers for our distinguished veteran is: May God bless his generous efforts to proclaim the talents of Edo To The World.
