‘Nigerians Want It All’: Inside the Glitzy Premiere of Prime Video’s First African Original, Crime Thriller ‘Gangs of Lagos’

variety.com:

Christopher Vourlias Amazon Prime Video launched the latest chapter in its global expansion Thursday night in Nigeria with the flashy premiere of its first African Original, “Gangs of Lagos,” a gritty crime thriller from celebrated multi-hyphenate Jade Osiberu.

At a packed house on Lagos’ ritzy Victoria Island, luminaries from the Nigerian film and fashion industries turned out to toast a movie that electrified the boisterous homegrown crowd ahead of its global release. “I’m overwhelmed,” said Osiberu after a rousing ovation. “It’s a dream come true.” “Gangs of Lagos,” which drops globally on Prime Video on Friday, is the first film to come out of the streamer’s three-year overall deal with Osiberu, the creator of domestic box-office sensations “Sugar Rush” and “Isoken” — one of a host of recent pacts with Nigerian creators from the U.S.

tech giant as it tries to outflank Netflix in Africa’s biggest market. Ned Mitchell, the Los Angeles-based head of originals for Africa and the Middle East for Prime Video and Amazon Studios, and London-based head of Nigerian originals Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu were both on hand in Lagos to celebrate the launch. “This is such an amazing moment for Africa, and for filmmaking,” said Mitchell at a press event before Thursday’s premiere. “We look at ‘Gangs of Lagos’ as a tentpole for the whole world.

When we think about originals at Amazon, we put all of our heart and all of our effort into opening it and making it feel like a big experience for everyone.