''Code of Silence '' is a 2015 Nigerian drama film directed by

Emem Isong Emem Isong is a Nigerian screenwriter, film producer, and film director. She has become known primarily for films in the English language, and is a dominant figure in the Nollywood industry. Her second directed feature, ''Code of Silence'', ...

and written by Bola Aduwo. The film was produced by the Royal Arts Academy in collaboration with Nollywood Workshop. It stars Makida Moka in the lead role of Adanma,

Patience Ozokwor Patience Ozokwor, (born 14 September 1958) is a Nigerian veteran musician, fashion designer, gospel singer, and actress. She won the Best Supporting Actress 2012 & 2013 award at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards. She is known for taking th ...

Ini Edo Iniobong Edo Ekim (born 23 April 1982) is a Nigerian actress. Ini Edo began her film career in 2000, and has featured in more than 100 movies since her debut. In 2013, Ini Edo was a judge for the Miss Black Africa UK Pageant. In 2014, Miss I ...

and

Omoni Oboli Omoni Oboli (born 22 April 1978) is a Nigerian actress, scriptwriter, film director, producer and digital filmmaker. She studied at the New York Film Academy and has written several screenplays, including The Figurine (2009), ''Anchor Baby'' (2 ...

. It is notable for its powerful stance against

rape in Nigeria Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or agai ...

and addresses issues facing rape victims in the country.

Plot

Adanma, a young, intelligent medical student with promising career prospects, is gang-raped by a local politician and his aide on her way home from college. She confesses what happened to her family, but given their low position in society, are afraid to alert the authorities. The rape damages Adanma psychologically and emotionally, and the traumatic experience begins to affect her entire life.

Cast

* Makida Moka as Adanma *

* Amechi Muonagor *

Kofi Adjorlolo Kofi Adjorlolo (born 23 March 1956 in Keta) is a Ghanaian actor and producer. He has been nominated once for Best Actor in a Lead Role at the Ghana Movie Awards, and four times for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, at the Ghana Movie Awards, Afri ...

Desmond Elliot Desmond Elliot'' (born Desmond Oluwashola Elliot; 4 February 1974)'' is a Nigerian director, and politician He was elected as a lawmaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Surulere Constituency, in the 11 April 2015 Nigerian General Election ...

Shawn Faqua Shawn Faqua ( ; born 6 June) is a Nigerian actor, model and presenter with multiple award nominations. He is best known for playing the role of Vincent in '' Lagos Cougars,'' as Rambo in Dare Olaitan's Ojukokoro and Chuks in Emem Isong's Code ...

* Mena Sodje

Production

''Code of Silence'' was produced by the Royal Arts Academy in collaboration with Nollywood Workshop. The second feature picture to be filmed by

, she said of her reasoning to shoot the picture: "Sometimes, I do advocacy movies and code of silence is one of such movies. I decided to do a movie on rape to urge people to come out and say ‘NO’ to rape. Let's break the code of silence. We want to break the assumption that the victim is at fault. The story actually found me because my friend brought the story to me and when I read it, I realised that I had a good one. It's a 20 million budget movie. I decided to work with these cast because I've worked with most of them and I felt they would interpret the roles properly." Actress and model Makida Moka found shooting the picture to be an "intense" experience, which traumatised her to the point that she was often in tears after scenes were cut.

Reception

The film premiered on August 8, 2015, at Silverbird Galleria,

Victoria Island, Lagos Victoria Island (VI) is an affluent area that encompasses a former island of the same name neighbouring Lagos Island, Ikoyi and the Lekki Peninsula by the Lagos Lagoon. It is the main business and financial centre of Lagos State, Nigeria. Vi ...

, in an event which was well-attended by the stars of the Nollywood industry. The film received acclaim from critics. Toni Kan, writing for ''

Nigeria Entertainment Today The Netng (Nigerian Entertainment Today) also known as ''NET'' is an online entertainment news organisation based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is a leading source of African entertainment, fashion and lifestyle news. Netng formed part of NET Newspaper ...

'' remarked that the film "travels considerable distance to encourage the reversal of tendencies like stigma which restrains victims and their families from speaking up when rape occurs", and effectively "speaks to everyone: it addresses the issue of what society loses when women are subjected to forced sex, when we all keep quiet about it and why men should have more respect for themselves by not taking the low bend into being rapists". Despite the trauma of the rape, Kan notes that the film is interspersed with moments of

comic relief Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. Definition Comic relief usually means a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic episo ...

References

{{reflist 2015 films Nigerian drama films Yoruba-language films Films about rape 2010s English-language films English-language Nigerian films