When the National Film and Video Censors’ Board (NFVCB) announced the films classified for the month of May, Half of a Yellow Sun was missing. Everyone expected that that would be the first film on the list that had 35 films, but that was not the case.
Perhaps to explain the absence of the film based on a book of the same title by Chimamanda Adichie, acting head, public affairs of the board, Caeser Kagho, sent out a statement to say that the film is not banned.
“It has become necessary for the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to clear the air and set the records straight on the status of the movie, Half of a Yellow Sun, and the attendant interest in certain quarters on the matter,” the statement said.
Patricia Bala
The Patricia Bala-led NFVCB, the statement continued, restates its position that the movie is not banned as speculated, and that the board has dutifully exercised due diligence, consonant with section 36(1)(b) of NFVCB Enabling Law Act 1993, Cap N40 LFN 2004 which stipulates that “a decision on a film shall ensure that such a film is not likely to undermine national security”.
The statement went on to explain that the board has “communicated the exhibitor of the movie in a letter dated May 27, 2014, explaining the status of the film and requiring the distributor to expunge/edit some clearly stated objectionable aspects of the movie”.
Kagho said that once the areas highlighted are resolved, the NFVCB, as a regulator, shall communicate a rating of the film as may be deemed appropriate.
