World Sickle Cell Day is June 19. This year, in Nigeria, film-maker, Tunde Kelani, marked the day by releasing the trailer and poster of his latest film, Dazzling Mirage, based on the condition.
Tunde Kelani,
“As the world marks Sickle Cell Day 2014, we on our part hereby launch the poster and official trailer of our new film, Dazzling Mirage, an entertaining love story which also creates awareness and draws attention to sickle cell disorder,” he told TheNiche.
The United Nations (UN) classified sickle cell anaemia as one of the most gangrenous common genetic diseases in the world, which can lead to death. It is most common in African and Asian countries. Statistics in Nigeria indicate that there is a high sickle cell anaemia rate with at least 150,000 children born annually with the condition and many die before they are five. Others live in pain with no hope of a cure. But Funmiwo will stop at nothing to have it all…
Dazzling Mirage is the story of a talented, beautiful young person who suffers from sickle-cell, but overcomes social stigma, prejudice and her own low self-esteem, to achieve career success, marriage and motherhood.
An adaptation of Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare’s book Dazzling Mirage, it features an all-star cast including: Kemi (Lala) Akindoju, Kunle Afolayan, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Seun Akindele, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Bimbo Manuel, Carol King, Khabirat Kafidipe, Bukola Awoyemi and a host of others.