Nigeria Bans Sci-Fi Anti-Apartheid Flick, 'District 9'

POLITICS

» by dummyjordancalston September 22, 2009, 13:18pm

One of 2009's mega-blockbusters will not see the light of day in one African nation.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has moved to ban District 9, a science-fiction thriller and one of the biggest movies of the year, citing the depiction of Nigerians in the film.

“We have directed that they should stop public screening of the film,” said Dora Akunyili. “We are not happy about it because it portrays Nigeria in a bad light.” 

Akunyili has written executives at Sony's film division asking for an apology while demanding that they remove all references to the film in Nigeria as well as the name of the film's main antagonist, gangster low-life Obesandjo, whom bears an uncanny resemblance in name and character to former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Several members of Nigeria's government, including Akunyili, first viewed the film during a private session last Wednesday. One of their “favorite” scenes featured Obesanjo attempting to cut off and consume the arm of the film's hero in an attempt to gain his otherworldly abilities.
 
District 9 tells a story of civic unrest in the South African metropolis of Johannesburg after an alien ships mysteriously appears over the city and of the government conspiracy that renders calamitous results.

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