by Stanley Azuakola

Nigerians are one of the most travelled people in the world. But very few in the country know what the experiences of some of those who’ve travelled abroad truly feels like. Nollywood director, Ehizojie Ojesebholo, popularly called Mr. E, aims to capture that angle in his forthcoming movie titled Jand Hustle.

In Nigerian Pidgin English, jand refers to a foreign country.

Jand Hustle is a dark comedy which tells the story of Jimi Bendel (Ehizojie Ojesebholo), an opinionated Nigerian, who travels from West Africa to East London, in search of love and financial freedom. The film also stars one of Nollywood’s greats, Rachael Oniga. Other actors include Vivian Akude, Oyinka Yusuff, Okechukwu Chima, Omoh Kalista, and Daniel Cioletti.

Ehizojie Ojesebholo, who also directed and produced the movie, is a film maker whose short film, CHILL PILL, won the Focus Dialog Prize Award at the 37th SEHSUCHTE, international student film festival in Potsdam, Germany, in 2008. His second feature movie, Smoke & Mirrors, received nominations for Achievement in Visual Effects at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2009, and nominated for Best Feature at the African International film festival, also in 2009. Ojesebholo has also worked on several music videos for Nigerian artists like Styl-Plus (Olufunmi, Call my name, Runaway), Djinee (Ego), Adewale Ayuba (Ijo Fuji), and Olu Maintain (Wifey).

Jand Hustle is being shot in locations in Lagos and London, and is expected to be released in December 2012.