Ramsey Nouah is in Zambia. Not for a quick appearance. Not for a photo op. He is here for the African premiere of a film that has already played Toronto.
What Is "77"?
"77: The FESTAC Conspiracy" is the sequel Nollywood fans have been waiting on since 2016. Directed by Izu Ojukwu and produced by Adonis Production, it continues the story of army officer Joseph Dewa, played by Ramsey Nouah, and Suzy, played by Rita Dominic, this time set against FESTAC '77, the month-long Pan-African arts and culture festival that gave Lagos its Festac neighbourhood.
This is not a small film. "77" already screened at the AfroCannes market and the Toronto International Film Festival before Netflix picked it up. The cast around Nouah and Dominic includes Daniel K. Daniel, Ibinabo Fiberisima, Chidi Mokeme and Soibifaa Dokubo, a proper Nollywood lineup.
Yesterday, Zambia got it first.
Zambia's Biggest Get Yet
Here is why the timing matters. Africa Creative Market turns five this year, and for the first time since it started, ACM's main event is not happening in Lagos. It is happening in Lusaka, a six day run supported by satellite activations in Cannes, Lagos, Johannesburg and Kigali.
Organisers are calling it "Creative Convergence," three events stitched into one... the Creative Industry Business Summit running with ACM from June 29 to July 2, straight into the Kwimbo National Arts Festival on July 3 and 4. Zambia's Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, under Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe, partnered directly with ACM convener Dr Inya Lawal to land it, with ACM's own Zambian Partner, Abel Silungwe, fronting the local push since the announcement back in February.
Rita Dominic confirmed weeks ago that the "77" premiere would land in the middle of that window. Ramsey followed with his own video announcement, calling it a celebration of African storytelling, African excellence and African culture, and invited Zambia's entrepreneurs, filmmakers and film lovers to come find him in Lusaka on July 1.
Yesterday was that day.
Ramsey was welcomed by Waz Waz, But who is Waz Waz?
Now for the part of this story most of Zambia had not clocked yet.
When Ramsey landed at Kenneth Kaunda International, the first photos and clips did not come from a TV crew. They came from a small Western Province outfit called Lusaya, and from an artist and self-described creative jack of all trades who goes by Waz Waz.
Lusaya is not new. It is a Zambian production team working out of Kaoma and Mongu, with credits going back to at least 2022, when Waz Waz and fellow rapper Mumble Jumble dropped "Lozi Gal," a tribute to women from Barotseland produced under the Lusaya banner. Since then the collective has built out both a movies arm and a music arm, most recently behind "Catalina," the opening track off a forthcoming Lusaya Music EP.
By his own page bio, Waz Waz carries the titles of Director and CEO of Lusaya, talent agent, singer, music producer, filmmaker, graphics designer, sound engineer and fine artist, essentially the entire operation in one person. Beside him at the airport was Bathsheba, who describes herself on Facebook as an actress, model, and short film and documentary director, with Esther Israel and Sally also named in the group's own posts as part of the welcome.
One detail lifts this past coincidence. The photo credit on Lusaya's post names Abel Silungwe, the same Abel Silungwe running ACM's Zambian side. Officially assigned or not, the crew that reached Ramsey first was already standing next to the people organising the summit.
Their post made the hope clear, this could be the start of real work with Nigerian film talent, something the crew did not expect to happen this soon. Someone in the group also joked about wanting an international airport for Western Province, a wish that, coincidentally, is a live conversation in Lusaka this exact week, with a presidential adviser publicly backing a world-class airport for Mongu today.
Zambia's Nollywood Summer
Ramsey is not breaking new ground here. He is confirming a pattern.
In April, Patience Ozokwor, known to everyone as Mama G, landed in Lusaka to shoot "The Family Affair" opposite "Zuba" star Mwaka Mugala, produced by Basali Media and Kazadi Films, David Kazadi's production house. That same month, Nigerian Afrobeats star Ruger headlined the Mosi Day of Thunder in Livingstone, pulling a record 12,280 people into Zambia's tourism capital. Now Ramsey Nouah and Rita Dominic have brought a TIFF-selected, Netflix-bound feature into Lusaka for its African premiere.
Three major Nigerian entertainment moments in Zambia inside three months is not noise. It is a pattern, and Zambia is building itself into the destination at the end of it.
None of this is accidental. ACM did not choose Lusaka by chance, and Nollywood's biggest names are not showing up here by chance either. Zambia has a $100 million National Film Fund on the table, an ACM flagship outside Lagos for the first time in its history, and now a red carpet with real global cast weight walking down it.
And the people who reached Ramsey Nouah first were not a government delegation. They were a Western Province production house most of the country only met today.
Zambia's creative industry just got a lot more interesting. Watch this space.
VersaEdits will be tracking "77," ACM week, and everything else coming out of Lusaka through the weekend. Follow us for updates.
