MKO documentary now in 48 cinemas: where to watch the June 12 film this week
MKO, the feature documentary about Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and the annulled 12 June 1993 election, is now showing in 48 cinemas across Nigeria in its second week. The MKO documentary has moved well beyond Lagos and Abuja to cities including Enugu, Kaduna, Jos, Owerri and Ekpoma, a rare reach for a non-fiction film in Nigerian cinemas. Here is where to see it this week, what the film covers, and why its wide release is a notable moment for Nigerian documentary filmmaking.
By Editorial Team
What we know
- The run (REPORTED). The Sun reports that MKO is screening in 48 cinemas nationwide, with the current schedule running from Friday 9 to Thursday 15 October.
- The film (REPORTED). It runs 108 minutes and is directed by the Nigerian-American filmmaker Ose Oyamendan. It is distributed by Nile Entertainment.
- Release (REPORTED). MKO premiered at the National Theatre in Lagos on 1 October, Independence Day, and opened commercially the next day.
- Cost and timeline (CLAIM). Oyamendan has said the project took about 13 years and that more than $1 million went into it. We have not seen an independent breakdown of the budget.
- Chains (REPORTED). Filmhouse, Genesis, Silverbird, Nile, EbonyLife and independent cinemas are among those showing it.
Where to watch the MKO documentary this week
According to the listing reported by The Sun, Lagos screens include EbonyLife on Victoria Island, Filmhouse Landmark, Genesis Maryland, Silverbird Galleria, Silverbird Ikeja, Nile x Viva Ikeja and Ozone in Yaba.
In Abuja it is at The Jays, Silverbird Jabi and Silverbird SEC. In Edo State it is showing at Denco and Sandford in Ekpoma and at Genesis and Kada in Benin City. Other cities on the list include Port Harcourt, Enugu, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kaduna, Jos, Abeokuta, Asaba, Awka, Owerri, Ile-Ife and Ede.
Listings change every Friday, and smaller cinemas may show it only once or twice a day, so check your cinema’s app or website for times before you go.
The history behind the film
Abiola, a businessman and publisher, stood as the Social Democratic Party candidate in the presidential election of 12 June 1993. The vote is widely regarded as the freest in Nigeria’s history and as one Abiola won. The military government of General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the result before it was formally declared.
What followed shaped a generation. Abiola declared himself president in 1994 and was arrested. He died in detention on 7 July 1998, at a time when his release was widely expected, and Nigeria returned to civilian rule the following year. In 2018 the federal government announced that 12 June would become Democracy Day, and it was first marked as a public holiday in 2019.
At the premiere, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, said, as quoted by The Sun: “For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film turns it back into our memory.”
Oyamendan also has a personal link to the subject. He began his journalism career at Weekend Concord, part of the Concord newspaper group that Abiola founded.
Why a 48-cinema documentary run matters
Nigerian cinemas are dominated by comedies, thrillers and Hollywood blockbusters. Documentaries usually reach audiences through festivals, television or streaming, not through national chains. A non-fiction film on 48 screens in its second week is unusual.
It also shows how far the market has spread. A decade ago, many releases stayed in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. This list includes university towns such as Ile-Ife, Ekpoma and Ede, which suggests the distributor is targeting students and younger viewers, the audience the minister spoke about.
Box office will be the next test. Nollywood features are having a strong run, led by Agbara Nla: The Return, as in our report on Agbara Nla’s record opening. If you want to read weekend figures with care, our explainer on box office numbers covers what grosses and cumulative totals mean. For the wider story of how Nigerian film grew, see our history of Nollywood from Living in Bondage.
Tips if you are going
The film is 108 minutes long, so allow about two hours with adverts and trailers. School and university groups may want to contact cinemas directly about group bookings, as some chains offer them. If you are taking children, check the film’s rating at the cinema, since ratings for documentaries can vary. Our guide to Nigerian film ratings explains what each NFVCB category means.
What we do not know yet
We have not seen box office figures for MKO from the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria or Nigeria Box Office. We do not know how long the theatrical run will last beyond 15 October, or whether the film will move to a streaming platform or television after cinemas. The distributor has not announced plans for screenings abroad.
What happens next
- Until Thursday 15 October: the current 48-cinema schedule.
- Friday 16 October: new weekly listings will show whether the film keeps its screens.
- Coming weeks: watch for official box office figures and any announcement of a streaming or international release.
More Nigerian entertainment: Nigerian Entertainment.
Photo credits: Featured image: The National Arts Theatre, Lagos, where MKO premiered. Photo: Juganutt, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Source.
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