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- Nineteen years aft its planetary merchandise connected April 7, 2006, ‘Phat Girlz,’ directed by Nnegest Likké, remained a trailblazing movie that introduced Afrobeats to Hollywood
- The film, featuring 2Baba’s “African Queen” was a romanticist drama starring Mo’Nique and Nigerian histrion Jimmy Jean-Louis, marked a historical infinitesimal
- ‘Phat Girlz’ championed assemblage positivity earlier it became mainstream, celebrating people curvy women and redefining quality standards
On April 7, 2006, ‘Phat Girlz’ strutted into cinemas worldwide, courtesy of 20th Century Fox Studios, with a ngo to rewrite the communicative astir beauty, love, and culture.
Directed and written by Nnegest Olufunmilayo Likké, a filmmaker of Ethiopian, African-American, and Nigerian heritage, the movie blended her tri-cultural roots into a unsocial cinematic dish—think fufu, injera, and fried chickenhearted connected 1 plate.
Source: UGC
The effect was a romanticist drama that didn’t conscionable entertain but besides educated and empowered. Featuring an all-star formed led by Academy Award-winner Mo’Nique arsenic the fierce and fabulous Jazmin, alongside Jimmy Jean-Louis arsenic the charming Dr Tunde, the movie brought Nigerian flair to Hollywood successful a large way.
Nigerian-American comedian Godfrey Danchimah and thespian Dayo Ade added other spice, playing suave Nigerian doctors who stole hearts connected the screen.
The movie scored galore firsts: it was the archetypal mainstream Hollywood flick written and directed by an African woman, the archetypal to showcase Nigerian men arsenic aspirational figures, and the archetypal to weave Afrobeats into its soundtrack.
Long earlier twerking became a planetary craze, Nigerian sisters successful the movie were shaking it with style, alongside displays of accepted fashion and cuisine that screamed Naija pride.
‘Phat Girlz’ wasn’t conscionable a movie—it was a vibe, a taste bridge, and a large “yes” to self-love. Reflecting connected its impact, Likké recalled however African-American women approached her post-release, gushing, “Ooh, I request to find maine a affluent Nigerian doctor; they’re truthful fine!!”
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Phat Girlz: The bequest that keeps giving
Fast guardant to 2025, and ‘Phat Girlz’ inactive held its ain arsenic a cult classic. Its connection of embracing one’s “bootyful” assemblage and affluent African practice continued to animate a caller procreation of viewers, who kept the buzz live connected platforms similar Twitter X, TikTok, and Instagram.
The film’s power stretched beyond cinema—it kickstarted conversations astir assemblage positivity earlier the word trended and planted seeds for Afrobeats’ planetary takeover. Nnegest Likké didn’t halt there; she went connected to constitute ‘A Sunday Affair,’ which deed fig 1 connected Netflix successful 2023, and ‘Everything But A Man,’ a top-watched movie crossed Africa for 4 years.
Back successful 2006, the Lagos and Abuja premieres of ‘Phat Girlz,’ capped with 2Baba performing “African Queen,” cemented its presumption arsenic a emotion missive to Nigeria. As it celebrated its 19th birthday, fans clamoured for a sequel—‘Phat Girlz 2: Second Helpings’—proof that its flavour inactive lingered.
Source: UGC
Meet the 3 ladies connected 2Baba's "African Queen" video
A communicative published connected Legit.ng elaborate however 2Baba, past known arsenic 2Face Idibia, crafted the opus arsenic a timeless ode to African beauty, released successful 2004 arsenic portion of his debut medium ‘Face 2 Face’.
The portion highlighted the music video’s unsocial feature of 3 women—Annie Idibia, Pero Adeniyi, and Sumbo Ajaba—each representing a facet of the African queen narrative.
It besides noted however the song’s occurrence catapulted 2Baba to planetary fame, a travel that intersected with its usage successful ‘Phat Girlz’ 2 years later.
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Source: Legit.ng
