Nigeria’s Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) is not in a hurry to approve the hit movie, Half of a Yellow Sun (HOAYS), according to indications.

The board was silent on the classification status of the big budget feature when it recently announced that it had verified and approved 43 films for the month of April 2014, reports The Guardian on Sunday.

“HOAYS was missing on the list of the 43 films passed by the board’s Film Censorship and Classification Department (FCCD). According to a statement released from the board only 19 films in English, 14 in Yoruba, seven in Hausa, two in Ibibio and one in Bini have been classified for the month of April,” says the report, adding:

“It follows that board still has issues with HOAYS because the films was reportedly submitted for classification in April after the board insisted that it must receive certification before it could be publicly released. The board directives came after the promoters of the film announced an April 25 date for general release of the movie. The directive forced the promoters to announce a May 2, date, hoping that it would have passed the hurdles before it.

“Apart from the directive that it must receive appropriate certification before it could be publicly released for viewing, the classification committee reportedly asked that ‘two scenes capable of sparking ethnic uproar be expunged’ before the movie could be considered for classification. “Though the board did not make public, which scenes it wanted ‘expunged’, it simply said in a statement that it had issues with the film and until the issues are resolved, HOAYS will remain in the pouch of the promoters. The board reiterated in that statement that it was set up to carry out specific responsibilities, and so, it will not shy off from carrying out such duties especially when they bother on what a staff of the board say was ‘national interest’.

“However, an inside source revealed that the board feared that ‘a scene in Kano with heavy violence, where some Igbos were mercilessly killed’ may spark ethnic uproar. The source also revealed the concern over a scene it considered ‘too obscene’ and that where the lead actor cast aspersions on a major tribe’.

“Mum has been the word for the promoters of HOAYS. The campaign they took to social media to compel the board to ‘simply classify and restrict viewership even if they feel that any scene will cause uproar’ has waned. But there are hopes that the film soon gets a rating that will restrict viewership at the most. However, moviegoers have continued to express their desire to see the film, which had its US premiere last weekend.

“But so far and for the month of April, there was only one ‘PG’ category film among the 43 approved, which is The Return of Baby Oku in America, an English language film. Sixteen movies were classified ‘15’ including Pretty Liars (English), A Thousand Kisses (English), First Cause (English) and Ebun Akoko (Yoruba). Also, 26 movies were classified ‘18’ including Anwo Ino (Ibibio), Anwo Ino 2 (Ibibio), Baba Babi (Yoruba), Baba Were (Yoruba), Asake Oni Bread (Yoruba), Baba Rana (Hausa), Badurwa (Hausa), Har Da mijina (Hausa) and Egbo-Eziza (Bini).

“For movies classified ‘15’, the consumer advice is imitable technique, strong language, violence and sex. For those classified ‘18’, the consumer advice is ritual, and imitable technique, fetish practices, strong language and drug abuse. Other movies approved include Spirits and dogs (English), Kubayashi (Yoruba), Ojokoja (Yoruba), United Apart (English), The Harvest Season (English), Jaiye Ogo (Yoruba), Discussion Continues (English) and others.”

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