Jamati Online sat down to talk with Wilson Ebiye, Executive Producer of Amazing Grace and CEO of RockCity Entertainment to find out the story behind one of Nollywood’s most ambitious films.

Wilson Ebiye along with director and producer Jeta Amata had a vision to tell the story of slave master turned reformed Christian John Newtown from an African perspective. It is this story of repentance and redemption that motivated Newtown to write the iconic hymnal Amazing Grace based on a traditional Nigerian song. What makes Amazing Grace so unique is that it is expertly shot with professional cinematography and great acting. It is truly a bonafide masterpiece that has all the makings of a classic. According to Ebiye, Amazing Grace is the first Nigerian film that can be purchased at your local Target, Walmart etc. This means that Ebiye’s company is leading the way in bringing truly African stories to the forefront of popular culture. He feels that it is truly important that Africans tell our own stories from our own perspectives.

In fact, it is this theme of owning our own stories that led Ebiye to start RockCity Entertainment which is a production company based in Los Angeles that works with anyone from America’s Hip Hop elite to Nigeria’s and Africa’s best and brightest stars. The next major film project that RockCity Entertainment is working on is entitled American King and rapper Ludacris has been identified to play the lead role as a hustler from the U.S. who goes back to Nigeria and becomes a king. Needless to say, since RockCity Entertainment is based in the entertainment capitol of the world Hollywood one can rest assured that Ebiye and his team will continue to bring truly African and African-American stories to the masses.