Skepta’s Directorial Debut

North London creative polymath, record label CEO, revered artist, and fashion icon @skepta has recently announced his inaugural venture into cinema with the directorial debut, "Tribal Mark - The Birth of a Hitman."

Executive produced by Joseph Adenuga himself and co-directed alongside longtime collaborator Dwight Okechukwu , the film traces the poignant journey of Mark as he immigrated from Nigeria to London, grappling with the challenges of life in the UK.

As the flagship production from Skepta’s new 1PLUS1 Production company, the film proudly features a 90% minority ethnic cast and production team, marking a groundbreaking milestone in British history and opening doors for increased diversity within the British film industry.

Skepta stating in an interview:

“We’ve been working on this project for a while, and it’s one that’s extremely important to me. It’s a story that many immigrants will understand and connect with, as it reflects a journey many have gone through – and this project is for them. Our goal is to expand this into a growing world of action and adventure.”

This commitment to sharing narratives historically underrepresented is a trend observed on both sides of the pond this year. Rapper @21savage recently revealed plans to executive produce a dramatised autobiographical film about his life and career, with acclaimed actor and director Donald Glover portraying 21 Savage. Although later revealed to be a parody the enthusiasm and support from fans for 21's potential film underscores a growing demand for artists and creatives to leverage their platforms to spotlight their communities and provide better representation to diverse audiences.

Skepta elaborating that:

“There are plans for TV shows and movies, and I hope that kids who watch it will come to see Tribal Mark as their new superhero.”

"Tribal Mark" released on the 26th of January and will be exclusively screened for a limited time at Everyman Cinemas.