RRU business student hits the big screen with Praise Party

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Anuli Ausbeth-Ajagu, a Nigerian native who calls Brampton, ON home, is ready for her close up. The Doctor of Business Administration student is starring in Praise Party, a feature film she wrote, produced and executive-produced that premiered in November in Lagos, Nigeria — Africa’s most populous country and home to the Nollywood global entertainment juggernaut. 

Ausbeth-Ajagu says in writing the film, she was trying to portray things that people go through in their lives. 

“I just wanted a story that could inspire hope, and also entertain. A story that was relatable, something that would get people thinking as well about some of the subjects people don’t want to talk about,” she says, noting she has felt the impacts of mental health issues and found help in her faith as well as counselling and therapy. 

"It was one of the happiest days of my life when the director said, ‘Action!’ I loved every moment of it.” 

Anuli Ausbeth-Ajagu, DBA student

The Nigerian newspaper ThisDay describes the movie this way: “Praise Party explores the complex dynamics of Tobe Thompson’s narcissistic behaviour towards his wife, Zara Thompson, and brings to the fore, the influence of unresolved childhood trauma, privilege, and injustice. Zara’s character endures extreme emotional abuse and social stigma resulting from marital breakdown and infertility. Through this compelling narrative, the film sheds light on real-life issues that many African families experience, but often sweep under the carpet.” 

As for the audience, she says: “I’m hoping that they are inspired. I’m hoping if they’re going through difficult times, heartbreak, trauma, that they get the help they need.” 

While the topics are heavy, the experience of bringing her first feature to the big screen was anything but. 

“The day cameras rolled for the first scene, I felt like heaven came down,” she says from Nigeria, where Praise Party was filmed in 2022. “It was like, ‘Is this real?’ This was a dream I had for over 30 years but never had the courage... And here we were, shooting. It was one of the happiest days of my life when the director said, ‘Action!’ I loved every moment of it.” 

She’s also pleased with the reaction so far, including accolades from the Charlotte Black Film Festival and screening at the Canada China International Film Festival, among others internationally. 

As for her studies at Royal Roads, Ausbeth-Ajagu says her research focus is Black entrepreneurship and her experience producing Praise Party provided first-hand knowledge to help her complete the film. 

Just as she says she has found strength in community when going through tough times in her life, she has also found support in her cohort, saying, “Being part of a research community, everybody has a focus. We’re not competing, we’re there to complement each other.”