East West Love Opens in Kenya and Nigeria on 9th October: The Mombasa Heartbreak Story After a Paris Premiere
Tanzanian director Seko Shamte's romantic comedy about a Nigerian event planner who runs to Mombasa premiered at a Paris festival in May. Now it comes home.
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In short
East West Love, a romantic comedy directed by Seko Shamte, opens in cinemas in Kenya, Nigeria, Canada and the UK on 9th October 2026.
- Desk:
- film
- Format:
- article
- Author:
- Kenneth Onyebuchi
East West Love opens in cinemas in Kenya, Nigeria, Canada and the UK on 9th October, with Tanzania and Uganda to follow. It is a romantic comedy directed by Seko Shamte, the Tanzanian filmmaker behind Binti, and it is a story made between East and West Africa.
A Heartbreak, a Plane Ticket and Mombasa
The story starts with a Nigerian event planner, Tito, played by Sunshine Rosman, who plans a romantic getaway to Mombasa. Then she discovers her boyfriend's infidelity, and the trip becomes a girls' getaway. In Mombasa she meets Juma, a hotel manager played by Brian Abajah, whose spontaneous nature challenges her views on love and control. The cast also includes Efa Iwara, Elma Mbadiwe and Emmanuel Mugo.
East West Love Poster. Source: Okada Media
Made Between Two Countries
The film was shot mostly in Mombasa, with extra scenes in Lagos. Dolapo Adeleke and Folashayo Oke Sobo produced it. Pan-African entertainment company Okada Media is distributing, and co-founder Serge Noukoue said: "East West Love brings culture, connection and comedy to the cinema screen, which is exactly the kind of story we are passionate about bringing to audiences," as the pan-regional release plan was announced.
The Festival Road
This is not its first screening. East West Love made its world premiere in May as the opening film of the 13th NollywoodWeek festival in Paris, now billed as the NOW Film Festival, at Cinema l'Arlequin. It then screened at Africa Film Fest Australia in September. Nile Entertainment also lists it among its five Nigerian releases for October.
A Busy Month for African Cinema
It lands in a packed October. PINCHED has covered the Black Market crowd that set a Guinness World Record for a Nollywood premiere, and East West Love adds a romantic comedy shot in Kenya and Nigeria to the mix.
What to Watch Next
The first test is how audiences in Nairobi, Mombasa and Lagos respond on its opening weekend of 9th October. The second is whether the Tanzania and Uganda dates are announced, which would make it a genuine three-region release. This article is a preview, and PINCHED has not seen the film or spoken to its team.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Does East West Love Open?
On 9th October 2026 in Kenya, Nigeria, Canada and the UK. Tanzania and Uganda dates are to be announced.
Who Directed East West Love?
Seko Shamte, a Tanzanian filmmaker known for Binti.
Who Stars in East West Love?
Sunshine Rosman and Brian Abajah lead, with Efa Iwara, Elma Mbadiwe and Emmanuel Mugo.
Where Was East West Love Filmed?
Mostly in Mombasa, with extra scenes in Lagos.
Where Did the Film Premiere?
At the NollywoodWeek festival in Paris in May 2026, as the opening film.
- East West Love
- Seko Shamte
- Sunshine Rosman
- Brian Abajah
- Okada Media
- Dolapo Adeleke
- Folashayo Oke Sobo
- Nollywood
- Kenyan film
- Mombasa
- African Stories
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Frequently asked
- What is “East West Love Opens in Kenya and Nigeria on 9th October: The Mombasa Heartbreak Story After a Paris Premiere” about?
- Tanzanian director Seko Shamte's romantic comedy about a Nigerian event planner who runs to Mombasa premiered at a Paris festival in May. Now it comes home.
- Who covers film on PINCHED?
- Kenneth Onyebuchi reports this piece for the PINCHED film desk.
- Where can I read “East West Love Opens in Kenya and Nigeria on 9th October: The Mombasa Heartbreak Story After a Paris Premiere”?
- Read it in full at https://staypinched.site/read/east-west-love-kenya-nigeria-film-opens-9th-october.
