DUPE ORIGIN PRODUCTIONS

About Dupe Origin Productions

Dupe Origin Productions was created to honour the extraordinary life of Dupe Okundaye, a woman whose journey across continents, conflict, and survival shaped her son, King Davies Dogbe’s storytelling voice.

Born in Edo State, Nigeria, Dupe endured the turmoil of the Biafra War, displacement, and loss, forging resilience that would carry her through Libya, Yugoslavia, Italy, and eventually the United Kingdom. From imprisonment to escape, survival became the foundation of her legacy. In Italy, she gave birth to King and transformed hardship into love, motherhood, and hope.

King, a bilingual actor born in Italy and raised in Nigeria, draws from this rich family history and his mother’s remarkable journey.

Dupe Origin Productions turns survival into cinema, scars into stories, and ensures the legacies of those before us are never forgotten.

We create projects celebrating heritage, migration, resilience, and the human spirit, beginning with one woman’s story, Dupe Okundaye, and the legacy she carried across continents.

In addition to his acting career, King has recently ventured into the world of writing, producing and directing, expanding his creative horizons and exploring new artistic challenges.

His debut short film, It’s Not Mine (2024), marks a significant milestone in his creative journey, where he not only wrote, produced and directed the film but also took on the lead role alongside Chante Aaliyah Sabrina Hawkins. King’s transition into filmmaking has been deeply personal, with his life experiences often serving as inspiration for his projects.

He is especially drawn to stories that delve into the complexities of human emotion, focusing on themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. For King, storytelling is an opportunity to reflect on the raw, unfiltered truths of the human experience, offering an authentic lens through which audiences can connect with characters and narratives on a deeper level.

His aim is to continue creating works that resonate with real-life struggles and explore the often painful realities of the human condition. The success of his debut film is a testament to his unique approach to storytelling, showcasing his ability to craft compelling narratives that speak to the heart.

In the Shadows 75 is a haunting and intimate short film set amid the turmoil of 1970s Libya, exploring the perilous migration routes that many Africans were forced to take in search of freedom. The film captures the fragile humanity of two travelers whose paths cross in a dimly lit room where time feels suspended and hope is a distant echo.

The story follows Osas, a weary Nigerian man, and Ngwe, a young Cameroonian woman, as they hide while waiting for the next passage north toward Europe. As night falls, their guarded conversation unravels hidden truths and emotional wounds. Confessions of loss, guilt, and longing draw them closer, but a violent knock at the door shatters their fragile connection, leaving behind unanswered questions about identity, love, and the true cost of freedom.

The film explores themes of displacement, identity, and survival with emotional depth and restraint. Drawing inspiration from the real-life experiences of Dupe Okundaye, In the Shadows 75 reflects a desire to tell authentic, human stories rooted in history, resilience, and the quiet strength of those who endure unimaginable hardship

It’s Not Mine (2024) earned two nominations at film festivals, marking a significant achievement for King as a filmmaker. The film's emotional intensity and raw portrayal of complex relationships have been praised. Reflecting on the recognition, King humbly shared, “I wasn’t expecting this. God is great.”

The film tells the gripping story of a pregnant woman trapped in an abusive relationship with a recently released convict. When he learns the child isn’t his, his obsession spirals into violence, pushing the relationship to its breaking point. King explores themes of betrayal, violence, and the complexities of redemption, revealing the raw realities of extreme situations.

Inspired by a real-life story, It’s Not Mine reflects King’s desire to create work that authentically addresses human emotions and struggles. The success of the film has solidified King’s place as a rising filmmaker, demonstrating his ability to connect with audiences through deeply impactful storytelling.

Dupe – The Story She Could Not Tell is an autobiographical theatre piece exploring the extraordinary life of Dupe Okundaye, a Nigerian woman whose journey spans continents, conflicts, and cultures. From surviving the Biafra Civil War in Nigeria to imprisonment during the Yugoslavia conflict, facing racism in Italy, and navigating life in the United Kingdom, Dupe’s story is one of resilience, survival, and self-discovery.

The play examines her search for direction and love, the challenges of making difficult decisions, and the pivotal moments that shaped her life. Presented as a one-man show in the round, it invites audience interaction and includes Nigerian cuisine, creating an immersive experience that engages the senses and celebrates cultural heritage. Through African oral storytelling, native languages, and historical traditions, audiences are drawn into the rich tapestry of Dupe’s journey.

This production was created in 2023 as King Davies Dogbe’s final third-year project at the University of Northampton. It is his first creative work inspired by his mother’s life and legacy. Dupe – The Story She Could Not Tell transforms survival into storytelling, scars into shared experience, and honors the extraordinary life of one woman while exploring universal themes of migration, resilience, and the enduring power of family and culture.