Prime Video will launch Nigerian movie Water and Garri, starring international singer Tiwa Savage, exclusively in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide in 2024.
The drama tells the story of Aisha (Savage), an ambitious fashion designer, as she returns to her native home after 10 years away in the U.S., following a family bereavement. At home, things have changed—violence has escalated and tensions have been high. As she reconnects with family, old friends, and her past love, she must learn to live with her scars and confront the guilt she left behind. Filmed in the city of Cape Coast, Ghana, the feature entails gripping cinematography and storytelling. The drama also stars Mike Afolarin (Far From Home), Andrew Bunting (Dynamite), and Jemima Osunde (New Money).
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“Audiences around the world are looking for well-made, contemporary African stories, and Water and Garri delivers that with a fresh perspective,” said Ayanna Lonian, director of content acquisition at Prime Video. “Both Meji Alabi, as film director, and Tiwa Savage, as the lead, have truly delivered a stellar debut alongside the rest of the incredibly talented cast and crew.”
“Developing and shooting my film from an idea to launching globally on Prime Video is a dream fulfilled,” said Tiwa Savage. “I am excited for my fans and newer audiences to experience this vulnerable side of me that I have never shown. Meji Alabi brought the story to life in such a beautiful way, and I cannot wait to share it with the world.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Prime Video who understood this cultural milestone celebrating the cross-power of film and music, especially out of Africa at this exciting time,” says Jimi Adesanya, producer and Unbound Studios executive.
Water and Garri is a co-production between Everything Savage, Unbound Studios, and JM Films, directed and edited by Meji Alabi, produced by Jimi Adesanya, and written by Comfort Emmanuel, with music by Tiwa Savage. The executive producers are Savage, Vannessa Amadi-Ogbonna, Adesanya, and Alabi.
The Nigerian content joins Prime Video’s selection of global Amazon Original and Exclusive series and movies, such as Gen V, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time, Riches, and Coming 2 America.
Tiwa Savage is a multi-award-winning artist, who just completed a sold-out 2023 North America tour, whose talent fuses Afrobeats, R&B, soul, and pop sounds that tap into audiences all over the world. She began her career as a backup singer for Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, and Andrea Bocelli, and was the first African artist to sign a global record deal with the Universal Music Group.
She is the first female artist to win an MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act, was included in the BBC’s list of 100 inspirational and innovative women in 2017, crowned one of the “Women Changing Modern Music” by British Vogue, received the Women4Africa Award in 2022, and is one of the most followed African artists on social media.
Water and Garri builds on Prime Video’s commitment to delivering local and authentic African series and films to a global audience, including the recently announced Prime Video Original Ebuka Turns Up Africa; an exclusive overall deal with the director and producer Jáde Osiberu and her production company, Greoh Studios; and an exclusive commissioning slate deal with Nemsia Films, beginning with Breath of Life, which launched on last December.
Prime Video is also the home of some of Nigeria’s theatrical movies, with exclusive licencing agreements with Inkblot Studios and Anthill Studios, offering customers theatrical releases like King of Thieves, Hey You!, Big Love, and Palava!, as well as TV series Beyond the Veil and Grind, and Prime Video’s Nigerian Originals, Gangs of Lagos, LOL: Last One Laughing Naija, and SHE Must Be Obeyed.
Press release.
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