In a bold choice that draws inspiration from an older Nollywood era, filmmaker Dika Ofoma has revealed an evocative poster for his upcoming film, God’s Wife. It comes on the heels of Ofoma’s success on the festival circuit with his previous short film, A Quiet Monday. Known for his empathetic portrayals of the Nigerian reality, Ofoma’s latest, God’s Wife, tells the heart-wrenching story of a young widow torn between her Catholic beliefs and the oppressive demands of tradition.
The film’s logline sets the stage for an emotionally charged narrative: “A young widow struggles to reconcile her Catholic beliefs with the demands of tradition after her late husband’s brother propositions her.” Inspired by real-life events, Ofoma aims to shine a spotlight on the injustices faced by widows in Nigeria, where they are often subjected to eviction, property seizure, and even ritualistic practices to prove their innocence in their husband’s death.
The cast of God’s Wife is led by Onyinye Odokoro (A Japa Tale), who portrays the resilient protagonist, Nkiruka. Odokoro expressed her admiration for Ofoma’s compassionate approach to storytelling, “When I read God’s Wife, it was the compassion and tact with which he [Ofoma] wrote it and aimed to tell it that sold it to me… It’s my hope that people see God’s Wife and appreciate the art but also rise to an awareness of the, sadly, very many Nkirukas that live amongst us.” Other revealed cast members are Uzochukwu Nnadi and Ego Nworji.
Speaking about his motivation behind God’s Wife, Ofoma, an exciting filmmaker, remarked, “Stories like hers [Nkiruka’s] are rampant in Nigeria. Widows are subjugated to the most inhumane conditions… God’s Wife is my way of reflecting these inhumanities back at society and demanding a recourse.” Drawing inspiration from classic Nigerian films such as Ajadu (2001) and A Cry for Help (2002), Ofoma pays homage to the storytelling tradition that shaped his journey.
The nostalgia goes beyond the film poster which carries a paint-like design of a central character and possibly a key scene in the film; it also extends to the given title that one is likely to find in an older Nollywood period.
Dika Ofoma, Sandra Baake Aminarh & Onyinye Odokoro are credited as producers, with Joe Penny behind the cinematography and Franklin Ogalanya & Raymond Yusuff as editors.
Also written by Ofoma, and produced in collaboration with Omaka Films and Clan Yujo, God’s Wife wrapped filming in November 2023 and post production is underway.
Dika Ofoma’s previous projects are short films which include A Japa Tale, Nkemakonam, and A Quiet Monday.
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