Tomi Folowosele has completed post-production on STAY, a supernatural short film drawing on Yoruba cosmology and the mythology of the Abiku. The project was previously selected for development at Talents Durban 2024.
The filmmaker has shared exclusive first look stills of the project with us.
Written and directed by Folowosele, STAY explores the traditional Yoruba belief surrounding children believed to die and return repeatedly, approaching the mythology from the child’s perspective. The story follows Kikelomo, whose relationship with her mother becomes central to her struggle against a seemingly predetermined fate.
“I’ve always been drawn to stories about reincarnation, and I’d wanted to tell one for a while,” Folowosele told What Kept Me Up. “With STAY, I was particularly interested in exploring the Àbíkú from the child’s perspective. I’ve often wondered about how they see and experience the world.”
The project originated as a three-page experimental story before being selected as one of six fiction short-film projects for the 17th edition of Talents Durban. The 2024 programme took place in South Africa from July 19–22, providing participating African filmmakers with mentorship, project development and industry networking opportunities. Folowosele participated as the project’s screenwriter.
According to her, the Durban experience significantly reshaped her original concept. “At the time, I was quite attached to the idea of making something vague and experimental, but my mentor felt the story needed to be told in a more specific way. Through the development process, we found a balance between what I originally envisioned and the direction the story needed to take.”
Two years after its development at Durban, STAY entered production with the support of Village People Media. Principal photography took place over two days in October in Lagos. The film was produced by Damilola Aleje, Nathaniel Udoh and Olayemi Oshodi, with Village People Media and Still Waters Pictures serving as executive producers.
The cast is led by Abigail Adegbenga as Mama Kikelomo, while Kikelomo herself is portrayed across different stages of her life by Royalty Orenu at five, Destiny Apata at ten and Praise Adejo (Dear Dija) at eighteen. All the actors were selected through an open casting call.
Behind the camera are cinematographer Fadamana Okwong (Agbara Nla: The Return), editor Kevin T. Solomon and line producer Boladale Falola. Daniel Olaoluwa composed the original score and handled sound design. The film also features OTHER SIDE, an original song performed by LODÙ, written by DOTTi the Deity and produced by Ademiloye Ayanfe (SiBU).
STAY adds to Folowosele’s growing body of work across film and television. Her previous short film, a satirical take on the Lagos rental crisis, Service Charge, most recently screened as part of the CANEX Shorts Competition at the just-concluded CANEX WKND in Lagos, following its selection for the Joburg Film Festival earlier this year.
Her TV career includes writing credits on Africa Magic’s The Yard, Kadara and Irora Iya. She is also set to make her TV directorial debut on an upcoming Africa Magic series, where she serves as head writer and one of the directors. The project marks another milestone for Folowosele, as it is the first of her original story ideas to be developed for television.
With post-production on STAY now complete, Folowosele and her team are turning their attention to its festival journey, hoping to reach audiences within and beyond Africa, particularly those interested in stories rooted in African cosmology. Further release plans are being kept under wraps for now.
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