Reviews
‘Tele x Zikora’ Review: A University Romance Whose Greatest Strength Lies in the Future of Its Ensemble Cast
In Tele X Zikora, there is an awareness of the beats that make a romance film work. The first meeting, the push and pull, the moment of interest, the conflict and the resolution. It shows […]
Film Africa 2026: Damilola Orimogunje’s ‘Dear Ajayi’ Roughly Examines Women’s Demands of Duty and the Desire for Freedom
Film Africa: History has always been unkind to women, and Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi understands this, albeit in an overstated way. In his sophomore outing, which follows two estranged sisters “forced” to live together while […]
‘Black Market’ Review: Fatimah Binta Gimsay’s Feature Debut is a Very Nigerian Film for a Very Nigerian Situation
September 26, 2026 gave Nigerian cinema two occasions to celebrate. The first was Nigerian Cinema Day, with audiences filling cinemas nationwide for a limited slate of films after FilmOne, the leading distributor, reportedly pulled out. […]
‘Alahun: The Weaver’ Review: Dare Olaitan’s Long-Awaited Epic Adventure Return Takes Too Long to Get Going
Dare Olaitan returns to the director’s chair with Alahun: The Weaver, a Yoruba epic adventure filled with spirits, mythical creatures, and an unlikely hero at its centre. The film asks many questions, such as what the measure of a true hero is, and how love can transcend societal limitations.
Locarno Open Doors 2026 Review: ‘Concrete Moves’, ‘Time to Change’, ‘sKINs’, ‘Submergido’ and ‘Goat’
The following five short films screened as part of the 2026 Locarno Open Doors, taking place from August 5-10, 2026. The five directors were also invited to take part in the Open Doors Directors programme. […]
Short Film Review: Adebayo Oduwole’s ‘When Tari Met Voke’ Makes a Familiar Meet-Cute Feel Alive
Few things are better than a romantic comedy that keeps both of its promises. Very few things. (A plate of smoky party jollof, perhaps.) I suspect this, among other reasons, is behind the runaway success […]
‘Remi and Nneoma’ Review: A Nollywood Biblical Retelling Too Devoted to Become Its Own Story
The Bible, like any other text, exists to be adapted and retold. Its stories are constantly updated for language and context. The King James Version for the purists who want little lost, The New International […]
‘On Different Grounds’ Review: Nollywood Veterans Elevate Mildred Okwo’s Uneven Romantic Comedy
A Nigerian wedding party, as much as it is a celebration, is often a power play. A place where influence is tested, alliances are forged and a pecking order is established. There is a clashing […]
News
Steve Chuks and Onyinye Odokoro Play Siblings in Mannie Oiseomaye’s ‘Home and Away’
Steve Chuks and Onyinye Odokoro play siblings in Home and Away, a character-driven story about family, distance and the difficult choices that come with loving someone. Written and directed by Mannie Oiseomaye, known for his […]
Eva Anya’s AFRIFF 2026: FilmOne to Distribute ‘Lady’ in 2027, ‘Achalugo’ in Production, ‘Aljana’ Nears Release
From the film market to the awards night, WKMUp’s managing editor Eva Anya recounts the conversations and chance encounters that yielded new details on upcoming Nigerian films, distribution plans and projects in development. I can’t […]
Stephanie Ohumu’s ‘Mia Mia’ Documents Edo Language Decline as Filmmaker Builds Digital Archive to Preserve It
Stephanie Ohumu’s directorial debut, Mia Mia, is the first film to emerge from an ambitious, self-funded initiative to document and preserve the Edo language. The 27-minute documentary, which follows an octogenarian speaker confronting the disappearance […]
AFRIFF 2026: Our Recap, Key Takeaways and Globe Awards Winners
The landmark 15th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) ended in Lagos on November 7, after a week of film screenings, industry meetings, masterclasses and other activities. There was a lot to look […]
FIRST LOOK: Tomi Folowosele’s Talents Durban-Developed ‘STAY’ Explores Abiku Mythology; Completes Post-Production (EXCLUSIVE)
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 […]
How WKMUp’s Audience Research Became Part of a GIZ and Afreximbank Report
We wanted to understand the Nigerian film audience better. When Motunrayo Ojo and I agreed to conduct an independent survey in early 2025, I had little idea what we would eventually do with the findings. […]
Alternativa Film Festival Heads to Africa in 2027, Opens Submissions With $120,000 Prize Fund
Alternativa Film Festival is heading to Africa for the first time in 2027, with submissions now open for its fourth edition and $120,000 in prize money available to filmmakers across the Global South. The announcement […]
Everything We Know About The New DStv and GOtv Packages in Nigeria
MultiChoice has introduced new DStv and GOtv subscription packages across key African markets as part of a review of the company’s operations following its acquisition by CANAL+, which also affected the partial migration of Showmax […]
Essays
How WKMUp’s Audience Research Became Part of a GIZ and Afreximbank Report
We wanted to understand the Nigerian film audience better. When Motunrayo Ojo and I agreed to conduct an independent survey in early 2025, I had little idea what we would eventually do with the findings. […]
Nollywood Distilled: The Stories That Mattered This Week
Welcome to Nollywood Distilled, WKMUp’s weekly roundup of the developments taking shape within the Nigerian film industry. Piloted on our Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn pages, the series now expands to our website, where we’ll bring […]
Damilola Orimogunje’s ‘Dear Ajayi’ Sets World Premiere at Venice 2026
Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi will world premiere in competition at Venice Days, becoming the first Nigerian production selected for the section.
Canal+ and Anakle’s Flying Whale Build 10-Film Television Partnership
Canal+ has partnered with Nigerian production company Flying Whale, a production label within Anakle Films, on a slate of ten made-for-television films as the French company expands its African content strategy following its acquisition of […]
Exclusive: Big Cabal Media Sets July 25 Return for ‘Zikoko Life’ Second Edition, Reveals First-Look
Almost exactly a year after debuting Zikoko Life, Big Cabal Media has unveiled the anthology’s second edition (as stylized), which will begin rolling out on YouTube from July 25. Alongside the announcement, What Kept Me Up can exclusively reveal first-look stills from the three new films.
CJ Obasi is Busy AF: Every Announced Project From The Nigerian Filmmaker
“On your marks.” Three words C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi needed to accompany his announcement of The Boy Who Runs, his latest project based on the life of Ugandan Olympian Julius Achon. While the caption referenced the […]
