Reviews
‘The Herd’ Review: Daniel Etim Effiong’s Topical Despite Uneven Debut for a Desperate Populace in Desperate Times
Daniel Etim Effiong’s debut feature sits at the centre of an important political quagmire: a country refusing to tackle a complex insecurity issue that threatens to destroy an already delicate national fabric. It takes on […]
AFRIFF 2025: ‘To Adaego With Love’ Review
AFRIFF: There are many stories told of victories and the ways they are achieved. The tales of the final battles and surrender, chronicles of the victors and vanquished, narratives strung together of the pacts forged […]
AFRIFF 2025: ‘The Boy Who Gave’ Review
AFRIFF: A first feature often defines the trajectory of a director’s career. It shapes how audiences will come to perceive their work and what threads they’ll follow through subsequent projects. For The Boy Who Gave, […]
AFRIFF 2025: ‘The Good Gift’ Review
AFRIFF: Today’s sermon, or rather review, will be taken from the book of Matthew, chapter 7, verse 11, which says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how […]
AFRIFF 2025: ‘Lace Relations’ Review (Documentary)
AFRIFF: There are familiar patterns in history, events that repeat themselves with little to no variations, circumstances that mothers and daughters will experience and moments that nations will often not learn from. With Lace Relations, […]
AFRIFF 2025: ‘Son of the Soil’ Review
AFRIFF: There is no scarcity of bodies in Son of the Soil. Bleeding and strewn across the streets; glistening with sweat, tears and blood; running and ramming into each other; it’s a visceral violence that […]
‘The Greatest Actor of All Time’ Stage Review: Temi Fosudo’s Three-Person Play on The Price of Artistic Purity
When artists cannot change the world, they bicker. Functioning otherwise as actor, writer and co-producer on the project, Temilolu Fosudo brings an energy easy to root for in his directing of this three-man hassle that […]
AFRIFF 2025: ‘Pasa Faho’ Review
AFRIFF: From the beginning of Pasa Faho, Igbo is front and centre in suburban Melbourne in Australia. The soundtrack plays Peter King’s “Jo Jolo” as the white people go about their business on the street. […]
News
Port Harcourt’s VISIONS Film Society Opens With Films on Home, Migration and Belonging
Port Harcourt may not be a hub for regular film activity, but it holds urgent, overlooked stories, and filmmaker Olohije Oyakhire believes those narratives deserve intentional cinematic engagement. Her vision is straightforward: build a steady, […]
Onyinye Odokoro to Star in Melon House’s Debut Feature ‘Adanne’, A Story Across Three Igbo Generations
Melon House Production has announced its first feature film, Adanne, a family drama set to begin production in November 2025. Written and produced by Gold Gerry (Boo’d Up) and directed by Orobosa Ikponmwen, the film […]
AFRIFF 2025 Interviews Roundup: Zoey Martinson, Allison Precious Emmanuel, Williams Uchemba and More
It’s still very much AFRIFF season over here until the last AFRIFF post drops. For this reason, we’re highlighting some of the interviews that filmmakers, actors had with What Kept Me Up, right from the […]
AFRIFF 2025: Our Festival Highlights and Recap and Full List of Award Winners
In 2023, I was wide-eyed, heart filled with love for film, and ready to experience my first AFRIFF as I made my way to the opening night venue. To my surprise, the event was by […]
Rollpay Africa and Filmmakers Mart Celebrate Nigerian Storytelling at “Nigeria Through My Lens” Film Screening
Rollpay Africa and Filmmakers Mart hosted an inspiring film screening titled “Nigeria Through My Lens” at Alliance Française, Ikoyi, Lagos. The event brought together leaders in the entertainment and business industries to celebrate Nigeria’s vibrant […]
EbonyLife ON Plus Launches with ‘Ajosepo’, ‘Dust to Dreams’, Podcast Offerings and More
EbonyLife Group’s highly anticipated digital platform, EbonyLife ON+, has officially re-launched, marking the next era of digital entertainment and lifestyle brand for Mo Abudu since the international streaming investment slowdown in the region. With the […]
CJ Obasi’s ‘La Pyramide’ Moves to Red Souk Work-in-Progress Market Section, Still in Production
In a bid for further global recognition, audience reach, and funding, the Nigerian film industry has, for years, stretched its branches to different parts of the world, and this is not any different in 2025. […]
Port Harcourt’s Visions Film Society Bridges Global South Cinema with Nigerian Audiences
Film screenings and discussions are already commonplace in Lagos. The city is a Nigerian cinephile’s dream place to live. We documented the work of a couple of initiatives in our 2023 The Tentmakers series. At […]
Essays
In Search of The Missing Woman in Nemsia’s ‘Finding Nina’ and ‘Thicker Than Water’
Written by Elijah Oluwanisola. In 2022, Derin Adeyokunnu and B.B. Sasore’s Nemsia Studios announced a three-picture slate deal with Prime Video. The first, B.B. Sasore’s Breath of Life (2023), became an audience favourite, securing five […]
‘UNO: The F in Family’ Review: Nkem Owoh and Jennifer Eliogu Carry Everyone’s Weight in a Dysfunctional Family Affair
Ebuka Njoku came onto the scene with his feature debut, Yahoo+, a social commentary film on the internet fraud ritualist phenomenon. It’s a film with an intriguing subject matter that faltered with execution. His latest […]
‘Japa’ Review: Time Loop Comedy That Never Arrives Despite Brilliant Premise
Japa (stylized as Japa!) is Isioma Osaje’s debut film. It simultaneously conveys every Nigerian’s most pressing desire and nightmare, which is to leave the country but be unable to. Produced by Inkblot and released directly […]
‘Aburo’ Review: Maleek Sanni and Darasimi Nadi Shine in Inspiring Sports Drama
When Jade Osiberu introduced us to the raw talent that is Maleek of the Ikorodu Bois fame in Gangs of Lagos (2023), it was his impressive performance as a conflicted street teen that immediately endeared […]
‘Water and Garri’ Review: Tiwa Savage is the Lead Artiste in Meji Alabi’s Polished Music Video
In Water and Garri, Tiwa Savage finds her first lead role in the film industry. Written by Comfort Emmanuel and directed by Meji Alabi, Water and Garri was shot in Cape Coast, Ghana. The film […]
‘Breath of Life’ Bags 5 AMVCA Awards (Full 2024 Winners List)
The much-anticipated celebratory tenth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards was held on May 11, 2024, at the Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos. Hosted by perennial moderator IK Osakioduwa, the ceremony brought a […]
