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
Nollywood Distilled: The Stories That Mattered This Week
This week on Nollywood Distilled, AFRIFF wrapped up its 15th edition with several Nigerian winners, while Loving Itohan ended Agbara Nla: The Return’s five-weekend reign at the box office. Elsewhere, Dika Ofoma’s Tooth won in […]
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 […]
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. […]
“The Origin: Madam Koi-Koi is a Breath of Fresh Air” and 13 Key Takeaways from Nollywood Film Club in November
Nollywood Film Club is a diverse haven for criticism, ideas, and global discourse of Nigerian films. At the heart of the club is a community dedicated to deconstructing the latest high-profile Nigerian streaming releases, sparking […]
‘Bank Alert’ Review: The Entertaining Chaos of the Okey Bakassi-Led Variant on the Newfound Wealth Trope
Bank Alert is a comedy drama with an intriguing storyline. The financially distressed protagonist receives a whopping sum of money in his bank account which leads to trouble when the supposed owner comes for him. […]
‘Egun’ Review: Psychological Thriller About Corporate Greed is One of the Better Projects From This Year
Barely thirty minutes into Ègún, I texted my editor: “I wonder who wrote it.” And I meant that in a good way. I had gone into the film completely blind, without any idea of the […]
‘4:4:44’ Review: Richard Mofe-Damijo and Nse Ikpe-Etim Lead Izu Ojukwu’s Tale of Period Trials
In the heart-wrenching psychodrama 4:4:44, which is inspired by a true event, we witness an extraordinary love story between a couple: a wife grappling with mental illness, and her devoted husband facing public scrutiny for […]
Highest Rated African Netflix Titles, According to IMDb
Netflix is in over 190 countries around the world, surely it exists in several other African countries as well. Notably, according to recent reports, South Africa receives the highest investment from Netflix in the Sub-Saharan […]
