The Agbajowo collective (Akinmuyiwa Bisola, Atinkpo Segun Elijah, Edukpo Tina, James Tayler, Mathew Cerf, Okechukwu Samuel, Ogungbamila Temitope), Nigeria /Afrique du Sud / Allemagne / USA, 2024
Nigeria
SYNOPSIS
Jawu lives in one of the floating slums pushed into the lagoon which gives the megacity Lagos its name a young mother scraping by in an indifferent city. However, the spirit of the great warrior king Egbaezen has marked her for a terrible responsibility and ordeal. Danger now threatens his people, as corrupt officials conspire to evict thousands from their ancestral homes. Egbaezen’s spirit takes the form of an African Grey parrot, and sets in motion a chain of events that will change Jawu and her entire community forever
BIOFILMOGRAPHY
The Agbajowo Collective is a group of filmmakers from different backgrounds, collaborating with young storytellers from Lagos’ informal settlements. Their work is centered on themes of urban displacement, human rights, and social justice. Among them, Akinmuyiwa Bisola, a founding member of the Nigerian Slum / Informal Settlement Federation media team, highlights human rights abuses in Lagos’ informal settlements. Atinkpo Segun Elijah and Edukpo Tina, both from Otodo Gbame, contribute deeply personal perspectives, having experienced forced evictions firsthand. Elijah played a crucial role in shaping the film’s story, while Tina, a community activist, infused the film’s magical realism with her knowledge of Egun folklore.
The collective also includes experienced international filmmakers. James Tayler, an award-winning director, has worked on social justice films across Africa, helping establish grassroots media teams. Mathew Cerf, a filmmaker and photographer, specializes in collaborative storytelling and has worked in Lagos amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. Okechukwu Samuel, a cinematographer and writer, crafted the film’s visual style, focusing on themes of urban inequality. Ogungbamila Temitope, a filmmaker from Isale Akoka, is dedicated to empowering women and young people through storytelling and digital media education. Together, they create powerful narratives that challenge perceptions and advocate for change.