Wilfred Okiche - okayafrica

Wilfred Okiche

Lagos-based cultural critic and writer

Crowd seated in a dark venue watches Morocco vs Senegal on a large screen at BASE Milano in Milan.

The Beautiful Game: 10 African Films That Celebrate Football

The game of football has inspired passion across the continent. These 10 movies capture the thrill and the excitement that make football a firm favorite.

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Wilfred Okiche

Olive Nwosu, wearing a white turtleneck, is speaking into a mic at Sundance Film Festival 2026.

72 hours at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival

OkayAfrica relives the Sundance experience with African women filmmakers Olive Nwosu, Bea Wangondu, and Praise Odigie Paige.

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Tarik Saleh poses at the 'Eagles of the Republic' photocall during the 21st Zurich Film Festival at Corso Green Carpet

Exiled Filmmaker Tarik Saleh Dares to Name Egypt's President in 'Eagles of the Republic’

The Swedish Egyptian filmmaker discusses his latest political satire, ‘Eagles of the Republic,’ why he was 'forced' to include President el-Sisi, and the personal cost of telling Egyptian stories about institutional control.

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A still from Zamo Mkhwanazi's 'Laundry' showing two men in blue uniforms holding a soaked man in a patterned shirt near a large industrial washing machine overflowing with water and foam.

Zamo Mkhwanazi’s ‘Laundry (Uhlanjululo)’ at TIFF 2025 Is an Intimate Portrait of Family, Resistance, and Art Under Apartheid

The film, which is showing at this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), explores the human cost of life under an oppressive regime.

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Wilfred Okiche

Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese is seen on stage at the closing ceremony of the 70th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Berlinale Palace on Feb. 29, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.

How Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese Crafts Beautiful Chaos in 'Ancestral Visions of the Future'

The Berlin-based Mosotho filmmaker reflects on fatherhood, his homeland, and the persistent search for a place that calls his name.

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Wilfred Okiche

The poster for Showmax’s new romantic comedy, ‘Not My Type.’

10 Romantic African Films To Watch This Valentine's Weekend

Our selection includes three newly-released films, a classic Romeo-and-Juliet retelling, as well as several popular and well-received films in recent years.

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Wilfred Okiche

The 10 Best African Documentaries of 2024

These groundbreaking African documentaries illuminate diverse struggles, resilience, and hope.

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Wilfred Okiche

A still of Bonko Khoza from ‘Heart of the Hunter.'

The Best African Feature Films of 2024

In this list, veteran auteurs exist alongside refreshing mavericks keen to make their mark.

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Wilfred Okiche

10 African Horror Films to Watch This Halloween

From the popular Nigerian lore of Madam Koi Koi to the long-held myth of the tokoloshe in South Africa, these African takes on the horror genre bring terror and fear to the screen.

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Wilfred Okiche

A portrait photo of Muhammed Hamdy in a green sweater at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

Muhammed Hamdy on Blending Reality and Fiction in 'Perfumed With Mint'

The Emmy-winning Egyptian filmmaker’s debut feature 'Perfumed With Mint' premiered in North America at the Toronto International Film Festival, days after being first unveiled at Venice Critics Week.

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Wilfred Okiche

(L-R) Actor Adebowale “Debo” Adedayo, a.k.a Mr Macaroni, director Afolabi Olalekan and writer/producer Blessing Uzzi attend the premiere of 'Freedom Way' during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Lightbox on September 07, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.

At the Toronto International Film Festival, Two Films Explore the Darker Corners of Lagos

Freedom Way, directed by Afolabi Olalekan andThe Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, fronted by the Agbajowo Collective, consider the idea of Lagos as a place where dreams go to die.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image from the film 'The Weekend' of two people sitting on a couch, looking serious.

Nigerian Director Daniel Oriahi on Finding Comfort in Darkness

In his latest film,The Weekend, starring Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Daniel Oriahi uses nail-biting horror techniques to explore unsettling family dynamics.

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Wilfred Okiche

‘Made in Ethiopia’ Confronts Chinese Expansion in Africa

The film explores the influence of China on the continent through the story of a Chinese industrial park’s expansion in a dusty farming town in Ethiopia.

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Wilfred Okiche

An illustration made from stills from South African movies ‘Sew the Winter Into my Skin,’ ‘Yesterday,’ and ‘Tsotsi.’

South Africa’s 30 Years of Democracy Celebrated on Film

This list of 10 films, made after 1994, represents the multiple facets of post-apartheid life in South Africa.

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Wilfred Okiche

Director Kaouther Ben Hania attends 'Les Filles D'Olfa (Four Daughters)' photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 20, 2023 in Cannes, France.

Kaouther Ben Hania on the Ethics of Making Oscar-Nominated Documentary 'Four Daughters'

The Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania scored her second Oscar nomination with her follow-up to 2020’sThe Man Who Sold His Skin, by making a film that blends fiction and non-fiction together in a striking way.

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Wilfred Okiche

David Diop attends the “LETTERATURE” Rome International Festival at Colosseum Archaeological Park on July 13, 2023.

David Diop on Bringing History and Fiction Together in His Latest Novel

The International Booker Prize-winning author talks about his third book,Beyond the Door of No Return, which is a finalist in the upcoming National Book Awards.

news

Wilfred Okiche

An image from the film of three women walking with various equipment in their hands.

‘The Umbrella Men’ Return for Another Score

The South African sequel sets the stage for another job – and this time, the women get the chance to show what they’ve got.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image from the film of a close-up of a woman looking pensive.

How Ian Gabriel and Noxolo Dlamini Gave Life to ‘Death of a Whistleblower’

The fictional South African political thriller, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival this past weekend, pays homage to real-life whistleblowers who’ve been attacked or killed for not staying silent.

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Wilfred Okiche

A still from the film of a woman looking into flames.

Youssef Chebbi on Making a Ghost Story Out of the Ashes of the Tunisian Revolution

The Tunisian director mixes the supernatural with reality in the crime thriller,Ashkal: The Tunisian Investigation.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image of Israel Adesanya floating in a pool of flowers.

A New Documentary Aims to Reach the Emotional Core of Israel ‘Stylebender’ Adesanya

The documentary, titled 'Stylebender,' will approach UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in terms of showing his vulnerability, his fears and struggles especially around stepping up into that new level of fame.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image from the documentary of two brothers sitting in a field laughing with each other.

Cyrielle Raingou on Making a Movie in the Shadow of Boko Haram

The Cameroon-born filmmaker started out making a completely different documentary from the one that’s been earning much acclaim at film festivals across the world.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image from the documentary of the subject Yeshi Kassa.

The Complicated Family History at the Heart of 'Grandpa Was An Emperor'

In the documentary, the late Emperor Haile Selassie’s great-granddaughter, Yeshi Kassa, goes searching for answers about her painful past, as well as that of her home country.

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Wilfred Okiche

Interview: Decades Later, Tinariwen Is Still Speaking Out and Rocking

We talk to the Tuareg music collective about their pioneering influence on the desert blues and their new album,Amatssou.

interview

Wilfred Okiche

A still from ‘Money, Freedom, a Story of CFA Franc’ of a smudge of ink and some photos.

Filmmaker Katy Léna N’diaye on the Currency of Heritage

The Senegalese French filmmaker started making a documentary about the CFA Franc, and ended up with a film about tradition and legacy.

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Wilfred Okiche

A still from the series of actor David Oyelowo.

David Oyelowo on Fatherhood, Family and Finding Balance in 'Silo'

In his latest role, the British Nigerian actor plays a would-be father trying to find his way in a post-apocalyptic world.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image from the film of a man sitting next to a woman, looking forlorn.

The Best Nigerian Movies of All Time

It’s not an easy list to compile but one that guarantees hours of satisfying viewing. Here are our top Nigerian movies and where to stream them.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image from the film, The Domestic, of a man and a woman dressed in black, looking at another woman, and they look upset.

The 10 Best Horror Movies to Stream in South Africa

It doesn’t take much to make a good horror film – often the most thrilling of scares come from the simplest of ideas. Here are our picks for 10 of the best horror movies to stream in South Africa.

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Wilfred Okiche

A still from the film of a man sitting at a pew in a church.

In her Debut Film, Angela Wamai Confronts Trauma and Seeks Healing

The Kenyan filmmaker chose to explore the heavy subject of sexual abuse for her first feature but that hasn’t stopped audiences from engaging with the film’s pressing themes.

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Wilfred Okiche

A still image from the film of a woman in the desert in a full headscarf looking pensive.

With Her Films, Apolline Traoré Wants to Highlight Stories That Often Go Ignored

The Burkinabè director has picked up prizes at the Berlin Film Festival and Fespaco for her latest film, 'Sira,' but it's the need to bear witness and highlight what is going on in her own home country that drives her work.

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Wilfred Okiche

A black and white image of filmmaker Sandulela Asanda looking straight at the camera.

Sandulela Asanda Confronts Female Pleasure in 'Mirror Mirror'

The South African filmmaker shares her short film with audiences at the Berlin Film Festival, before turning it into a feature film later this year.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image of filmmaker Mbithi Masya looking off to the side.

In Filmmaking, Mbithi Masya Has Found a Place in the World for His "Weirdness"

The Kenyan multi-hyphenate artist has made his name known in music and advertising, but it's in cinema that he has found his true home. His latest film, a short titled 'Baba,' has been touring the festival circuit, moving all who see it.

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Wilfred Okiche

A black and white still from the film of the lead actress Evelyne Ily Juhen.

C.J. Obasi On Bringing the Legend of Mami Wata to the Big Screen

The Nigerian director saw a vision of Mami Wata, then made a film that became the toast of Sundance and won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography.

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Wilfred Okiche

A woman dressed in a black dress with a colorful trimming smiling at the camera

Dorcas Sheffy Bello on Finding Stories in Unlikely Places

The Nigerian director is among the filmmakers tapped for the second season of Al Jazeera's acclaimed Africa Direct series.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image of the cast of How To Ruin Christmas: The Baby Shower

Rethabile Ramaphakela on Mourning Busi Lurayi and Creating the Magic of 'How to Ruin Christmas'

The director and producer of the hit South African Christmas series on Netflix shares more about the show's success and how they've been dealing with a real-life tragedy.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image of filmmaker Alice Diop looking off to the side.

Alice Diop On Using Film to Center Marginalized Stories

The French director, whose latest filmSaint Omerhas been selected by France as its submission for the Best International Picture race, is known for her nuanced portraits of humanity.

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Wilfred Okiche

A still image from the film The Umbrella Men of minstrels in colorful outfits, waiting to play their instruments

'The Umbrella Men' (and Women) Take On TIFF

South African actors Jaques De Silva and Shamilla Miller, who co-star in the film about a heist during Cape Town's Second New Year carnival, are attending this year's Toronto Film Festival, where the comedy is playing.

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Wilfred Okiche

Gyakie Is Ready For Her Close-Up

We talk to the Ghanaian singer about opening up with her latest EP,My Diary.

music

Wilfred Okiche

10 Upcoming African Films to Look Forward to in 2022

From Nigerian thrillers to South African documentaries, here are 10 African films we are looking forward to in 2022.

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Wilfred Okiche

Fireboy DML On Embracing His Inner 'Playboy,' Stepping Outside & Learning to Let Go

OnPlayboy, Fireboy moves further away from his previous records and embraces the mainstream afrobeats sound hinted in recent hits like "Peru" and "Bandana." We sit down with the Nigerian star to talk about his new album.

music

Wilfred Okiche

The 10 Best Nigerian Albums of 2022 So Far

Here are the new albums you can't miss from Nigeria's ever-thriving music scene.

music

Wilfred Okiche

The 10 Best African Films of 2022 So Far

Young new filmmakers are emerging and more African films are being welcomed by the biggest film festivals around the world. Here are the standout African movies of 2022 so far.

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Wilfred Okiche

10 African Documentary Films You Should Check Out

FeaturingMusic Is Life, African Moot, Cesária Évoraand many more.

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Wilfred Okiche

The 10 Best African Netflix Original TV Series

We sat through all of the African original shows commissioned, produced or distributed by Netflix and bring you a list of the very best titles.

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Wilfred Okiche

The 10 Best African Netflix Original Films

We sat through all of the African originals commissioned, produced or distributed by Netflix and bring you a list of the very best titles.

film tv

Wilfred Okiche

An image of Danny Glover at the 2020 Pan African Film Festival.

On its 30th Anniversary, the Pan African Film Festival Looks Back —and Ahead

The film festival returns in person this year -- after date shifts and virtual programming -- to celebrate 3 decades of promoting African film.

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Wilfred Okiche

How Nkechi Okoro Carroll Conquered Television

The Nigerian-American writer and producer has cemented her place in TV, by playing to her strengths and expanding the characters we see onscreen.

arts culture

Wilfred Okiche

A still image from the film This is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection

12 African Films to Watch this Women’s History Month

We compiled a list of African films that present narratives of women making their contributions, and where you can watch them.

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Wilfred Okiche

An image of Achouackh Abakar Souleymane at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival

This Actress Wants to see More Movie Stars Coming Out of Chad

If there's a Mahamat-Saleh Haroun film shooting in Chad, Achouackh Abakar Souleymane will find a way to be in it. But the actress hopes to see more directors making movies in her home country.

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Wilfred Okiche

Ike Nnaebue on Learning to Listen While Making his Personal Documentary, 'No U-Turn'

The film picked up a Documentary Special Mention at the Berlin Film Festival where it recently premiered.

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Wilfred Okiche

A still image from the film, Lingui, The Sacred Bonds

Mahamat-Saleh Haroun on Confronting his Legacy and Making his Latest Film, 'Lingui, the Sacred Bonds'

The iconic Chadian filmmaker's latest title, which deals with the subject of abortion in his home country, releases in the US and the UK from today.

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Wilfred Okiche

Nikyatu Jusu on her Sundance-winning Debut and Reimagining the Horror Genre

The Sierra Leonean-American filmmaker's feature film,Nanny,a visually arresting horror fable about an undocumented Senegalese woman who becomes a nanny to a wealthy couple on New York’s Upper East Side, emerged the big winner of this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

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Wilfred Okiche

13 Queer Themed African Films To Check Out

We curated a list of 13 films that centre the queer experience and prove that non-conforming people have always existed among us.

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Wilfred Okiche

Filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr Explores the Sweet Spot Between Nollywood & Hollywood

Winner of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, London-based Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr speaks about his experimental film 'Lizard', what belonging looks like and the overlap between Hollywood and Nollywood.

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Wilfred Okiche

Here are 11 Oscar-Worthy African Feature Films to Watch

While Ivory Coast's 'Night of the Kings' and Tunisia's 'The Man Who Sold His Skin' have been shortlisted for the "Best International Feature Film", here are 9 additional films that made strong contenders for an Oscar.

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Wilfred Okiche

10 African Films That Deal With Protest Culture & History

African countries have a long history of protests and demonstrations against forces of oppression, and this has been represented significantly in cinema.

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Wilfred Okiche

Wilfred Okiche - okayafrica

Wilfred Okiche

The Beautiful Game: 10 African Films That Celebrate Football

72 hours at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival

Exiled Filmmaker Tarik Saleh Dares to Name Egypt's President in 'Eagles of the Republic’

Zamo Mkhwanazi’s ‘Laundry (Uhlanjululo)’ at TIFF 2025 Is an Intimate Portrait of Family, Resistance, and Art Under Apartheid

How Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese Crafts Beautiful Chaos in 'Ancestral Visions of the Future'

10 Romantic African Films To Watch This Valentine's Weekend

The 10 Best African Documentaries of 2024

The Best African Feature Films of 2024

10 African Horror Films to Watch This Halloween

Muhammed Hamdy on Blending Reality and Fiction in 'Perfumed With Mint'

At the Toronto International Film Festival, Two Films Explore the Darker Corners of Lagos

Nigerian Director Daniel Oriahi on Finding Comfort in Darkness

‘Made in Ethiopia’ Confronts Chinese Expansion in Africa

South Africa’s 30 Years of Democracy Celebrated on Film

Kaouther Ben Hania on the Ethics of Making Oscar-Nominated Documentary 'Four Daughters'

David Diop on Bringing History and Fiction Together in His Latest Novel

‘The Umbrella Men’ Return for Another Score

How Ian Gabriel and Noxolo Dlamini Gave Life to ‘Death of a Whistleblower’

Youssef Chebbi on Making a Ghost Story Out of the Ashes of the Tunisian Revolution

A New Documentary Aims to Reach the Emotional Core of Israel ‘Stylebender’ Adesanya

Cyrielle Raingou on Making a Movie in the Shadow of Boko Haram

The Complicated Family History at the Heart of 'Grandpa Was An Emperor'

Interview: Decades Later, Tinariwen Is Still Speaking Out and Rocking

Filmmaker Katy Léna N’diaye on the Currency of Heritage

David Oyelowo on Fatherhood, Family and Finding Balance in 'Silo'

The Best Nigerian Movies of All Time

The 10 Best Horror Movies to Stream in South Africa

In her Debut Film, Angela Wamai Confronts Trauma and Seeks Healing

With Her Films, Apolline Traoré Wants to Highlight Stories That Often Go Ignored

Sandulela Asanda Confronts Female Pleasure in 'Mirror Mirror'

In Filmmaking, Mbithi Masya Has Found a Place in the World for His "Weirdness"

C.J. Obasi On Bringing the Legend of Mami Wata to the Big Screen

Dorcas Sheffy Bello on Finding Stories in Unlikely Places

Rethabile Ramaphakela on Mourning Busi Lurayi and Creating the Magic of 'How to Ruin Christmas'

Alice Diop On Using Film to Center Marginalized Stories

'The Umbrella Men' (and Women) Take On TIFF

Gyakie Is Ready For Her Close-Up

10 Upcoming African Films to Look Forward to in 2022

Fireboy DML On Embracing His Inner 'Playboy,' Stepping Outside & Learning to Let Go

The 10 Best Nigerian Albums of 2022 So Far

The 10 Best African Films of 2022 So Far

10 African Documentary Films You Should Check Out

The 10 Best African Netflix Original TV Series

The 10 Best African Netflix Original Films

On its 30th Anniversary, the Pan African Film Festival Looks Back —and Ahead

How Nkechi Okoro Carroll Conquered Television

12 African Films to Watch this Women’s History Month

This Actress Wants to see More Movie Stars Coming Out of Chad

Ike Nnaebue on Learning to Listen While Making his Personal Documentary, 'No U-Turn'

Mahamat-Saleh Haroun on Confronting his Legacy and Making his Latest Film, 'Lingui, the Sacred Bonds'

Nikyatu Jusu on her Sundance-winning Debut and Reimagining the Horror Genre

13 Queer Themed African Films To Check Out

Filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr Explores the Sweet Spot Between Nollywood & Hollywood

Here are 11 Oscar-Worthy African Feature Films to Watch

10 African Films That Deal With Protest Culture & History

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