• Wilfred Okiche

Stories by 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.
News

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.

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

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.

​A still from Mati Diop’s ‘Dahomey.’
Film + TV

The 10 Best African Documentaries of 2024

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

​A still of Bonko Khoza from ‘Heart of the Hunter.'
Film + TV

The Best African Feature Films of 2024

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

10 African Horror Films to Watch This Halloween
Film + TV

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.

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

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.

(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.
Profiles & Interviews

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

Freedom Way, directed by Afolabi Olalekan and The 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.

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

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.

A still from the film Made in Ethiopia.
Film + TV

‘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.

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

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.

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.
Film + TV

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’s The Man Who Sold His Skin, by making a film that blends fiction and non-fiction together in a striking way.

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

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.

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

‘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.

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

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.

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

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.

An image of Israel Adesanya floating in a pool of flowers.
Film + TV

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.

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

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.

An image from the documentary of the subject Yeshi Kassa.
Profiles & Interviews

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.