5 Nigerian directors making major waves

The Nollywood industry is currently raking in million for Nigeria, and this is mostly being mad possible by the vibrant directors behind the camera. This week, Weekend Magazine takes a look at some of Nollywood’s vibrant directors doing it big.

Kunle Afolayan

The banker turned director has become a celebrated director during his short span in the industry. His film, ‘Phone Swap’ was screened at the London Film Africa Festival to rave reviews and won numerous awards thereafter. ‘The Figurine (Araromire)’ won a whooping five awards in the prestigious African Film Academy. Afolayan also represented Nollywood at the Subversive Film Festival in Croatia in which Nollywood was cited as the second biggest movie industry in the world back in 2011.

Dolapo Lola Adeleke

Better known as Lowla Dee, the young filmmaker has already made quite a mark in the Nollywood industry. After registering Lowla Dee Productions in 2011 when she finished her degree, she made her directorial debut with the short film ‘Brave’ in 2014 which led to her nomination for Best Film Director category at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards the following year. Afterwards, she directed the African mini-series ‘This Is It’ to wide critical acclaim and TV drama ‘Entangled.’ Her efforts in film have been widely recognized on the African continent and she was even listed onLeading Ladies Africa’s ‘100 Most Inspiring Women In Nigeria.’

Ishaya Bako

Attending the London Film School after moving to the UK in 2008, when he completed his studies there, he went on to work on more socially centered movies such as Henna and Silent Tears. His first feature film, ‘Road to Yesterday’ featured Genevieve Nnnaji in the lead role. It was then followed by the 2017 movie ‘The Royal Hibiscus Hotel’ which was also a commercial success.

Jadesola Osiberu

Jadesola is the woman behind the one of 2017’s highest grossing movies, Isoken. But before making her big screen debut, she directed most of Ndani TV’s most acclaimed works such as ‘Gidi Up’, ‘The Juice’ and ‘Rumour.’ She was also announced as the director for the movie ‘Nigerian Trade.’

Biyi Bandele

After moving to England, Biyi Bandele began making a name for himself after two of his novel manuscripts were published and adapted for the Royal Court Theatre. In 1997, he also adapted Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ for theatre. He made his directorial debut in 2013 with Chimamanda Adidchie’s‘Half a Yellow Sun’ with an ensemble cast of Thandie Newton, Chitewel Ejiofor, Anika Noni Rose and John Boyega. He is currently working on a Fela Kuti biopic and ‘The Man Died’ based on Wole Soyinka’s prison memoirs.