CJ Obasi talks to GRUNGECAKE AFRICA about ‘Mami Wata’ [Video]

CJ Obasi, a visionary Nigerian filmmaker and a dynamic voice in African cinema, has spent his career breaking boundaries and crafting stories that both honour and reimagine the rich tapestry of African folklore. With an unflinching commitment to exploring the mystical and spiritual dimensions of his cultural heritage, Obasi has created films that speak to the depths of ancestral legacy whilst challenging Western expectations of African storytelling. His latest project, ‘Mami Wata’, a stunning monochrome meditation on the myth of the titular water deity, took seven years from conception to its premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in 2023.

In ‘Mami Wata’, Obasi employs a distinctive black-and-white aesthetic that, whilst unconventional in contemporary African cinema, he describes as a natural reflection of his early experiences with cinema, which shaped his perception of storytelling. His creative approach echoes his unique perspective on Yoruba and broader African folklore—celebrating traditions whilst also reinterpreting them for global audiences. For …