Shaina is the story of Shine, a teenager in Zimbabwe who doesn't believe in herself. In the face of life-altering events, she is forced to rely on her own ingenuity and determination to face her future. It's a story of forgiveness and friendship, of creating a new family from the people who love you, and of the power inside every girl, whether she knows it is there or not. Rooted in human-centered design and surrogate-based behavior change, this movie will become an important part of youth culture in Zimbabwe and across sub-Saharan Africa, instilling in young women a growth mindset essential for health, agency, and self-efficacy, this story will also challenge harmful gender norms by driving a culture of positive masculinity.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a 2019 drama film written, directed by and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor in his feature directorial debut. The film is based on the memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. It was screened in the Premieres section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and began streaming in most territories on Netflix on 1 March 2019. It was selected as the British entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. It received widely positive reviews with praise going to Ejiofor's direction and the acting.

Hijack '93 is a 2024 Nigerian thriller directed by Robert O. Peters. It dramatises the real-life hijacking of a Nigerian Airways flight in 1993. The film follows four young men—Omar (Skipper), Kayode (Eruku), Ben (Owiwi), and Dayo (Iku)—who, under the guidance of a revolutionary leader named Mallam Jerry, hijack a domestic flight from Lagos to Abuja. They aim to protest Nigeria's military regime and demand the resignation of Defence Minister Sani Abacha.

Kedibone is a 2020 South African drama directed by Thomas Gumede, available on Netflix. The film follows Kedibone Manamela, a young woman from Soweto with aspirations of becoming an actress. With financial support from her devoted boyfriend, Mrembula, she enrolls in a Johannesburg university. However, Kedibone becomes entangled in the city's glamorous lifestyle, leading her to make choices that strain her relationships and challenge her values. As she navigates the complexities of ambition, love, and identity, Kedibone faces the consequences of her actions and seeks redemption.The film stars Natasha Thahane as Kedibone and Wright Ngubeni as Mrembula. It has been recognized for its compelling narrative and performances, winning the Best African Film award at the 2022 Septimius Awards.

In this episode, Abdallah and Mercy have a guest! First guest this year. We have the wonderful Fumnanya Ochei, producer on Uriri which you can watch on African Magic or Showmax.

We talk about Grind, and Fumnanya's journey into Nollywood.

Enjoy!

In this grim and unforgiving environment, Suky discovers a glimmer of hope, a brutal underground fight club that promises freedom to the strongest. With nothing to lose and revenge fueling his every move, Suky must fight not only for his life but for a chance to reclaim his freedom.

The Women's War was a 1929 revolt in British Nigeria, where a group of women took a stand against social and economic injustice. This historical drama follows the story of these women and their crusade.

Trees of Peace is a heartfelt film from 2022, beautifully written and directed by Alanna Brown, marking her directorial debut. The story shines a light on the incredible strength of four women—Eliane Umuhire, Charmaine Bingwa, Bola Koleosho, and Ella Cannon. They portray two Tutsi women, a Hutu moderate, and an American volunteer, who find themselves hiding together in a small space beneath a house for 81 days during the harrowing events of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. With a runtime of 98 minutes, this engaging English-language film offers a poignant exploration of resilience and hope.

In this Valentine's Special episode, we talk about Soft Love, the movie.

After being jilted on her wedding day, South African online relationship specialist, Zandi Jele, loses faith in love. However, when Nigerian photographer, Edward, crashes into Zandi's life, he fans her dying flames for love back to life.

Welcome back to the pod! We know we have been gone a while, but we're back now. In this episode, we discuss Christmas in Lagos and what to expect in season 2. Enjoy!