The future of Nollywood? Women telling stories rooted in place and people

For decades, women have been the dominant on-screen force in Nigeria, while the stories behind those films were shaped by men. However, in recent years, more and more women are sitting in the director’s chair, calling the shots as producers and shaping narratives as screenwriters and cinematographers. They are quietly changing the face of Nigerian cinema and bringing the lived experiences of women into public consciousness.

One such trailblazer is Temitope Ogungbamila. In 2019, she walked into a Miraisha DSLR workshop… in fact, we’ll let her take up the story. “I went to the training thinking, “Oh, they’ll just be teaching theory. But then I was given a camera to take around the community! This was so empowering for me, and I loved it so much.” Further Miraisha training in 2023 helped her to understand the intricacies of capturing authentic human experiences, shaping her understanding of and approach to film. Six years on from that first workshop, she is an award-winning director and cinematographer with the Agbajowo Collective, using the medium as a powerful platform to tell the stories of women in informal settlements, like her home of Bariga in Lagos.

“I used to say that I didn’t get into filmmaking in the normal way,” she says. “I basically got into it because of the social impact stories I can make. For example, people usually look away from the power of women in society and we [Agbajowo Collective] lean towards a view of women who are fighting for their communities. We want to show that women can do these things.”

Their film, The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, is the story of a woman, Jawu, who lives in an informal settlement built on water, but is determined to work hard and build a better life for herself and her son. Amid rumours of a development that would see her home demolished and the pair made homeless, she spots a corrupt politician burying a bag of cash – which she takes for herself. The story is full of themes that resonate with Temitope, who has experienced both poverty and forced eviction. “I know how it feels, but I was very shocked when I realised that such things are still happening today and people don’t know.”

Understandably, a story of displacement, resilience, female empowerment and hope has a far broader appeal than just her home country, so it was no surprise that The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024. “Housing problems, homelessness, people everywhere can relate to that,” she notes. “So, as much as the film is situated in Nigeria, people are able to connect it with things happening in their own country.”

Getting such films made, however, can be a challenge and Temitope is climbing a steep learning curve when it comes to the process of funding and pitching. Because of the nature of her work, her casts are predominantly made up of local people from her community, and this ‘ownership’ that is felt by everyone involved is central to her vision. “I came to realise that the way I tell stories is not about just bringing people on board – I want to carry people along with me,” she explains. “So, there are many layers in the movie because there are so many stories behind the scenes. And because they are part of the vision, they all see it as theirs.”

However, this can make it tricky when seeking investment, as there is zero compromise to be given on the way the production is conducted, and the story is told. “I have figured out that you have to make people buy into your idea, and a very good way to do that is by going to film festivals and pitching,” she explains. This is something that she is learning by attending workshops, going to festivals, networking and picking up advice as she goes.

Temitope is adamant too that the sense of equity in front of the camera, is replicated behind it. “There aren’t so many women in the technical aspects of the filmmaking industry in Nigeria,” she says. “So, it's such a delight to be in that space and have the support of people like Nora Awolowo, the top female cinematographer in Nigeria right now, plus other female directors.” When she worked on set in Nollywood, it was quickly pointed out to her that she is one of the only focus pullers in Nigeria. More formally known as ‘First Assistant Camera’ this means she precisely adjusts camera lenses to keep the subject in sharp focus throughout a shot, especially as it or the camera moves. Indeed, at this point, she feels that when on set she is representing all women in the industry because “We can’t deny our biology, but even when we are in pain, we have to work ten times harder than our male counterparts – just to prove that we are capable.”

But the hard and principled work of Agbajowo Collective has paid off and they recently won the Best Cinematography award at the Nigerian equivalent of the Oscars – the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards. As co-writer and co-director, she was, understandably, thrilled. “We were hopeful, but it was an awesome lineup. When our name was called, we were like, ‘what?’ I was really speechless. I couldn’t put my thoughts together. It was a life changing experience.”

Still only a student, Temitope has her sights set high and is currently working on several new film projects. However, she still volunteers with the Miraisha Programme, shooting behind the scenes footage at community workshops and inspiring students as she does so. “Miraisha is so necessary because it lets you see that there are things beyond the walls of this community.” And it goes without saying that Temitope, and many other young women like her, are playing their role in showing students what is possible.

Learn more about the work of our Miraisha Programme.