Private Project

Ọgbanje

Kamsi reveals her true identity before she is born.

  • Nnamdi Kanaga
    Director
  • Nnamdi Kanaga
    Writer
  • Nnamdi Kanaga
    Producer
  • Sabrina Morin
    Key Cast
    "Kamsi"
  • Stella Damasus
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Nnamdi Kanaga

Born and raised in Lagos Nigeria, Nnamdi Kanaga is a multitalented filmmaker, writer, and actor. Having worked in Nollywood for a while as an actor, he made a paradigm shift to the United States in 2018 to pursue a graduate degree in English and his filmmaking career. In May of 2019, Nnamdi made his directorial debut with Talisman. The Hail Mary, Montana's first film with an all-black lead cast is his debut feature film and the second film as a director. Nnamdi hopes to help contribute and promote cultural/creative diversity through art and films in Montana State.

Nnamdi also holds a strong belief that he will be the first Nigerian- born and bred, to win an Oscar and an EGOT title.

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Director Statement

"Ọgbanje" (Igbo terminology for a child spirit who comes and goes) is a proof-of-concept/short film based on my unproduced feature film "Water Girl," about an Ọgbanje girl born in America. While in the process of raising funds to proceed with the actual production of the feature, I decided to make this short film to introduce my protagonist, Kamsi, to the world and offer an idea of what the main film will look like. Kamsi is an Ọgbanje who is connected to the water but doesn't know how, and neither does her mother Nkechi. But the water is trying to communicate with them both. In this proof-of-concept film, Kamsi reveals that she is an Ọgbanje (and goes further to bury her earthly treasures) before we go back in time, to 2005, the year of her birth.

This project is a homage to old Nollywood stories and history, honoring their legacy while fostering new opportunities to bridge the gap between the African diaspora with authentic Afrocentric narratives. This film also aims at bringing Igbo traditional belief systems to the forefront of international conversations regarding the celebration and understanding of authentic African culture.