Private Project

Oríkì

When out of the blue and with zero preparation Otiti learns that she will be going to university in Europe, she is shocked. She has questions that her mother cannot answer. When it dawns on her that her mother has lied to her, Otiti rebels in a way neither she nor her mother could ever have predicted.

  • Nk'iru. Njoku
    Director
  • Nk'iru. Njoku
    Writer
  • Nk'iru. Njoku
    Producer
  • Bose Oshin
    Producer
  • Yemisi Fancy
    Key Cast
    "Otiti"
  • Efe Mayford-Orhorha
    Key Cast
    "Obebo (Otiti's mother)"
  • Paul Utomi
    Key Cast
    "Athana"
  • Shirley Oke Ofou
    Key Cast
    "Agatha"
  • Ayodele Onyekachi Banjo
    Editor
  • Funke Martin-Luther
    Music Score
  • Philip Okpokoro
    Director of Photography
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Oríkì
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 44 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Nigeria
  • Country of Filming:
    Nigeria
  • Language:
    Other
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 4k (Sony A7s II)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Cannes Pan African International Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    April 21, 2019
    European premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Nk'iru. Njoku

Nk'iru. Njoku is a Nigerian filmmaker based in London.

She is head-writer of the biggest and longest running soap in Sub-Saharan Africa; Tinsel. The show has just entered its 12th production season in May 2019 and in 2017 won a special recognition award at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.

Nk'iru. has experience in reality TV and was a content director, then the content head of Project Fame West Africa for several years.

In her quest to tell stories in moving pictures as well as words, she has made a leap into directing film.

Oríkì, which was also written by Nk'iru., is her debut film. It has so far been on the official selection lists at the Cannes Pan African International Film Festival as well as The Africa Film Festival in Dallas.

Nk'iru. hopes to write and direct more films and is currently writing a feature length movie with a challenging story-line. She hopes this will help launch her even further in the direction of her dreams.

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Director Statement

The English language is handicapped when it comes to translating the word, 'Oríkì'.

Very loosely, it implies 'a praise chant containing family history and paying homage to the strength of a person's spirit'.

My five-year old daughter is blind. Her father is from the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria; the custodians of the Oríkì culture.

His family like many Yoruba families, has its own unique 'Oríkì' which has been customised over the years for the children born into that family.

My daughter's Oríkì contains powerfully encouraging odes to her spirit. My writer's mind fantasizes that the words of my daughter's Oríkì will help her conquer difficulty on her life's path, making her a super hero of sorts. Her own super hero.
.................................

I have a friend who was sold into sexual slavery by members of her family. Her story was very hurtful to hear, and she who lived it remains scarred till date.

I wanted to tell a story about a girl who was able to conquer potential adversity of the sexual slavery nature. I wanted her to be her own hero in spite of her mother being the villain. I wanted her Oríkì to play a subtle part in the strengthening of her spirit.

By and large, the film "Oríkì" is my take on true adversity with the subtext of heroism rooted in spiritualism or mysticism.

Oríkì's core message is of broken trust, greed, and sexual exploitation. I certainly hope this comes across.