Travelling

A new widow goes to retrieve her husband's belongings from the bus station. Her husband, travelling back home en route leaving the country, has been killed in a crossfire between state forces and bandits. This film explores the human cost of insecurity through her inability to tell their child where her father has travelled to.

  • Solomon Essang
    Director
    Just Before I Do
  • Africa Ukoh
    Writer
    Green, White, Green
  • Richard Ali
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 3, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Nigeria
  • Country of Filming:
    Nigeria
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Solomon Essang

Essang Solomon is a film director, documentary filmmaker and cinematographer based in Lagos, Nigeria. He won the Firstbank Firststars and EBONYLIFE TV filmmaking competition and started making short films in his university days, covering politics at state level while also teaching and shooting commercial video work.

He has also worked on projects like Just Before I Do (2018), Jimi Bendel (2016) and O-Town (2015) and so on.

He is currently the General Manager of We Entertainment Productions, a production company that specializes in film production, television commercials, music videos, documentaries and corporate videos.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement


As a director, it has been my privilege to bring to life this short film that tells the heartbreaking story of a woman who has lost her husband to the senseless violence and terrorism that has plagued northern Nigeria for years. The film centers around the raw emotions of a mother who is left to raise her daughter alone and the questions that her young daughter has about the whereabouts of her father.

The film captures the anguish, despair, and helplessness that often accompanies the loss of a loved one to such a violent act. The main character's pain is palpable, and the audience can feel her agony as she struggles to come to terms with her husband's absence. The film explores the various stages of grief and how it affects people differently, with some becoming withdrawn, others feeling angry and bitter, and others still finding ways to cope and move on.

This film is particularly poignant in its message as it shines a light on the devastating impact that terrorism can have on families and communities. It highlights the need for peace and security in the region and underscores the fact that those who perpetrate acts of violence often do not realize the long-term impact of their actions on those left behind.

It's my hope that this film helps in reminding them that they are not alone in their grief and that they can find strength in each other and in their faith.

As a director, I hope that this film will be a source of inspiration and a catalyst for change, encouraging viewers to reflect on the pain and suffering caused by senseless acts of violence and to take steps to promote peace and reconciliation.