Toluwani Obayan Osibe: A Lady Called Life

In this episode, I speak with Toluwani Obayan. A distinguished writer, director, and editor. Her notable works include the short film “Heart & Might,” and the acclaimed 2020 movie “This Lady Called Life,” which earned her the Best of Nollywood 2020 Award for Best Screenplay and an AMVCA nomination for Best Writer. 

She has also contributed to the award-winning documentary “Explore the World With Tindel,” celebrated with the ITFF Africa 2019 award for Best African Film. Beyond filmmaking, Toluwani has enriched the literary world with her published academic article on Nollywood’s role in socio-cultural development, satirical narratives like “The Tale of a Disgruntled Pair of Nigerian Flip Flops” that confront child abuse, and her inspiring book “Becoming a Spectacular Woman.” 

We talk about the Nigerian film industry which operates fast due to economic constraints and how filmmakers are finding ways to create quality projects that resonate globally. We also speak about the African film industry and how storytelling is again becoming a respected craft.