Nigerian filmmaker Chinazaekpere Chukwu is set to take her feature directorial debut, Her Daughters’ Mother, to London for Film Africa 2026, marking a major achievement in her filmmaking career.
Also known by its original language title, Oni ómó-Emeté, the drama is scheduled to screen on October 28 at EbonyLife Place London as part of the festival, which runs from October 23 to November 1.
Written and directed by Chukwu, the film explores women’s autonomy, marriage, motherhood and the societal expectations that shape their lives, with a particular focus on the pressure placed on women to produce male heirs.
Set in Nigeria, Her Daughters’ Mother follows Ejiro, who is married off at the age of 16. She returns home in her thirties as a widow, with two daughters and hopes of giving them a better future.
Ejiro later marries Osato, who promises a more secure life for the family. However, the relationship deteriorates when she fails to provide him with a male heir, turning the marriage into a source of suffering.
As she struggles with the expectations placed upon her, Ejiro finds herself longing for the freedom she remembers from childhood.
Through her story, the film examines the sacrifices women make to fulfil familial and societal expectations, as well as the personal dreams that can be lost along the way. It also addresses the cultural preference for male children and the consequences this expectation can have on women and their families.
Her Daughters’ Mother was filmed in Benin City, Nigeria, and features dialogue in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Urhobo and Bini, reflecting the cultural setting in which its story unfolds.
The film stars Ejovwoke Obad Olikuntuyi as Ejiro, alongside Osas Okonyon and Philip Asaya. The supporting cast includes Najite Dede and Adeoluwa Akintoba.
The story was developed by Efosa Ogbomo, with Sunday Melvin Iwinosa serving as co-writer. Production credits also include Joshua Tsotso, Mentong Minwo and Efosa Ogbomo, while Yinka Adegoke credited for cinematography.
Also known as Chinazaekpere Abigail Chukwu or Gail, Chukwu is a Nigerian screenwriter and director whose work spans film and television.
Before making her feature debut, she worked on television drama productions and directed the short film Tì ẹ ńbọ̀ (Ti e Nbo), which premiered at the Africa International Film Festival in 2023. She also directed A Psalm for Abigail, for which she received the Best Director award at the EbonyLife Creative Academy.
With Her Daughters’ Mother, Chukwu moves into feature filmmaking with a story rooted in Nigerian experiences but built around themes that extend beyond geographical and cultural boundaries all over Africa.
Presented by the Royal African Society, Film Africa celebrates African cinema and brings films from across the continent to audiences in London.
The selection of Her Daughters’ Mother places Chukwu’s debut among the Nigerian productions featured in this year’s programme, providing an international platform for a story grounded in the experiences and cultural identity of Nigeria’s South-South region.
The film’s October 28 screening will introduce audiences to Chukwu’s feature length work and its exploration of the relationship between women, family and societal expectations.
As the film prepares for its London screening, Her Daughters’ Mother marks an important step in Chukwu’s transition to feature filmmaking and adds to the range of Nigerian stories reaching international festival audiences.