Ududeagu, a story of loss
Writer Akwaeke Emezi's Provocative Short Film
Celebrated Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi has been making video art since 2014. With the release of her spectacular autobiographical debut novel, Freshwater, there is no doubt she will be receiving much-deserved attention for her gorgeous black and white video shorts as well.
Here, one of her first, Ududeagu, is a contemporary folktale about loss, leaving, and loneliness. Akwaeke originally wrote the poetic narrative in English but with the help of her father, translated it into her native Nigerian language, Igbo. The writer chose to narrate the video herself, explaining, “as an exercise in engaging with the lost fluency of my language.” It won the Audience Award for Best Short Experimental at the 2014 BlackStar Film Festival.
Freshwater will be released this month.
