The Story⚡
In Lagos, a gathering of filmmakers, doctors, creatives, and everyday people came together for one day to watch films and talk openly about women’s health, subjects often left unspoken in Nigeria.
Tell Me More
On Monday, 19 January, ÀJOSE: The Stories That Bind Us brought together diverse voices for film screenings and moderated discussions centred on women’s reproductive health, bodily autonomy, and the cultural forces that shape them.
Organised by Ajose Nigeria, the event placed storytelling at its heart, setting films alongside medical expertise and cultural reflection to examine how silence and stigma still affect women’s health decisions.
The main screening was Silence Is Loud, a short film directed by Abba Makama. Its subtle, emotionally honest depiction of unspoken family dynamics and healthcare choices resonated deeply with the audience.
Attendees also saw preview screenings of two upcoming works: Chika Okoli’s documentary Care or Control? and the animated series Dr Majek and the Ghost, produced by Magic Carpet. The creative teams were present, and the post-screening conversations explored bodily autonomy, the clash between cultural expectations and medical ethics, and the personal realities behind these tensions.
An immersive “Truths and Myths” installation displayed common beliefs about reproductive health next to evidence-based facts. Many visitors recognised stories from their own lives in the exhibit—both confronting and familiar.
Panel discussions, including one titled Care or Control, featured medical professionals, filmmakers, and cultural commentators addressing maternal mortality, consent, safe and unsafe abortion, medical ethics, and the social pressures that can restrict women’s agency in healthcare.
Rumunse Obi, project manager for Pamoja, noted afterwards that the tone was deliberately reflective. “The conversations confirmed a readiness to speak more openly,” the organising team shared. “ÀJOSE demonstrated that film can hold space for difficult subjects without spectacle, allowing complexity, discomfort, and empathy to coexist.”
The event marks the start of a longer initiative by Ajose Nigeria to use film and public dialogue to encourage more informed and nuanced discussions around women’s health and bodily autonomy.
In Summary
The films are set for release on Zikoko’s platforms in February 2026, marking the launch of Ajose Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to foster these conversations through storytelling. Overall, the day blended art, medical knowledge, and personal experiences to open up discussions that many participants saw as essential and timely.
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