Chukwu's Debut 'Her Daughters' Mother' Heads to Film Africa

Her Daughters' Mother, the first feature film directed by Nigerian filmmaker Chinazaekpere Chukwu, has been selected for Film Africa 2026, which runs in London from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1.

 

The 109-minute Nollywood drama will be screened on Oct. 28 at EbonyLife Place London as part of the festival.

 

News of the selection was shared on Instagram by Women in the Arts (@winthearts), which congratulated Chukwu on her directorial debut.

 

"@gailchukwu is whoever she says she is and even more! Having your directorial debut go global is no small feat! We are super proud of you queen," the post read.

 

Chukwu wrote and directed the film, which is set in Benin City, Edo. It examines motherhood, marriage and the social pressure on families to have male children.

 

The story centres on Ejiro, who was married off at 16 and returns home in her thirties as a widow with two daughters.

 

Hoping to give her children a more secure future, she remarries. Her new husband's insistence on a male heir, however, brings fresh difficulties.

 

The film also follows Ejiro's eldest daughter, Ejaita, a teenager who wants to become a doctor but finds herself at odds with her mother's protectiveness.

 

Ejovwoke Olikuntuyi plays Ejiro. The cast also includes Osas Okonyon, Philip Asaya, Najite Dede and Adeoluwa Akintoba.

 

The film was produced by One Child Grace Studio in association with C.A.N.O Productions, Uncut Gem Productions and Nka Pictures.

 

Chukwu won the Best Director award at the EbonyLife Creative Academy for A Psalm for Abigail.

 

She directed The Yard, an 18-episode television series released in 2025, and the short film Ti e Nbo, which premiered at the Africa International Film Festival in 2023.

 

Film Africa, presented by the Royal African Society, showcases African and diaspora cinema through screenings and industry events, NAN reports.

 

According to NAN, EbonyLife Place London is a cultural, entertainment and cinema venue founded by Nigerian media entrepreneur Mo Abudu and the EbonyLife Group to promote African and Black storytelling. It houses the 160-seat Amani Auditorium, which is dedicated to African and Black cinema and hosts film screenings, industry discussions and cultural events.

 

The London venue follows the original EbonyLife Place, which opened in Victoria Island, Lagos, in 2019.