The Locarno Film Festival has announced ‘When Nigeria Happens’ as its opening film, an unprecedented selection for a contemporary African dance drama. Directed by Ema Edosio Deelen, the film follows a close-knit group of dancers navigating art, hardship, and identity in the under-represented corners of Lagos.
The film follows six misfit dancers—Fagbo, Pokko, Lighter, Movement, Colos, and Poppy—who live and move for their art while carving out a space for themselves in a city that rarely makes room for dreamers. Their world is thrown into chaos when Fagbo’s mother becomes critically ill, forcing him into a desperate search for funds. As the group confronts financial pressures, societal expectations, and personal sacrifices, their friendship and future hang in the balance.
Far from the shiny high-rises and curated aesthetics often seen in commercial Nollywood, ‘When Nigeria Happens’ has been praised for its unfiltered depiction of middle- and lower-class Lagos—from uncompleted buildings and street corners to makeshift dance studios where joy and struggle collide. The camera lingers in spaces usually cropped out of the frame, showing Lagos without the Lekki bridge, the one where most people live, hustle, and create.
The cast includes Dominic Abella, Ruth El Phygo Felix, Jide Kene Achufusi, Toyin Oshinaike, and Ego Ihenacho. Many of the actors are dancers making their screen debut, a deliberate choice by Edosio Deelen to preserve the emotional truth of the film’s choreography and movement.
For co-screenwriter Bayo Oduwole, who joined the project shortly after graduating from the EbonyLife Creative Academy, the film’s journey has been surreal. “It’s genuinely crazy to me,” he says. “This idea I helped develop only two months after graduating film school is going to places African cinema has never been before. All I did was script a vision the director had been carrying for a while, and we’ve barely scratched the surface. I’m glad to be part of the new wave.”
He adds, “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel or when it will finally hit me—the weight of this moment—but I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given. I’m proud of this project and excited to see all the places it goes on this journey. This isn’t the end.”
Edosio Deelen, best known for ‘Kasala,’ has long been interested in the rhythms of everyday Lagos life. With this film, she goes deeper, using dance as both a narrative engine and emotional language. Movement becomes a way to express what can’t be said aloud: grief, joy, longing, and resistance.
Reflecting on the film’s international spotlight, Edosio Deelen shared, “This is a proud moment for Nigerian cinema. Having ‘When Nigeria Happens’ open the Open Doors section at Locarno shows that our stories can connect with audiences around the world while staying rooted in our reality. I’m grateful to the incredible team of dancers and collaborators who brought depth and care to every part of this film. It’s an honour to represent Nigerian filmmaking on a global platform. I’m hopeful about the future and proud to be part of this moment.”
With its selection at Locarno, those everyday stories she aims to capture in moving images get to shine on one of the world’s biggest stages.
