The acclaimed Disney Original Documentary, MADU, is set for a triumphant homecoming on Sunday, September 28, at the Alliance Française, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi.
This special screening marks the first time the 100-minute film, which secured Nigeria’s historic first Emmy Award for “Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary” (a first for a Nigerian in a non-news category), will be seen by a local audience since its groundbreaking international recognition. MADU chronicles the extraordinary journey of 12-year-old Anthony Madu, whose raw talent propelled him from his community to the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in England, highlighting a powerful story of resilience, growth, and the universal search for belonging.
Produced in 2021 and officially released in 2024, MADU is a powerful, human-centered story co-directed by Nigerian filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson and Briton Matt Ogens. It was produced by Hunting Lane, a company renowned for auteur-driven features and documentaries, with a catalogue including films like Wildflower and The Zookeeper’s Wife.
The documentary’s synopsis paints a picture of a young man thrust into a new world: “From practising barefoot on the streets of Lagos to performing on stage in England, MADU follows 12-year-old Anthony Madu as he leaves his home in Nigeria to study at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world… Anthony, who has barely been out of his neighborhood in Lagos, finds himself thrust into a foreign new world where his wildest dream is suddenly within reach.”
The film explores universal themes of acceptance, courage and resilience. In Nigeria, ballet for a boy is often an “unaccepted path,” and in the UK, Anthony faces the challenge of adapting to a new culture and competing with the world’s best young dancers. The story is a profound representation of the “strength, resilience and talent present in so much of the Nigerian youth.”
The inspiration for MADU came from a viral moment, as multiple award-winning director Matt Ogens explained.
“It began with a video posted online. In it, an 11-year-old Nigerian boy practices ballet on wet pavement as rain falls softly from above; equal parts raw, beautiful and inspiring,” the directors shared.
The video captured the attention of producer Jamie Patricof, who shared it with Ogens. What followed was an intensive search for the “anonymous, yet magnetic ballet dancer,” which led them to a small community on the outskirts of Lagos called Ajangbadi and to the young man himself, Anthony Madu. Along with co-director Joel Kachi Benson, their international journey began.
In their statement on the project, the directors highlighted their shared artistic vision and personal connection to the story.
“Our shared journey is one of curiosity, and about creating an understanding of different cultures through our connection with each other… Ultimately, this is a journey of discovery, growth and belonging, themes we both personally relate to.”
They added that their ultimate goal was to make Anthony’s voice heard, believing his extraordinary journey is one of the most “captivating, emotional, and riveting” stories they have ever told.
Tracing the film’s journey, the directors noted its success at multiple festivals, including its run at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the AFI New African Film Festival, and the iRepresent International Film Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. Its crowning achievement was the Emmy win for “Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary.” This win is particularly significant as it marks the first time a Nigerian has won an Emmy in a non-news category, a major milestone for Nigerian arts and culture on the global stage.
The filmmaking process offered a front-row seat to Anthony’s rapid evolution. “One of the most fascinating things about making this film was watching Anthony’s growth and change happen right before our eyes,” the directors said.
They recalled a shy 12-year-old on the cusp of experiencing a dream that required him to leave everything he knew. “Over the course of the year we spent with him, however, we saw him take on the challenge of a new and strange environment,” they noted. “We saw him work to figure out how he belonged both at home in the places he knew by heart, as well as out in a whole new world as an individual.”
The transformation was profound: “By the time we were done filming, this shy kid from a small community on the outskirts of Lagos had evolved into a courageous young man. For us as filmmakers, experiencing this growth and change was not just inspiring, but an honour to witness and document this perfect illustration of the resilience of the human spirit.”
The special screening is promoted by the Programme Directorate of the Foundation for the Promotion of Documentary Film in Africa, the organisers behind the iREP International Documentary Film Festival. It offers a unique opportunity for Nigerian audiences to celebrate a film that has powerfully showcased a Nigerian story to the world and secured a historic Emmy win.
