Horror films don’t typically capture top honors at film festivals, but this past January, history was made when an African horror film, Nanny, was awarded the grand jury prize for drama at Sundance. A visually beautiful film by Nikyatu Jusu, it tells the story of an undocumented Senegalese immigrant working as a nanny for an affluent couple in New York. Recently acquired for worldwide distribution by Blumhouse and Amazon Prime Video, Nanny is rooted in the horror genre and thus is positioned to attract a wide audience when it is released. But it is the African inspirations and Jusu’s commitment to authenticity that give the film its unique identity. In telling this culturally-specific story spanning two continents, Jusu is able to do something that is important to her: use filmmaking to bridge the gaps between Africa and the diaspora, particularly with African-Americans.
SOURCE: MAIL & GUARDIAN
More Stories
How to Experience Lagos and Parts of Nigeria
From Former Refugee to Travel Fundi
Living Wild in Zambia’s National Park
A Traveller’s Guide to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Rwanda is Home to Many other Thrilling Species – If you Know Where to Look
Akwasi Brenya-Mensa on Tatale: “My Work is About What African Cuisine Will Look Like in 30 to 50 Years’ Time”
Behold ‘The Woman King’: Viola Davis as a Real-Life Warrior General
10 Questions With… Nfemi Marcus-Bello
Meet the Ghanaian Author Documenting the History of African Designers
Beyoncé Has Helped Usher in a Renaissance for African Artists
Angola’s Privatisation Campaign is an Experiment
Trouble in Abuja’s Airspace