Joseph Jonathan

Variations on a Theme
MIFF 2026: “Variations on a Theme” Is a Masterpiece That Occasionally Forgets to Trust Itself

Variations on a Theme is proof that the most political act available to cinema is…

Chronicles from the Siege
MIFF 2026: “Chronicles From the Siege” Is the Film That Says What Politics Has Failed To

With Chronicles from the Siege, Abdallah Al-Khatib proves that cinema is indeed political and that…

Dao
MIFF 2026: Alain Gomis’ “Dao” Is a Three-Hour Act of Cultural Memory That Earns Every Minute It Asks For

Dao is the kind of film that announces its ambitions in every frame and then,…

Zikoko Life
“Zikoko Life” Review: Big Cabal’s Anthology Mostly Finds Its Rhythm in Its Second Edition

If this is what a second edition looks like under pressure to match its predecessor,…

What Do the Maknines Dream Of
MIFF 2026: “What Do the Maknines Dream Of”, “Obi Is a Boy”, and “Whispers of a Burning Scent” Find Beauty in the Difficult Act of Letting Go

Whether contemplating migration, gender identity, or an unconventional romance, What Do the Maknines Dream Of,…

VeryDarkMan
Who Needs the Government When You Can Tag Someone Else?

The ultimate measure of a functioning society is not how many generous citizens it can…

justice
Justice Needs an Audience: How Nigeria Turned Punishment Into Content

Once punishment becomes something to be watched rather than merely witnessed, the question is no…

The Almajiri
“The Almajiri” Review: Jammal Ibrahim’s Debut Asks Difficult Questions About Education, Faith, and Northern Nigeria’s Future

Perhaps The Almajiri’s greatest achievement is that it refuses simplistic answers to deeply complicated questions.…

Agesinkole: King of Thieves 2
“Agesinkole: King of Thieves 2” Review: Femi Adebayo’s Yoruba Epic Has the Architecture of Greatness But an Overwritten Screenplay

Agesinkole: King of Thieves 2 is an unusual sequel. It succeeds more as an act…

arthouse
Arthouse vs. Indie: What’s the Difference?

Independent cinema tells us about the conditions under which a film was made. Arthouse cinema…