Celebrated lead female afrobeat singer, Tiwa Savage, quietly transitioned to the film world. After her back-to-back projects, tours, and private performances, she wanted something more out of her career and name. She wanted a challenge.
Yesterday she successfully held a private screening of her debut full-length feature film: Water & Garri. She has been on set since 2021 after the release of an EP by the same name. Tired of doing the same old music videos, she thought, why not color outside the box and do something different this time? Inspired by Beyonce’s “Black Is King”, she settled on the idea of a short film. When she incorporated the ideas of seasoned music video director Meji Alabi, they ended up shooting a full-length feature film.
Synopsis of The Film
Water & Garri revolves around, Aisha, played by Tiwa, who returns to Nigeria after spending a decade abroad. She is not prepared for the cultural shifts she encounters as she tries to find a way to settle back in and pursue her childhood dream of being a fashion designer. Winds of change have blown hard and shifted her environment and old friends and the tracklists therein capture these feelings aptly.
She worked on new tracks for the film and the genres range from gospel, RnB, trap, and pop. She has featured artists like Ghanaian afro-reggae act Black Sheriff, another Ghanaian Amaarae who is great at switching genres, Grammy-nominated Ayra Starr, Olamide, and gifted producer Young Jonn.
Meji Alabi, a renowned Nigerian music video director, also makes a debut movie directorial role with this film. He captures the scenes and setting in a way that makes you crave Africa in a rather different way. The feeling of being home.
This film is a result of major partnerships between conglomerates to cater to the rising demand for African content in the world right now.
What do you hope people take away from this film?
First of all, if they’ve never been to Africa, they should come because the way Meji shot it was so beautiful. And I’d say not being afraid to pursue your dream. Where Aisha she’s coming from, you would never imagine that she could be anything.
But she ended up being very successful as a fashion designer, but then she still went back home. So, I think the film can encourage anyone. I don’t care if you’re from the slums, all it takes is just that dream and it definitely can happen. Whatever you put out, what you speak with your tongue, it has to – it will to come back.” she told Esquire magazine.
The private screening and Q&A with the cast was held yesterday in New York City. The film debuts today on Prime Video.
