Vanessa Obioha
The festival director of Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival, Mandisa Zitha, has critically praised Joel Kachi Benson’s ‘Mothers of Chibok’ which took the top prize, Best African Feature Documentary, at the festival on Sunday, June 29.
“‘Mothers of Chibok’ offers a patient portrayal of what it means to persist in spite of terror, personal loss, and indefinite longing,” said Zitha, adding that the jury’s statement articulates her own appreciation of the film.
“Framed gracefully in natural light, the director measures the passage of time from seed to harvest, exalting these women who — undeterred by fear — continue to cultivate the land so they can formally educate their children. The film receives the award for the aforementioned, and its delicate treatment of incorruptible love.”
‘Mothers of Chibok’ is a follow-up to Benson’s groundbreaking VR piece ‘Daughters of Chibok.’
Premiering earlier this year, the film gives voice to the enduring grief and resilience of the women whose daughters were abducted in the 2014 Chibok tragedy, reminding the world of a crisis still seeking closure. It builds on the legacy of ‘Daughters of Chibok,’ which won the Venice Lion for Best VR Story in 2019—the first for any African filmmaker in that category.
“Stories like ‘Madu’ and ‘Mothers of Chibok’ reinforce my belief that documentaries truly can change lives,” Benson shared.
At the festival screening, Zitha noted that the audience was particularly moved by the film’s role in shedding light on the lives of the women of Chibok—once at the centre of global headlines but now too often forgotten.
“There was particular curiosity about the women featured in the film: how the director found them, and what Joel Kachi Benson’s current relationship with them is. It was especially powerful to have Nigerian audience members present, offering local context and urging that the stories of the boys affected by the conflict also be acknowledged. The film succeeded in reigniting meaningful dialogue around the Chibok tragedy, both among Encounters audiences and in the media,” said Zitha.
With films like ‘Mothers of Chibok,’ Zitha said the Encounters festival is committed to serving as a platform to spotlight African documentaries and “help catapult them into regional and international festivals and markets through the visibility we offer.”
‘Mothers of Chibok’ win at Encounters comes on the heels of Benson’s historic Emmys triumph. He became the first Nigerian to win an Emmy after his Disney Original Documentary ‘Madu’ clinched the Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary at the 2025 News & Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City.
With both an Emmy and a continental grand jury prize in hand, Benson is solidifying his reputation as one of Africa’s leading impact storytellers. Through his Lagos-based production company, JB Multimedia Studios, he continues to challenge narratives, amplify unheard voices, and put Nigerian documentary filmmaking on the global map.
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