By Ayo Onikoyi
A Filmmaker, Laju Iren better known as The Lord’s Storyteller has said audiences should expect a refreshing take on female representation in her upcoming movie, Onobirẹ́n: A Woman’s Story, set to hit cinemas on March 6.
Speaking in an interview with Potpourri, Iren emphasized the need for more multidimensional portrayals of women in African storytelling, particularly stories that move beyond marriage and motherhood as primary identifiers.
“If you notice very closely, having strong female characters — especially when it doesn’t directly deal with marriage and family — is not really very prevalent in our part of the world.Women are multifaceted people, but many stories do not really present them as multifaceted.
The film introduces Roli, a fisherwoman and businesswoman, whose journey reflects the realities of many African women whose contributions often go underrepresented on screen.
“There are many African women like that around the continent, but we don’t really see that come to the fore in storytelling. There are lots of stories of a woman as a wife and a woman as a mother, and those things should never be gainsaid. But it will be good to see a woman challenge gender norms.”
Beyond its social commentary, the filmmaker revealed that her Christian faith also influenced the story’s direction. According to her, the life and example of Jesus Christ — particularly in the way he related with and respected women — inspired an added spiritual dimension to the narrative.
“Because I am also a person of faith, I wanted to have an element of faith brought into it,” she said.
Onobirẹ́n: A Woman’s Story opens in cinemas nationwide on March 6, promising a thought-provoking narrative that highlights resilience, faith and the evolving role of women in society.
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