Maàmi
My favorite Nigerian movie is one titled 'Maàmi' starring Funke Akindele as the titular character. I watched this movie with my entire family, and we were all unexpectedly engrossed!
The story follows a young man, Kashimawo, an internationally famous football star who comes back to Nigeria for the first time in many years to participate in a Cup. Once here, he returns to his roots as a poor kid, going back to the streets he roamed, each holding a special memory. As he visits these places, we go with him into his memories... Memories of his mother Maàmi, and the last lessons she taught him.
It was a Yoruba/English movie with excellent subtitles. There was even a scene in which Maàmi spoke Hausa while defending her son --one of the most intense scenes in the movie..
The bulk of the story happens in the flashbacks, on Kashimawo's 12th birthday. Though they were extremely poor, Maàmi decides to treat him and celebrate that day by cooking a splendid soup with meat and rich ingredients, something Kashi very rarely gets to eat. However, Kashi's curiousity about his unknown father has been increasing lately, and after years of silence, Maàmi finally decides to tell/show him the truth...
This is a must watch movie for everyone! It's very intense and quite heartbreaking, but it teaches a lot of lessons about childhood and life.
