Ayankola Ayanwuyi’s short documentary on Egungun Ajomogbodo has travelled the world, screening at Stanford and international festivals

Nigerian author, cultural educator and documentary filmmaker, Ayankola Ayanwuyi, has expressed delight at the global reception of his 2022 short film Space-Sitting Prowess of Egungun Ajomogbodo.

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The documentary, which explores the place of Egungun in Yoruba culture, was initially conceived as an educational project but has since surpassed his expectations.

“When I produced Space-Sitting Prowess of Egungun Ajomogbodo in 2022, I made it to educate people on the subject of Egungun in Yoruba culture, never imagining it would be featured at multiple international film festivals,” Ayanwuyi said.

Despite shifting focus to new projects in 2023, the documentary has continued to make waves, screening at events across several continents, including a showcase at Stanford University in the United States.

The film’s success underscores the growing appetite for indigenous African cultural narratives on the world stage, while also affirming Ayanwuyi’s role as a key voice in preserving and interpreting Yoruba traditions for contemporary audiences.