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| Image:BellaNaija |
The Nigerian documentary Mothers of Chibok is set to premiere in cinemas across Nigeria and Ghana on 27 February 2026, marking one of the widest theatrical releases for a Nigerian-made documentary.
The film, directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Joel ‘Kachi’ Benson, highlights the resilience and determination of women in Chibok who continue to farm their land to support their children’s education years after Boko Haram abducted hundreds of schoolgirls in 2014.
Veteran actor, producer, and educator Joke Silva joins the project as Executive Producer, lending her experience and voice to a story that shines a light on a side of Chibok’s women rarely seen in media coverage.
Silva explained her motivation for supporting the documentary, stating, “After watching, I realised that we don’t often think about these women.
We don’t understand what their journey has been. What Kachi has done with this film is amazing. By hearing their voices and seeing their routines, we the audience understand that the Chibok tragedy is about families, about education, about community.
I couldn’t be more thrilled to support a filmmaker like Kachi, whose record of the endurance, resistance and resilience of the Mothers of Chibok will make it harder for future generations to forget what happened to the girls and their families in 2014 and what continues to happen to them now.”
Mothers of Chibok does not solely focus on the 2014 abduction but rather on the daily lives, perseverance, and hope of these women as they continue to provide for their families despite ongoing challenges.
This documentary represents Benson’s second feature-length work and builds on his reputation for telling stories of resilience. His debut documentary, Madu, earned him a historic Emmy award in 2025, making him the first Nigerian to achieve such recognition.
FilmOne Entertainment will distribute the documentary, with Head of Distribution Victoria Ogar noting, “We’re thrilled to be bringing this powerful and hopeful documentary to audiences throughout Nigeria and Ghana.
We believe there is a growing audience for documentary storytelling in West Africa, and we’re excited for them to discover Kachi’s beautiful film, which deserves to be seen in a theatrical environment.”
The film has already enjoyed international acclaim, premiering at DocNYC and screening at numerous film festivals.
It won the Encounters Al Jazeera Award for Best African Feature-Length Documentary at the Encounters Film Festival in South Africa. Produced by JB Multimedia Studios, Hunting Lane, and Impact Partners, in association with Shark Island Productions, the project features a team of Nigerian and international producers and executive producers.
Benson emphasizes that the documentary aims to shift the narrative surrounding the women of Chibok, showing them not just as victims of tragedy, but as pillars of their community.
“One cannot know the mothers of Chibok until you truly know the depth of their strength and resilience.
My aim is to use this film to show a side to these heroines that the world never sees: women who have stood, and continue to stand as pillars in the Chibok community, comforting each other, upholding each other, and above all hoping and working together to make tomorrow better for their children,” he said.
With its upcoming release, Mothers of Chibok promises to offer both a powerful and hopeful perspective on one of Nigeria’s most tragic events, reminding audiences of the courage and tenacity of the women who endured and continue to rebuild.
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