Entertainment (Nigerian Filmmaker) _ Joel Kachi Benson has received an award at the 46th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards held in New York. The monumental win for Benson’s Madu marked the first Emmy award for a Nigerian documentary film.
The award in the Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary category was a significant achievement for Nigerian storytellers on international platforms and reaffirmed Benson’s skills as a pioneer in delivering narratives that resonate with and immerse audiences.
Co-directed by Kachi Benson and Matt Ogens, an American filmmaker, Madu features the real-life story of Anthony Madu, a young ballet dancer from the Lagos suburbs. The film is a depiction of how the dancer gained international recognition after a short clip of him performing barefoot in the rain went viral in 2022, reportedly receiving 16 million views.
The video made way for major opportunities in the dancer’s life, with Madu being offered a scholarship to attend Elmhurst Ballet School, which is widely considered one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. Benson’s documentary captures his process of Madu adjusting from a life in the Nigerian suburbs to the intense period of training he experienced at ballet school, focusing on both the appeal of the opportunity as well as the reality of its emotional toll.
Since Madu premiered on Disney+ in 2024, the documentary has received much praise, with critics admiring its blend of in-depth storytelling with a viral phenomenon. The movie was also nominated for Outstanding Direction—Documentary and was screened at several festivals, such as the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Lagos iREP International Documentary Film Festival.
Upon receiving the Emmy, Benson reflected on the victory on Instagram, conveying his respect and gratitude. The Emmy winner spoke on the creation of the film and emphasised the importance and impact of the African storytelling process. Madu is a representation of Benson’s commitment to giving a voice to the underrepresented and forgotten narratives through film.
Benson’s inspiring commitment can be traced back to his early works, such as Bakassi (2018), which he produced in. Bakassi was the first VR documentary to be made by a Nigerian filmmaker and followed a young boy in an internally displaced persons camp in Borno, a project that emphasised the psychological toll of displacement.
He garnered international recognition in 2019 for Daughters of Chibok, another VR film, which received an award at the Venice International Film Festival for Best Immersive Story (Linear). He was also listed that same year among the New African Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Africans. Daughters of Chibok also earned a place in Forbes’ Top 50 XR Experiences of 2019.
His role in the production of Madu has expanded his skillset from VR to the traditional form of documentaries while retaining the emotional sharpness and sensitivity to culture. The documentary has displayed the complex layers of reality, the opportunities brought by talent, and the impact of support systems that nurture potential.
Benson’s Emmy win counts as a major moment for Nigerian and African cinema, considering the immense international reception gained by a local story from Lagos, emphasising a rise in appreciation for diverse stories.
