Emmy-winning filmmaker Joel ‘Kachi Benson has received the Al Jazeera Award for Best African Feature Documentary at the 27th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival for his latest work, “Mothers of Chibok”.
The film, which screened on June 21 and 28, offers a powerful portrayal of the women left behind after the 2014 Boko Haram abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria.
Rather than focus solely on the tragedy, “Mothers of Chibok” honors the strength of the women, mothers, sisters, and farmers who chose to remain in their community. The documentary captures how they continue to tend to their land, their prayers, and their hope, despite enduring profound loss. As previously reported by The Nollywood Reporter, the film reflects quiet defiance and emotional endurance.
Shot in natural light and paced with meditative grace, the documentary unfolds season by season, harvest by harvest, echoing the rhythms of rural life. It frames its subjects not as victims, but as women who invest in the futures their daughters once dreamed of pursuing.
The documentary triumphed in a competitive field, with Kethiwe Ngcobo’s “And She Didn’t Die” named runner-up in the African category. “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk” by Sepideh Farsi took home the award for Best International Feature Documentary.
In his acceptance speech, Benson dedicated the award to the women featured in the film. “This documentary was born not just out of pain, but out of unimaginable strength—the kind only a mother who has endured the unendurable can know,” he said. “They are not just subjects; they are the beating heart of this film.”
He concluded by extending his dedication more broadly: “To the Mothers of Chibok and to every mother out there—waiting, hoping, and fighting to be heard—this award is for you.”
The win follows Benson’s recent Emmy recognition and further underscores the role of documentary filmmaking in spotlighting human resilience, particularly in communities shaped by conflict and loss.