The acclaimed documentary Mothers of Chibok is set to arrive in cinemas across Nigeria and Ghana on February 27, with legendary actress Joke Silva serving as executive producer. Distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, the release represents the widest theatrical rollout ever for a Nigerian documentary.
The film tells the resilient story of Chibok mothers who continue farming their land to fund their children’s education, despite living under the shadow of Boko Haram—the militant group responsible for the 2014 abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls from the community. Mothers of Chibok is Benson’s second feature-length documentary, following his award-winning debut Madu, which made history in 2025. Benson became the first Nigerian to win a documentary Emmy for Madu, which is currently streaming on Disney+.
Mothers of Chibok premiered at DocNYC and has screened at festivals worldwide, including the Encounters Film Festival in South Africa, where it won the Encounters Al Jazeera Award for Best African Feature-Length Documentary.
The film’s theatrical release is particularly notable, as documentaries in Nigeria have typically bypassed cinemas, reaching audiences mainly through streaming platforms and festivals. While previous releases often leaned toward music or sports, Mothers of Chibok demonstrates the growing potential for nonfiction storytelling within Nollywood.
Produced by JB Multimedia Studios, Hunting Lane, and Impact Partners in association with Shark Island Productions, the documentary marks a pivotal moment for Nigerian cinema, highlighting the ongoing importance of telling the Chibok tragedy while showcasing the possibilities of documentary filmmaking in the country.
