Victor Eyike’s “Gba Esin Wa!” Nominated For Yora Film Awards

Gba Esin Wa!, a documentary written and directed by Nigerian filmmaker Victor Eyike is set to debut at the upcoming Yora 2025 International Film Awards, where it is nominated for Best Social Impact Documentary in Kenya. 

Speaking exclusively to The Nollywood Reporter,  Eyike revealed that the documentary, with a Yoruba title translating to Save Our Religion!, was inspired by a previous article he wrote for Minority Africa. 

The premise for both the article and documentary, according to him, follow the story of Oreoluwa Adedoyin, a Filmmaker and Traditionalist, particularly the discrimination she endures at her workplace because of her faith. 

“The funny thing is I didn’t have plans of submitting it to festivals. I only gave her the full documentary for herself. She was the one who submitted it for some festivals and reached out to me that they wanted to talk to me,” he shared. 

The filmmaker, who is pleased with people’s interest in Adedoyin’s story, said that while he may not be a traditionalist and identify as a Catholic, he believes that she deserves respect and dignity regardless of her faith. 

As the writer-director for Gba Esin Wa!, Eyike confirmed that the documentary’s recent nomination validates that our stories are not only seen but also heard by a wider audience. 

“Getting this nomination fills me with joy. It makes me want to create more and yea, I’m working towards that with my next project,” he added. 

On further distribution plans for Gba Esin Wa!, Eyike disclosed that there are none at the moment. From a personal perspective, he noted that he intentionally chooses to focus more on conveying a good message than promotion. 

Known for his award-winning film, Road Trip (2024), the 2024 Minority Africa Fellow, hopes to create more  impactful stories aside from Gba Esin Wa!  as a filmmaker.