The Emmy Award-winning documentary Madu has premiered on National Geographic across Africa, telling the story of Nigerian ballet student Anthony Madu, whose viral dance video captured global attention.
The documentary first aired on Sunday, December 14, on National Geographic (DStv 181), and is scheduled for a repeat broadcast on Friday, December 19, at 19:30 WAT.
Madu traces Anthony’s journey from practising ballet barefoot on the streets of Lagos to studying abroad after a video of him dancing went viral online. The footage drew international admiration and opened doors that transformed his life.
The film follows the 12-year-old as he leaves Nigeria for England to train at Elmhurst Ballet School, one of the world’s leading ballet institutions. Having spent most of his life within his Lagos neighbourhood, Anthony must adjust to a new culture, environment, and expectations while pursuing his dream of becoming a professional dancer.
Along the way, the documentary explores the challenges he faces, including personal setbacks that threaten to derail his progress. It also examines themes of discipline, resilience, and belonging as Anthony navigates an unfamiliar world far from home.
Madu is a Disney original documentary and adds to National Geographic’s slate of human-interest films spotlighting remarkable real-life stories.