Native Filmworks Releases First Look at The Almajiri

Native Filmworks and Michealangelo Productions have released the first look at The Almajiri, the 11th title in their acclaimed First Features project, and confirmed that principal photography is underway.

The production, already attracting international attention, recently welcomed foreign dignitaries, including the Minister of Creative Economy, Entertainment and the Arts for St. Kitts and Nevis, to its Kano set.

Set in the city of Kano, the drama follows a gifted Almajiri determined to defy poverty and societal expectations to pursue his dream of becoming a tech engineer. His journey highlights the tension between ambition and the rigid constraints of a society that offers little support for such aspirations.

Written by Chikainene Oma and directed by Jammal Ibrahim — a graduate of the First Features class of 2021 — the film marks Ibrahim’s feature directorial debut. The cast includes Sani Mu’azu, Ijapari Ben-Hirki, Saleem Abubakar Mohammad, Jamila Yahaya Ibrahim, Musa Muhammed, Ahmed Isa Ramadan, and Ashraf Abdullahi.

The First Features project, a collaboration between Native Filmworks, led by Steve Gukas, and Michealangelo Productions, headed by Dotun Olakunri, provides mentorship, training, and funding to help emerging filmmakers deliver their first feature films.

Previous titles from the initiative include; At Ease, The Lost Days, A Father’s Love, Love & Life, It Blooms in June, and Katangari Goes to Town, many of which secured distribution on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video.

Filming for The Almajiri is ongoing in Kano and Abuja, with an exclusive release planned for late 2025. Additional details, including distribution partners, are expected to be announced as production progresses.