The Man Died, a feature adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s prison memoir produced by acclaimed filmmaker and Zuri24 Media founder Femi Odugbemi, dominated the 2025 Zuma International Film Festival, taking home multiple awards including Best Picture.
Odugbemi announced the wins on his official Instagram page, expressing deep gratitude to the cast, crew and partners for believing in the project and helping shape The Man Died into a powerful, meaningful journey. The feature also earned Best Director for Awam Amkpa and Agbo Kelly, Best Supporting Actor for Sam Dede, and Best Costume for Toyin Ogundeji.
Starring veteran actor Wale Ojo, The Man Died recounts Soyinka’s 27 months of imprisonment in 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War, a period marked by his efforts to broker a truce between Biafra and the Nigerian government.
The latest honours at the Zuma Film Festival further solidify the film’s impressive festival trajectory, underscoring the international resonance of its story and reaffirming Soyinka’s historic role during the Civil War.