Toluwani Obayan
{{multiple issues|{{POV|date=October 2024}}
{{Peacock|date=October 2024}}
{{use Nigerian English|date=October 2024}}|collapsed=yes|section=y}} {{Short description|Nigerian screenwriter (born 1990)}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Toluwani Obayan
| image = Toluwani Obayan.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|8|13|df=y}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Author|screenwriter|director}}
| language = English
| education =
| alma_mater = {{ubl|Covenant University (Bsc)|University of Portsmouth (MA)}}
| genre =
| notableworks = {{ubl|Ponzi|This Lady Called Life}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Jeremiah Osibe|2023}}
| awards =
| nationality = Nigerian
| birth_name = Toluwani Obayan Osibe
}}
Toluwani Obayan Osibe (born 13 August 1990) is a Nigerian author, screenwriter, and director known for her contributions to the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood.{{Cite web |last=Memeh |first=Kikachi |date=2022-01-15 |title=7 Nollywood Screenwriters We Want More of in 2022 |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/7-nollywood-screenwriters-we-want-more-of-in-2022/k1fd9t0 |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=SheWrites 30: A Celebration of 30 Outstanding Female Screenwriters in Nollywood |url=https://whatkeptmeup.com/nollywood-movies/shewrites-30-a-celebration-of-30-outstanding-female-screenwriters-in-nollywood/ |website=What Kept Me Up.com|date=9 March 2024 }}
Osibe wrote Ponzi (2021),{{Cite web |last=Lawal |first=Khadijat |date=2021-02-23 |title=Ponzi, 'La femme Anjola... Nigerian movies that will hit the screens in March |url=https://dailytrust.com/ponzi-la-femme-anjola-nigerian-movies-that-will-hit-the-screens-in-march |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=Daily Trust |language=en}} a comedic film about Nigeria’s economic challenges, This Lady Called Life (2020), and Something Like Gold (2023). She also directed the short film Heart & Might and authored Becoming A Spectacular Woman (2018).{{Cite book |last=Obayan |first=Toluwani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJ1TswEACAAJ |title=Becoming A Spectacular Woman |date=2018-02-02 |publisher=Whole Healthy Group LLC |isbn=978-978-963-902-1 |language=en}}
Early life and education
Toluwani Obayan Osibe was born in Ilorin, Nigeria.{{Cite web |title=Aize Olohigbe Obayan 1960 - 2019 |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/aize-obayan-1960-2019/ |website=The Nation}} She is of mixed Nigerian heritage; her father is from Kogi State, her mother is from Edo State, and her paternal grandmother is from Abia State. Her family lived in England from 1996 to 1999.{{Cite web |title=The Nation (Roehampton Institute) |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/aize-obayan-1960-2019/ }}
Toluwani completed a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication at Covenant University in 2012, followed by a Master's degree in Film and Television Studies from the University of Portsmouth, England, in 2014.{{Cite web |title=Toluwani Obayan |url=https://www.theinclusionproject.com/people/toluwani-obayan/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=The Inclusion project |language=en-CA}}{{Unreliable source|date=October 2024|reason=WP:THEINCLUSIONPROJECT}}{{Failed verification|date=October 2024|reason=Source doesn't verify all the information in the previous sentences.}}
Career
Toluwani's career in Nollywood began as a video editor at Wale Adenuga Productions.{{Cite web |title=Wale Adenuga Show |website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11562907/ }}
Her directorial debut was Heart & Might (2017), a short film about individuals involved in the fight against Boko Haram. In 2017, she was a staff writer at The Other News and became head writer by 2019.{{Cite web |title=The Other News | website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27125158/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st#cast }} She was a screenwriter for This Lady Called Life (2020). She received the Best of Nollywood (BON) Award for Best Screenplay and an Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award (AMVCA) nomination for Best Writer.{{Cite web |last=Oyero |first=Ezekiel |date=2022-03-20 |title=AMVCA 8: Organisers announce nominees in 33 categories |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/518383-amvca-8-organisers-announce-nominees-in-33-categories.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=AMVCA 2022 Nominees |url=https://www.dstv.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/amvca/season/8/news/full-list-here-are-all-our-amvca-8-nominees/news }}{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2020 |title=BON Awards: 'Living in Bondage', 'This Lady Called Life' win big |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/bon-awards-living-in-bondage-this-lady-called-life-win-big/ |website=vanguardngr}}
In 2021, she wrote Ponzi. Her recent work includes Something Like Gold. At the time of writing, she is directing her debut feature film as part of the First Features initiative by Native Filmworks.{{Cite web |title=The Guardian |date=19 February 2022 |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/weekend-beats/natives-filmworks-michelangelo-tap-young-directors-for-movie-projects/ }}
Recognition and influence
Toluwani Obayan Osibe's work has been featured in Nigerian and international publications. She also participates in initiatives related to emerging filmmakers and writers in Nigerian cinema.{{Cite magazine |last=Chen |first=Adrian |title=Using Comedy to Strengthen Nigeria's Democracy |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/22/using-comedy-to-strengthen-nigerias-democracy |magazine=The New Yorker |date=15 January 2018 }}{{Cite web |last=Olanrewaju |first=Oluwadamilola |date=2024-07-19 |title=7 Nollywood Screenwriters You Should Know |url=https://www.zikoko.com/pop/nollywood-screenwriters-you-should-know/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=Zikoko |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=#AFRICANXT 2023 Schedule |url=https://africanxt.sched.com/directory/speakers/2 |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=africanxt.sched.com}}
Personal life
Toluwani is married to Jeremiah Osibe, an actuarial analyst and author of Village Man and City Man. The couple are involved in creative and community initiatives in Nigeria.{{Cite web |title=Toluwani Obayan and Jeremiah Osibe's Wedding Website |url=https://www.zola.com/wedding/toluwaniandjeremiah |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=www.zola.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Storystory Village Community |url=https://x.com/Storyvillagers |website=Twitter}}
Filmography
- Heart & Might (2017)
- The Other News (2017–2019)
- This Lady Called Life (2020){{Cite web |last=Udugba |first=Anthony |date=2022-02-14 |title=Top Nollywood Valentine movies on Netflix |url=https://businessday.ng/arts-and-life/article/top-nollywood-valentine-movies-on-netflix/ |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=Businessday NG |language=en-US}}
- Ponzi (2021)
- Something Like Gold (2023)
Awards and recognition
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| Year
!Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref |
|---|
| 2022
|Best Writer (Movie/TV Series) |{{nom}} |{{cite web | title=AMVCA: 2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list - BBC News Pidgin | website=BBC News Pidgin | date=March 21, 2022 | url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-60818021 | access-date=July 16, 2022}}{{cite web | last=Oyero | first=Ezekiel | title=AMVCA 8: Organisers announce nominees in 33 categories | website=Premium Times Nigeria | date=March 20, 2022 | url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/518383-amvca-8-organisers-announce-nominees-in-33-categories.html | access-date=November 17, 2022}} |
| 2020
|2020 Best of Nollywood Awards |Best Screenplay | {{Won}} | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb_name|11562907|Toluwani Obayan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obayan, Toluwani}}
Category:Nigerian screenwriters
Category:Nigerian women writers