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WafricNews – June 29, 2025

In a groundbreaking moment for African storytelling, Nigerian filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson has won a prestigious Emmy Award for his Disney documentary Madu, a deeply moving portrait of a young Nigerian ballet dancer whose journey from Lagos to the global stage has captivated audiences worldwide.

At the 2025 News and Documentary Emmy Awards held in New York City, Madu took home the honour for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary, solidifying Benson’s place among the world’s most celebrated documentary voices. The film also received recognition for Outstanding Direction, shared with co-director and American filmmaker Matt Ogens.

The Emmy Awards, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), celebrated Madu as a standout in a competitive field that included high-profile titles such as As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial, Hollywood Black, and King Coal (POV).

At the ceremony, Benson, who hails from Abia State, took to the stage with a message that echoed across continents:

“This win is for Nigeria. We dedicate it to Anthony Madu and every child with a dream. The world is ready to hear your story.”

A Story That Started in the Rain

Madu tells the remarkable true story of Anthony Madu, who was only 11 years old when a 44-second clip of him dancing barefoot in the Lagos rain went viral in 2020. That video — viewed over 16 million times — opened doors to an international ballet scholarship in the United Kingdom and set the stage for his transformation from local talent to global inspiration.

The documentary follows Anthony’s personal and artistic evolution, tracing his steps from the streets of Lagos to the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, England.

For co-director Matt Ogens, the story transcended dance.

“Madu is about more than movement — it’s about identity, courage, and belonging. We set out to tell a story that matters, and the world responded.”

He added that the Emmy win “is more than an honour — it’s a celebration of resilience, representation, and the power of storytelling to uplift voices that are too often overlooked.”

A Win for African Voices

Reacting on social media, Kachi Benson wrote:

“We won an Emmy!!! This is for all of us who dare to dream, even when the world doubts us. The journey, the pain, the progress — it all led here.”

Benson, whose creative focus has long been rooted in stories that elevate African narratives, is no stranger to global acclaim. In 2019, he became the first African to win the prestigious Venice Lion Award for his virtual reality film Daughters of Chibok. Its sequel, Mothers of Chibok, premiered earlier this year and continues to travel the global film festival circuit.

Speaking about Madu, Benson called the project “deeply personal,” noting that filming Anthony’s story felt like documenting the parallel journeys of two individuals — one dancing toward his dreams, the other capturing what it means to believe in them.

“This film reminds us that hope can rise from the unlikeliest places. Madu is proof that the world is hungry for authentic African stories — not just the ones told about us, but the ones we tell ourselves,” he said in an earlier interview.
Global Spotlight, African Heart

Madu premiered globally on Disney+ in March 2025, with its first Nigerian screening held at the iREP International Documentary Film Festival in Lagos. The documentary has since been showcased at major festivals, including Santa Barbara, and has been hailed for its cinematography, emotional depth, and cultural relevance.

As African filmmakers continue to make their mark on the global stage, Kachi Benson’s Emmy win represents more than a personal victory — it’s a statement of intent for a continent brimming with stories ready to be told on its own terms.



By WafricNews Desk.

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