NIGERIAN FILMMAKER JOEL KACHI BENSON MAKES HISTORY WITH EMMY WIN FOR VIRAL BALLET DOCUMENTARY ‘MADU’

Benson wins 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary in the film "Madu".

Nigeria Filmmaker 2025 emmy award Film Africa.
Nigerian filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson
Nigerian filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson


In a landmark achievement for African storytelling, Nigerian filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson has clinched the 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary for his deeply moving film Madu, marking a proud moment for Nigeria on the global media stage.

The documentary, which premiered globally on Disney+ in March 2024, traces the real-life story of Anthony Madu, a young ballet dancer from Lagos whose barefoot dance in the rain, captured in a now-iconic 44-second viral video, ignited a journey from the streets of Nigeria to the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in the United Kingdom.

Co-directed by Benson and American filmmaker Matt Ogens, the Disney Original Documentary stood out at the 46th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards, held on Thursday in New York City, beating out acclaimed nominees like Hollywood Black, Butterfly in the Sky, and King Coal (POV).

Since its release, Madu has received widespread acclaim for its rich emotional depth, visual storytelling, and raw portrayal of talent and resilience in unlikely places. It was also nominated in the category of Outstanding Direction – Documentary and featured at prominent film festivals, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Nigeria’s own iREP International Documentary Film Festival.

Reacting to the win on Instagram, Benson expressed deep gratitude and reflection, “We won an Emmy!!! Times like these, I look back and I’m grateful for the journey, the pain, and the progress. It wasn’t always easy, but the Almighty remains the ultimate source of strength.”

He dedicated the award to Nigeria and “every child with a dream,” adding, “It takes a village to raise a child… so I thank EVERYONE who’s been on this journey with me. This win is for us, the ones who dare to keep dreaming even when the world is laughing.”

Madu is not only a triumph of storytelling but a celebration of hope, possibility, and the enduring spirit of African youth. It is a reminder that powerful stories can start from the humblest places and still echo across the world.

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