Meji Alabi Discovers a New Directorial Approach in Tiwa Savage’s “Water and Garri” 

Originally, Meji Alabi had no intention of making a film. The idea behind the visuals for Tiwa Savage’s two-part EP Water & Garri, whom he has collaborated on several music videos for many years, was to bring the project’s lush, experimental, and ultimately ambitious audio to life.

However, they soon began to consider more broadly and made the decision to give the film a more comprehensive story arc.

This is the story of how the new feature film, Water and Garri, which stars Savage and is executive produced by Alabi, came to be.

In the film ‘Water and Garri’, Savage’s character, Aisha, a renowned fashion designer, goes back to her childhood home to find the answers to some challenging problems.

Mike Afolarin and Jemima Osunde, both Nigerian actors, are in the production. Alabi, who was also involved in the script’s development, transports audiences to a perilous place where fear, bravery, compassion, retaliation, and love all collide and erupt.

Ahead of the release of Water and Garri, Alabi talks to OkayAfrica about his experience making the film and applying his other directorial skills to filmmaking, amongst other things.

Meji loved the fact that Tiwa was involved every step of the way and being the queen of Afrobeats, really meant a lot.

“For her to take the time out and be serious about this and not just show up as if, ‘I can do it,’ but work with me and the [other] actors, was amazing. This was a new challenge for all of us and it was great to see her step into the fold with us and get our hands dirty.” Meji said.

Meji Alabi loves every aspect of filmmaking, but the highlight for him is being on set and witnessing everything he imagined and planned on paper come to life.