I believe the first step in storytelling is listening—deeply, openly, and without assumption. Whether I’m directing a documentary, a narrative film, or a hybrid work that blends cinema and live performance, I begin with real stories rooted in lived experience. Some remain in the nonfiction space; others evolve into narratives that explore emotional truths through fiction. My aim in either case is to honor what’s real and bring visibility to what’s often overlooked or unheard.
As a first-generation Nigerian raised in Portland, I’ve spent my life moving between cultural worlds—often translating myself in spaces that didn’t fully see me. That sense of in-between shaped how I view identity, belonging, and transformation. It also drives the kinds of stories I tell: ones grounded in resilience, tension, and the quiet power of becoming. I am inspired by oral traditions, community histories, and the collective memory of those whose stories have too often been erased or ignored. My work draws on these influences and fuses them with my training in journalism, film, and theater.
Over time, my practice has evolved from simply directing films to creating spaces for others to share their stories. I lead Lion Speaks, a nonprofit that mentors historically excluded Black and BIPOC creatives in media. Collaboration, mentorship, and access are central to my creative process. I often begin new work by listening: conducting interviews and gathering narratives that can be transformed into film, theater, or multimedia pieces.
Currently, I am exploring how technology and interactive media can deepen audience engagement and create more inclusive storytelling spaces. My goal is to build a body of work that is emotionally grounded and culturally expansive—films, series, and collaborative projects that foster reflection, empathy, and connection, while widening the circle of who gets to be seen and heard.
My latest feature film, Outdoor School, premiered at the American Black Film Festival in 2025 and is currently on the festival circuit. Based on true story, first shared on The Moth, and feature in the New York Times Bestselling book How to Tell a Story, the film explores themes of resilience, homelessness, and transformation in 1990's Portland. OutdoorSchoolMovie
As a first-generation Nigerian raised in Portland, I’ve spent my life moving between cultural worlds—often translating myself in spaces that didn’t fully see me. That sense of in-between shaped how I view identity, belonging, and transformation. It also drives the kinds of stories I tell: ones grounded in resilience, tension, and the quiet power of becoming. I am inspired by oral traditions, community histories, and the collective memory of those whose stories have too often been erased or ignored. My work draws on these influences and fuses them with my training in journalism, film, and theater.
Over time, my practice has evolved from simply directing films to creating spaces for others to share their stories. I lead Lion Speaks, a nonprofit that mentors historically excluded Black and BIPOC creatives in media. Collaboration, mentorship, and access are central to my creative process. I often begin new work by listening: conducting interviews and gathering narratives that can be transformed into film, theater, or multimedia pieces.
Currently, I am exploring how technology and interactive media can deepen audience engagement and create more inclusive storytelling spaces. My goal is to build a body of work that is emotionally grounded and culturally expansive—films, series, and collaborative projects that foster reflection, empathy, and connection, while widening the circle of who gets to be seen and heard.
My latest feature film, Outdoor School, premiered at the American Black Film Festival in 2025 and is currently on the festival circuit. Based on true story, first shared on The Moth, and feature in the New York Times Bestselling book How to Tell a Story, the film explores themes of resilience, homelessness, and transformation in 1990's Portland. OutdoorSchoolMovie
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