Taiwo Ogunnimo: Retelling Sex Education Through Films

Taiwo Ogunnimo, the winner of the 2022 AMVCA short film category is, interestingly, a  lecturer in the UK and a web content creator. Revealing that the short film, “I Am The Prostitute Mama Described”, was inspired by a relative, she immediately drew off that knowledge to teach how misconceptions are detrimental to society. In a chat with Guardian Life, Taiwo tells the team about stereotypes and retelling sex education in her films and her victory thus far.

You just won your first ever AMVCA in its eighth edition, for your short film, “I Am The Prostitute Mama Described”. What inspired the film? 

First off, I must say that I am overjoyed because if I could recall when I was a little younger, I particularly always rehearse my AMVCA speech, I told myself consistently that I would be on that stage someday but of course, I thought I would need to have written a magnificent feature film to even think of AMVCA. This short film was literally inspired by my niece’s grandmother, that is, the “Mama” character. One day, I was having a conversation with my auntie regarding her mother, and I was in shock as to what her mother went through in her marriage, all in the name of cultural beliefs. I thought it through and said to myself, “how did we get here in the first place?” God is not against sex; I mean, He created it for procreation and for pleasure, but the clause there is, the individuals partaking in it must be married hence, no premarital sex. So I imagined being her daughter and having that level of trust in her, then carrying that weakened knowledge of sex to my husband’s house. Now it is going to be two things; it is either I do what she taught me and possibly lose my husband and home or I dance to my husband’s tune, which might affect my relationship with her.

What cultural stereotypes were you hoping to address with the film?

I addressed two generations and their belief system. Judging from what I have heard and experienced personally, parents do not see the relevance of sex education in the home. This film goes beyond sex education. Nevertheless, our parents’ generation deprived the female gender of good times. It seems like having high libido or asking for sex from your husband is not womanly hence, females die in silence.

Briefly tell us about your journey into writing and storytelling.

I started writing over fifteen years when my mother died. I was depressed as a child, so I needed to pour out all my emotions somewhere because I couldn’t verbally express myself. I love to read, so it was easy for me to find my style of writing. I started with poems then moved to dark stories, love, erotica and to the formal type of writing that is articles, financial blogs, and the likes.

I identify as a versatile writer. Writing is an innate ability for me, but of course, I had the formal knowledge of it too. I studied English in Babcock University, got my first Master’s in Literature from UNILAG and the second Master’s in Communication, Culture and Media in the UK.

I sincerely believe that, for you to be a good writer or a storyteller, any story you tell should keep your readers asking different questions.

What contributions do you intend to make in Nollywood? 

I love Nollywood, but what I have noticed is that some Nigerian producers who push stories out arguably have wrong motives. Basically, they build their contents around what is trending, not minding that since it is a trend, it would die quickly. In addition, some of them are looking for fame, so they write shallow stories just to stay on our screens. I really want to write stories that we all are scared of telling, talk about our cultural stereotypes, expose what is going on in our heads that the masses see as barbaric- I want to make spell bound stories that can stay relevant for decades. I know this is a complex question, but I will say I am a growing writer and creative, and all I intend to contribute is nothing but myself.

Were you expecting to win? What was your reaction to hearing your name called as the winner? Who did you really want to talk to at that very electrifying moment?

It was really dicey. I have watched almost all the films in my category, and I must say, all of them are brilliant so I was literally uncertain, but I was grateful because this is my first short film and in less than a year, it got nominated for the biggest award in Africa, that is an achievement.

I didn’t want to watch the award. I was just pacing and refreshing my Instagram. In a second, my phone and laptop started buzzing. All I wanted to do was to call my father that I won. It was a deeply memorable experience.