Filmmaking is often touted as one of the most collaborative ventures. Few minutes on a film set will reveal the truism of this seemingly cliché statement. The same way a casual or focus glance through a film’s (short or feature) credit list will reveal how different film professional – directors, producers, editors, writers, cinematographers, gaffers, assistant directors, producers, art directors, production designers, costume designers and others, bring varying levels of vim and strength for the success of a cinematic project.

As tedious as constantly working on a film can be, there are filmmakers who have settled into the calming embrace and acknowledgement of constantly collaborating with a film professional. Thus, in the fast evolving landscape of Nigerian cinema, the collaboration between director-producer Jade Osiberu, and film editor Martini Akande, has emerged as not just a pointer of building cinematic capacity but a beacon of innovation and excellence.
Their partnership, marked by a shared respect and commitment to storytelling and cinematic quality, has significantly influenced Nollywood’s trajectory with the films their director-editor collaboration has birthed.

The Dawn of a Creative Partnership
The history of Nigerian female-driven films and series won’t be complete without an energetic mentioning of Osiberu’s directorial debut, Isoken, which she made in 2017. Written and directed by Osiberu whilst featuring the stories of four Nigerian middle class women, the film shaped the understanding of Nigeria’s women realities as they deal with daily and structural patriarchy.

The creative depth, rhythm and pentachant for capturing authentic Nigerian and African stories motivated Osiberu’s relentless search for an editor who can further harness and translate her compelling directorial vision and narratives.

The energetic search ended when Osiberu met Akande, a film editor. Prior to that encounter, Akande has made himself a refutable force by editing Play Network Studio’s Nneka the Pretty Serpent and Glamour Girls which in 2022 secured a coveted spot on Netflix’s Global Top Five List. Also, he was the Lead editor on Venge TV series, an Mnet Original. Equally, he edited Taiwo Egunjobi’s In Ibadan, a film that pays homage to the director and editor’s city of birth.

Their creative relationship started in 2022 with Brotherhood, marking the beginning of a fruitful partnership. Their creative relationship rivals that of Oscar-winning editor Tom Cross and Damien Chazelle who have worked together on films such as Whiplash, La La Land, and First Man, Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville (with The Ring, Juno, Shadow of a Doubt, Psycho and others), Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Masud (with Sanjuro, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, The Hidden Fortress and others), Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker (with Raging Bull, Casino, The Departed, The Wolf of the Wall Street, Killers of the Flower Moon and others.)

Osiberu and Akande’s cinematic partnership is marked by mutual respect and a shared vision. Osiberu’s comprehensive understanding of the technicalities of filmmaking allows for a seamless articulation of her vision and intentions, affording Akande the direction needed to execute purposeful narrative cuts and refined editorial choices. Akande matches this by bringing narrative and storytelling sensitivities to his editing, often likening the process to screenwriting, where each cut serves the story’s progression.

Collaborative Milestones
Directed by Loukman Ali and produced by Osiberu, Brotherhood, a crime action thriller, began the creative synergy of Osiberu and Akande. This film with its high-octane action sequences, drawn-out drama, and timely comical moments, showcase Akande’s ability to understand a genre and spice it with cinematic excellence. Brotherhood got 11 African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) including Best Overall Movie and Best Picture Editor for Akande’s remarkable editing.

Furthering their collaboration, the duo worked on Gangs of Lagos, which is Amazon Prime Video’s first African original film. As Amazon Prime Video’s first African original film, this project was pivotal not just to the duo’s career but to the Nigerian and African film landscape.

Osiberu’s direction, combined with Akande’s editing, brought to life a narrative deeply rooted in Lagos’s socio-political landscape. The film’s unabashed embrace of Lagos’s distinct spirit, propensity for fastness, appreciation of colour and vibrancy with adequate colour grading further accentuates the creative synergy of Akande and Osiberu.

The film had five nominations at the AMAA and won three, including Best Visual Effects, Best Young/Promising Actor, and Best Actress in a Leading Role. Akande also served as a post-production supervisor on Gangs of Lagos.

In Christmas in Lagos, a romantic comedy-drama, the duo expands the range of their cinematic versatility. With this film, they confidently demonstrate that their storytelling prowess extends beyond action-driven narratives to include the emotional rhythms and tonal balance required in romantic comedies.
Akande’s editorial craftsmanship shines through, his rhythmic pacing, seamless transitions, and intuitive use of reaction shots and montage not only evoke the festive pulse of Lagos but also underscore character nuance and emotional subtext.
His ability to weave moments of vibrant celebration with introspective beats played a pivotal role in earning the film six nominations at the 2025 AMVCA.

The film also gave Akande his second Best Editing AMVCA nomination.
The director-editor relationship has the power to make or break a film, but with this duo, that’s never the case. They creatively inspire each other, sharpening the vision, intent, and style of every project, resulting in films that are not only cinematic achievements but also culturally significant.
Through the rough assembling of footage in the dark room, to the hand picking of usable moments, camera angles and best performances, the duo keeps reiterating the artistic merit of closely working with a creative, in this case director and editor, who understands and acknowledges the flow of your thoughts and visions.

Akin to Chazelle and Cross’ (Whiplash, La La Land) director-editor relationship, their films, Brotherhood, Gangs of Lagos and Christmas in Lagos have both been commercially successful and artistically resonant. This gives their relationship a fine blend and balance of commercial viability and artistic merits.

Impact on Nollywood
Their collaborations have not only garnered critical acclaims but have also set new standards in Nollywood. By blending commercial appeal with artistic integrity, Osiberu and Akande have demonstrated that Nigerian films can resonate both locally and globally. Their work has inspired a new generation of filmmakers to prioritize quality storytelling, technical excellence and, importantly, creative collaborations and synergy.
Through their joint effort which exemplifies the transformative power of collaboration in filmmaking they have elevated Nollywood’s profile, proving that with shared vision and dedication, Nigerian cinema can achieve remarkable heights. As they continue to collaborate, their partnership serves as a testament to the potential of Nollywood on the global stage.