Nigerian film screenwriter and film director, Korede Azeez, shot into global recognition not too long ago. The former BBC staff won a prestigious short film competition sponsored by two reputable global organizations: Netflix and UNESCO. She achieved this feat by submitting a short film titled ‘Adieu, Salut’, for a chance to be featured on Netflix.
Surrounded and birthed by a family of academic and professional achievers, one cannot but expect her to produce quality works. She is living up to that expectation as the months go by. We will be highlighting the life and achievements of award-winning filmmaker and producer, Korede Azeez, in this article. And we believe it will serve as an inspiration to Nigerians near and far in the 21st Century. Creativity definitely has its rewards.
Korede Azeez: Her Background
An indigene of Oyo state, Korede Azeez was raised in Enugu, southwest Nigeria. Her birthdate is not confirmed. Her father was a Nigerian Army officer, who was frequently transferred around the country. Both her parents are practicing dentists. Her mother was able to get a job in Enugu, following her father’s transfer to the city. Hence it was quite convenient for Korede’s mother to remain stationed in Enugu in order to raise her children.
Additionally, Korede comes from a lineage of well-educated folks – particularly her mother’s relatives. She revealed in a recent interview that her maternal grandparents were medical practitioners. Her maternal grandfather was a professor of Pathology who worked for over a decade in Saudi Arabia. Her grandmother was equally a nurse who worked both in the UK and Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, all the children of her maternal grandparents’ (including her mother) are well educated, and with enviable professions.
While there is no information about her primary and secondary education, Korede reportedly graduated from Caritas University, Enugu State of Nigeria with a degree in Mass Communication.
Korede Azeez’s Journey into Film Writing and Production
Korede Azeez grew up in an era when there were few radio stations in Enugu. However, her school campus (Caritas University) had a well-known radio station. Korede was fortunate to be involved in the test running of the radio station through her writing. Right from her first month in the university, she was engaged in the task of re-writing stories she read into radio dramas. That was in 2014. She drew inspiration from the renown British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Nigeria radio drama ‘Story Story’.
Korede’s work at the campus radio station allowed her to gather experience in film and story writing, film production, and sound engineering. And luckily for the budding film writer, she secured a sound engineering internship job with BBC Media Action in Abuja-Nigeria. She combined this with her National Youth Service (NYSC) program. Korede handled multiple roles as video editor, camera operator, and sound recordist at at BBC Media Action. And she got further involved in the ‘Story Story’ radio drama during her internship. Ye again, she
Following her compulsory National Service, Korede proceeded to do a remote copywriting job for a foreign firm. And two years later, she secured a job as Assistant Technical Producer in the same firm. It further strengthened her skills in audio-visual film/screen production. With the help of a colleague who was a film school graduate, Korede wrote and directed her first short film between 2018 and 2019. It was titled ‘Tip of the Edge’, a 7-minute project which cost her 80,000 Naira at that time.
Korede stayed a while longer at BBC Media Action at the end of her NYSC program for two reasons. Firstly, she had written a script for an American author and producer. The American producer subsequently engaged Nollywood filmmaker, Kenneth Gyang to direct the film. Both Korede and Gyang would eventually team up to create future film projects. Secondly, the period also coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak. Which meant that she needed to hold on to the job to continue receiving a salary in that bleak period.
Korede Azeez’s Big Win: The Lead-Up to the Netflix-UNESCO Competition
Korede Azeez left BBC Media Action to pursue screenwriting and film production on her own. She reportedly wrote an audio series on YouTube, and continued writing film scripts. She also handled video shooting and editing of a feature film for the Native Filmworks company; as well as a documentary.
But the call for entries into the ‘African Folktales Reimagined’ competition came in 2021. It was sponsored by the duo of global media streaming giant, Netflix; and the world body UNESCO. Over 2000 entries were received from 13 Sub-Saharan countries. Korede Azeez wrote the script for the short film ‘Adieu, Salut’, and submitted it as an entry into the competition close to the deadline.
Nevertheless, Azeez’s short film was eventually pitched (out of 21 semi-finalists) for a chance to be financed and streamed by Netflix. And it was chosen as one of the six winners of the ‘Netflix-UNESCO African Folktales Reimagined’ Competition.. Korede Azeez also received a cash prize of 25,000 US Dollars. Additionally, the short film received a production budget of 75,000 US Dollars to prepare it for streaming on Netflix. ‘Adieu, Salut’ has been renamed ‘Halima’s Choice’ – written by Korede Azeez and produced by Kenneth Gyang (owner of Cinema Kpatakpata). The short film, one of the six stories in the ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’ Anthology prepared for Netflix – is now a TV series.
‘Halima’s Choice’ was shot in Jos area of Nigeria, and released on Netflix in 2023. The plot of the story is a futuristic sci-fi tale about a Fulani girl named Halima. The entire story was delivered in Hausa language; and is based on an ancient folklore which actually originated from Southern Nigeria. Halima lives in a secluded Fulani village called Gidanpula with her parents. Quite unfortunately, her parents arranged to marry her off to an elderly man, which she refused to accept. Halima chose to escape into a virtual world (named Napata) with a young man named Umar. But she eventually discovers that Umar is an Artificial Intelligence robot. Halima had to accept the fact that she could not be married to a machine.
Korede Azeez: Personal Life
At present, the personal life of Korede Azeez remains hidden from the public.
Korede Azeez: Net Worth (2024)
There is no available information concerning the writer’s earnings or current net worth.
Work After Work: The Journey So Far
Korede Azeez continues to work on other film projects, including a feature film in the works.
