‘Water and Garri’ is Meji Alabi’s debut as a movie director.
Meji Alabi didn’t initially set out to make a film. When Tiwa Savage, his long-time collaborator on numerous music videos, approached him about working on the visuals for her two-part EP Water and Garri, the concept was to create visuals that would bring the lush, experimental and ultimately ambitious soundscape of the project to life. But soon they started to think bigger and decided to give the project a broader narrative arc. This is how Water and Garri, the new feature film starring and executive produced by Savage and directed by Alabi, came to be.
In Water and Garri, Savage plays a successful fashion designer named Aisha, who returns to her childhood home in search of answers to difficult questions. The film stars Nigerian actors Jemima Osunde and Mike Afolarin. Alabi, who also helped develop the script, immerses viewers in a dangerous world where love, revenge, compassion, bravery, and trepidation clash and explode.
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. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
OkayAfrica: What was the biggest distinction for you as a music video director while directing this film?
Meji Alabi: Music videos come together a lot quicker so it's like a shorter burst of development. With film, you're developing that story, you're working on it, you master everything before you come to set. With music videos, there are always some variables, sometimes the artist hasn't even read the treatment. This will never happen on a shoot for a film because you would have done the rehearsals. That's why they say music videos are a great training ground. They allow you to try out new ideas.
Tiwa Savage and Andrew Yaw Bunting on a bike on the set of ‘Water and Garri.’
Photo from Instagram - 'Water and Garri' film.
Although the film is set in a fictional place, it was shot in Cape Coast; what drew you to that location?
I felt inspired when I was there. I went there during lockdown and sat there with myself for a while. I wrote five short films. I got to travel around the town and meet people. I just loved the scenery in Cape Coast, I love the feel and the small-town vibe, and it embodies the Eastside as you’ll see in the film.
What got you interested in filmmaking and photography?
My friends and I had brands growing up and one of my friends was a rapper. So I started shooting some music videos for him and doing photography for them and other people saw and loved it. From there, I started producing music videos and the good part about that was when you shoot these kinds of street U.K. rap videos, you get a lot of experience. You learn quick turnarounds, how to grade, and all these things.
Seeing plans on paper come together on screen is Meji Alabi’s favorite thing about filmmaking.
Photo from Instagram - ‘Water and Garri’ film.
What would you say is your favorite part of the filmmaking process?
That's a tough one because I enjoy it all, but getting on set and seeing it all come together is a highlight. That’s the moment you're seeing everything that you've imagined and you worked on paper come to life. And that's the moment where we have [unpredictable creative] breakthroughs as well.
What was your experience directing Tiwa Savage in a film?
She was involved every step of the way and you know that’s a lot because this is the queen of Afrobeats. 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.
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