Host of the viral show, Chude Jideonwo sits down with Niyi Akinmolayan, one of Nigeria’s most influential filmmakers and directors, for an intimate and unguarded conversation filmed inside his studio to mark the release of his latest work. For the first time, cameras enter the creative space where his new film Colours of Fire was conceived and shot entirely.
In this episode of #WithChude, Akinmolayan shares the personal turning points that shaped both the man and the artist. He speaks purely about what true religion means to him, questioning rigid interpretations of faith and urging a deeper search for meaning beyond performance. He opens up about being dumped early in his life and how that heartbreak became a defining pivot, about seasons of financial struggle that kept him away from friends’ weddings, and about the profound influence of Desmond Elliot, whom he describes as a hero, recalling that his two years working closely with him were among the most formative of his career.
The conversation deepens as Akinmolayan confronts grief, loss, and unresolved pain. He speaks openly about losing his parents, especially his mother, whom he credits as the original storyteller who shaped his creative instincts. “When she died, something in me came undone,” he admits, revealing how that loss altered his emotional landscape and his relationship with forgiveness. He also recalls a moment when he considered walking away from a project, only for his crew to stand firmly with him, insisting they would leave if he did. Honest, raw, and reflective, this episode captures Niyi Akinmolayan beyond the credits, a filmmaker shaped as much by grief and loyalty as by vision and craft.
WATCH EPISODE: https://vimeo.com/1149542812
