CULVER CITY, California—10 January, 2024—Prime Video will launch Nigerian movie Water and Garri, starring international singer Tiwa Savage, exclusively in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide in 2024.
The drama tells the story of Aisha (Savage), an ambitious fashion designer, as she returns to her native home after 10 years away in the U.S., following a family bereavement. At home, things have changed—violence has escalated and tensions have been high. As she reconnects with family, old friends, and her past love, she must learn to live with her scars and confront the guilt she left behind. Filmed in the city of Cape Coast, Ghana, the feature entails gripping cinematography and storytelling. The drama also stars Mike Afolarin (Far From Home), Andrew Bunting (Dynamite), and Jemima Osunde (New Money).
“Audiences around the world are looking for well-made, contemporary African stories, and Water and Garri delivers that with a fresh perspective,” said Ayanna Lonian, director, content acquisition, Prime Video. “Both Meji Alabi, as film director, and Tiwa Savage, as the lead, have truly delivered a stellar debut alongside the rest of the incredibly talented cast and crew.”
“Developing and shooting my film from an idea to launching globally on Prime Video is a dream fulfilled,” said Tiwa Savage. “I am excited for my fans and newer audiences to experience this vulnerable side of me that I have never shown. Meji Alabi brought the story to life in such a beautiful way, and I cannot wait to share it with the world.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Prime Video who understood this cultural milestone celebrating the cross-power of film and music, especially out of Africa at this exciting time.” says Jimi Adesanya, producer and Unbound Studios executive.
Water and Garri is a co-production between Everything Savage, Unbound Studios, and JM Films, directed and edited by Meji Alabi, produced by Jimi Adesanya, and written by Comfort Emmanuel, with music by Tiwa Savage. The executive producers are Savage, Vannessa Amadi-Ogbonna, Adesanya, and Alabi.
The Nigerian content joins Prime Video’s selection of global Amazon Original and Exclusive series and movies, such as Gen V, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time, Riches, and Coming 2 America.
Tiwa Savage is a multi-award-winning artist, who just completed a sold-out 2023 North America tour, whose talent fuses Afrobeats, R&B, soul, and pop sounds that taps into audiences all over the world. She began her career as a backup singer for Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, and Andrea Bocelli, and was the first African artist to sign a global record deal with the Universal Music Group.
Savage has collaborated with the likes of Sam Smith, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Nas and more; co-wrote and sang on Beyonce’s soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift; wrote for Fantasia’s Grammy-nominated album, Back to Me; performed at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 and Jay-Z’s Made in America Festival; and was one of the first African artists to be featured on the cover of Billboard magazine. She is the first female artist to win an MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act, was included in the BBC’s list of 100 inspirational and innovative women in 2017, crowned one of the “Women Changing Modern Music” by British Vogue, received the Women4Africa Award in 2022, and is one of the most followed African artists on social media.
Water and Garri builds on Prime Video’s commitment to delivering local and authentic African series and films to a global audience, including the recently announced Prime Video Original Ebuka Turns Up Africa; an exclusive overall deal with the director and producer Jáde Osiberu and her production company, Greoh Studios; and an exclusive commissioning slate deal with Nemsia Films, beginning with Breath of Life, launching 15 December. Prime Video is also the home of some of Nigeria’s biggest theatrical movies, with exclusive licencing agreements with Inkblot Studios and Anthill Studios, bringing customers box-office hits King of Thieves, Hey You!, Big Love, and Palava!, as well as other TV series Beyond the Veil and Grind, and Prime Video’s Nigerian Originals, Gangs of Lagos, LOL: Last One Laughing Naija, and SHE Must Be Obeyed, all for 2,300 NGN per month.
About Prime Video
Prime Video offers customers a vast collection of TV shows and movies—all available to watch on practically any device:
- Included with Prime Video: Watch thousands of popular movies and TV shows, award-winning Amazon Originals and other exclusives, and more. Think global Amazon Original and Exclusive series such as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Boys, The Terminal List, The Wheel of Time, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Riches, as well as critically acclaimed Amazon Original movies like Coming 2 America, The Tomorrow War, and exclusive Nollywood movies and TV series, such as Brotherhood, Battle on Buka Street, Big Love, Sista, The Trade, King of Thieves, Christmas in Miami, Hey You!, Superstar, Palava!, Progressive Tailors Club, Bad Comments, Badamasi, Beyond the Veil, Grind, and much more. All available at no additional cost as part of Prime Video, which is available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
- Instant Access: Watch at home or on the go with your choice of hundreds of compatible devices. Stream from the web or using the Prime Video app on compatible smartphones, tablets, game consoles, or select smart TVs.
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- Personalized: Customers can browse the user interface in their own language and watch popular TV shows and movies with subtitles.
About JM Films
JM Films, subsidiary of Unbound Studios, is a Grammy Award winning media production company, specializing in creative visuals, music videos, documentaries, commercials, film and television. The team with a deep sense of African culture, are the regular producers of visual projects by the likes of Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Stormzy, Mr Eazi and more. JM Films also co-produced Beyoncé’s Black Is King film project which earned a Grammy win for the best music video for “Brown Skin Girl” video and another Grammy nod in 2022 for their production of global hit “Essence” music video by Wizkid ft Tems. With an extensive footprint spanning across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, UK, USA and the Caribbean, JM Films continues to produce culture-shaping campaigns at the highest level of execution.
About Unbound Studios
Unbound Studios is a film studio specialized in motion pictures amongst other art forms through its subsidiaries and affiliates. Unbound was founded in 2019 and is currently developing its debut set of feature films and TV/streaming projects.
About Everything Savage
Everything Savage is an award-winning entertainment company based in Lagos, Nigeria. Established in 2017, it’s home to global superstar Tiwa Savage