LAGOS, NIGERIA, The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2025 showcased a wide range of African animation talent this year, but one film drew instant attention and strong emotional responses from audiences: “The Travail of Ajadi”, a handcrafted stop-motion masterpiece by Nigerian filmmaker Adeoye Adetunji.
Screened in the Best Animation category, the film stood out for its tactile artistry, emotional depth, and culturally grounded storytelling, marking a significant moment for Nigerian stop-motion on the festival stage.
But the AFRIFF premiere is only the latest milestone in an extraordinary journey.
What began as a solo creative experiment has grown into one of Nigeria’s most celebrated animated films of the year.
Below is the powerful story behind both the film and the filmmaker who made it happen.
The Journey of “The Travail of Ajadi”, From Mobile Phone Animation to Global Festivals
Who Is Adeoye Adetunji?
Adeoye Adetunji is a Lagos-based art director, animator, and filmmaker known for transforming everyday materials into cinematic magic. He first gained national recognition when he created an AMVCA-winning stop-motion animation using nothing more than a mobile phone, crafting expressive characters from improvised materials and bringing them to life with painstaking frame-by-frame motion.
A self-taught artist with a strong storytelling instinct, Adeoye’s work blends: Nigerian folklore, handcrafted aesthetics, emotional themes and strong cultural symbolism.
He is part of a new generation of Nigerian animators proving that world-class animation can emerge from passion, creativity, and persistence.
The Making of “The Travail of Ajadi”
(Based on insights from behind-the-scenes video and creator commentary)
The Travail of Ajadi is a deeply personal project, shaped entirely through handcrafted stop-motion techniques. Adeoye constructed characters, sets, props, and miniature environments by hand, combining:
- clay
- paper textures
- fabric
- improvised materials
- and miniature practical effects
Each frame was shot individually, capturing subtle movements and emotional expressions.
The behind-the-scenes video documenting the process reveal:
1. The Sculpting of Ajadi
The creator shapes Ajadi’s clay expressions with incredible detail, from furrowed brows to emotional posture, showing how much personality can be embedded in miniature form.
2. Lighting + Cinematography
Adeoye uses creative lighting tricks to mimic sunrise, danger, desperation, and hope.
Stop-motion lighting is difficult, yet he achieves cinematic realism with minimal resources.
3. Scene Building & Set Movement
Tiny sets are rearranged, rebuilt, and filmed in sections.
Movement is achieved by shifting characters millimeters at a time, requiring patience, precision, and thousands of micro-adjustments.
4. Emotional Storytelling in Silence
Many scenes rely on facial expression and body language rather than dialogue, giving Ajadi’s journey a universal emotional resonance.
The result is a short film that feels raw, human, and poetic.
Festivals & Recognition
1. Annecy Animation Festival Selection — 2025
One of the film’s biggest achievements came when The Travail of Ajadi was officially selected to be screened as part of the 2025 Annecy Animation Festival, the world’s largest and most prestigious animation festival.
This marked a landmark moment not only for Adeoye but for Nigerian independent animation as a whole.
2. LIFEANIMA 2025 — Best Stop-Motion Animation (WINNER)
At its very first festival screening, the film won Best Stop-Motion Animation at LIFEANIMA 2025, solidifying its artistic impact and technical excellence.
3. AMAA 2025 — Africa Movie Academy Awards Nomination
The film continued its award momentum, earning a nomination for Best Animation at AMAA 2025 — a major recognition in African cinema.
4. AFRIFF 2025 Screening — Best Animation Category
This culminates in its AFRIFF 2025 appearance, where the film was screened among Africa’s finest animations.
Its reception was warm, emotional, and deeply affirming for Nigeria’s stop-motion community.
Why “The Travail of Ajadi” Matters
It proves that Nigerian stop-motion can compete globally
It is a showcase of handcrafted storytelling
It represents African culture with authenticity and creativity
It inspires young animators who lack big studios or equipment
It elevates Nigeria’s presence in international animation spaces
Ajadi’s story, of struggle, hope, and survival, is mirrored in the real-life work ethic of the creator who built the film frame by frame.
The Travail of Ajadi is more than a film, it is a statement of what young African animators can achieve with imagination, cultural pride, and relentless dedication.
As festivals continue to embrace it, Adeoye Adetunji is helping carve a new path for Nigerian animation on the world stage.
Have you watched the film? What part of Ajadi’s journey resonates with you? Share your thoughts on ComicPanel!