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An Accidental First Feature—Walé Oyéjidé’s on His Stunning ‘Bravo, Burkina!’

59 min • 26 maj 2023

Walé Oyéjidé is a director, writer, designer, photographer, musician, and lawyer who uses the power of storytelling to combat bias. His debut feature, Bravo, Burkina!, had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The film is about a Burkinabé boy who flees his village and migrates to Italy. When later disillusioned by heartbreak, and haunted by memories of home, he travels through time in hope of regaining all he has lost.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and director Walé Oyéjidé, discuss:

Not being rigid about the format you use to tell a story
Thinking more about the voice of the filmmaker instead of the budget of the project
Changing the bias people have towards refugees by casting them for his projects
How naivety can help us make big leaps and take chances
Giving your team time to work together before committing to a larger, more serious project
Contributing deeply to the local communities he works with
Why it takes decades to figure out your voice
Appreciating all the rejections you get

Memorable Quotes

“Finding your voice from the beginning, that’s more precious than any particular tools.” [7:38]
“We should not be shy about understanding why we are on this planet.” [17:09]
“You’re doing yourself and the world a disservice by not being your best self.” [49:21]
“It is better to be quiet than it is to be frivolous.” [52:14]

Mentioned Resources:

Bravo, Burkina! - Presented by Ethical Fashion Initiative & Ikiré Jones

Stills from the film: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Mjad6OiPQF8Bncp5QauS1JPPcdGicOdf

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