When a bright secondary school student suddenly becomes a shadow of herself, it is easy to look the other way, especially in a society where conversations around bullying are swept under the carpet. But in Abba T. Makama’s Silence Is Loud, looking away isn’t an option.

Available exclusively on Zikoko’s YouTube channel, the film follows Henrietta (Uzoamaka Power), a passionate literature teacher and single mother, as she notices her student, Ayo (Sapphire Ekeng), struggling academically and withdrawing socially. What begins as a sense of duty to her student slowly grows into something deeper: a bond tested by social stigma and the courage it takes to speak up.

Abba T. Makama is the writer-director of the acclaimed films Green White Green and The Lost Okoroshi. His work has premiered at international festivals including TIFF, BFI London, and Locarno. Known for his surrealist and satirical style, he takes a more restrained approach in Silence Is Loud.

“I approached the film with a minimalist aesthetic, both visually and narratively, allowing the characters and their internal worlds to take centre stage,” says Makama. “The themes, including bullying, sex education, reproductive rights, and the coming-of-age experience, are themes that matter deeply to me.”

It marks the first time Makama has directed a script he did not write, collaborating closely with writers Taspy Gomwalk and Dika Ofoma (Something Sweet) to create this masterful narrative. 

Silence Is Loud also stars Ozzy Agu, Judith Audu, and Kunle Akintunde. It is executive-produced by Francis Nebot and produced by Osiris Film and Entertainment.

Watch Silence Is Loud on Zikoko’s YouTube channel.