Acclaimed Nollywood film “Mami Wata” has secured a coveted nomination for the prestigious National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards in the United States.

The film, written and directed by C.J. Obasi, snagged a nod in the Outstanding International Motion Picture category for the 55th edition of the annual awards, set to be held on Saturday, March 16.

Elated by the recognition, Obasi took to his social media page to express his gratitude: “This one is so special. So thankful to the @naacpimageaward for this huge honour. Thank you to my family, team, friends and supporters. This is for us.”

“Mami Wata,” boasting a star-studded cast featuring Rita Edochie, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Kelechi Udegbe, Emeka Amakeze, Tough Bone, Jakob Kerstan, and C.J. Obasi himself, delves into the captivating world of West African water spirits, weaving themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of the supernatural.

This 2023 black and white fantasy thriller premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Notably, it was chosen as the Nigerian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards by the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) in October 2023.

Furthermore, “Mami Wata” has garnered recognition in the Best International Film category of the 39th Independent Spirit Awards.

For context, the NAACP Image Awards, presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), are an annual celebration of achievements by people of colour across various fields, including film and television on a global scale. The awards honour outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature, with over 40 categories voted on by NAACP members.