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Mmanwu

‘Mmanwu’ is radio drama that delves into the complexities of maternal struggle, mental health, and the clash between tradition and modernity. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Onitsha, Nigeria, the story follows Ada, a young widow grappling with the overwhelming grief of losing her husband, Bayo. 

 

Seeking refuge from the weight of her grief and the overwhelming responsibilities of motherhood, Ada returns to her father, Eze, in Onitsha. A man deeply rooted in Nigerian traditions, Eze offers both solace and conflict, pushing Ada towards conventional methods of coping with loss and raising her young son Zane. This clash between generations and ideologies forms the core of the drama, highlighting the struggle between individual healing and cultural expectations. 

 

Through poignant dialogue, music and evocative sound design, ‘Mmanwu’ explores the depths of Ada's grief and her attempts to hold onto the remnants of her past. Her interactions with her father are rife with cultural references and deeply resonate with themes of identity, loss, and the struggle for personal autonomy within the confines of tradition.  The audience will be taken on an intimate journey through Ada’s struggles in a thought provoking and entertaining drama.

‘Mmanwu’ premiered at 9pm on Saturday 23rd August 2025 at 9pm on Newstalk.

Podcast available on all major platforms after the broadcast. Search for Drama on Newstalk.

‘Mmanwu’ was written and directed by Dagogo Hart. Produced, recorded and edited by Alan Meaney. Music and additional sounds by Adam Garrett. The cast are Esther James, Sodiq Ajibola, Yomi Ogunyemi and Timothy Orimolusi.

 

The programme was funded by Coimisiún na Meán, with the Television Licence Fee.

Thanks to Freesound users:

Lagos at night.WAV by jilla2021 -- https://freesound.org/s/632261/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Ambient_SaboYaba_BusStop_Lagos_Nigeria.wav by jehoshaphatia -- https://freesound.org/s/411123/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Ambience suburban night distant-traffic air some light movement by JaimeLopes -- https://freesound.org/s/591105/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

baby girl crying by josephvm -- https://freesound.org/s/442655/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Chemistry table crash.wav by CastIronCarousel -- https://freesound.org/s/216748/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

Photo credit: Annie Spratt

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