Sisters Tochi and Ebele Anueyiagu created the digital platform Nolly Babes in 2017 with the intention of archiving and curating images and clips from the late 1990s to early 2000s, what they have defined as the Golden Era of Nollywood. Those films served as an important tie to Nigeria for the sisters, who moved to Atlanta from Lagos at the ages of thirteen and ten and collected films on their summer trips home. Featuring iconic actresses like Regina Askia, Clarion Chukwura, and Genevieve Nnaji, their popular Instagram account @nolly.babes is in significant part a shrine to the singular fashion and beauty stunts these women pulled off, which deeply influence Nigerian and international style today. Beyond that, the account tackles some of the thornier discussions taking place in contemporary Nigerian and Black culture, both in the country and in the diaspora. For their Black Life presentation, Nolly Babes has selected Highway to the Grave, a film that deals with indigenous mythology, superstition, and feminine power. In addition, there will be a prerecorded discussion featuring Tochi and Ebele Anueyiagu.

—
Black Life Film Program Sponsor: Julie Simpson