“Madu,” the story of a young ballet dancer from Nigeria, is a film we can all learn something from

Debuting on Disney+ “Honey” is a gripping film inspired by a latest type of young hero. Delving into the story of then 12-year-old Anthony Madu, a Nigerian boy from a disadvantaged background, the film follows his difficult journey to check ballet at a prestigious school in London.

In 2020, Madu took the world by storm when a video of him dancing ballet in the rain went viral. Inspiring photos reached such stars as Wiola Davis, who stated that the film recalled “the beauty of our people…”, adding that “despite the brutal obstacles placed before us! Our people can fly.”

“Coming from a part of town that’s struggling very economically… I see a lot of myself in it,” Benson said. “(A)s a documentarian based in Lagos, some of my friends thought I was crazy for trying to do it, but I decided to do it anyway and that is what attracted me to Anthony’s story,” he added.

In the film, Madu briefly struggles to keep up concentration as he is haunted by demons from his past. The film strikes a perfect balance in following Madu’s development Elmhurst Ballet School and fascinated with the bullies who teased him in Lagos for being a boy who liked ballet. According to Benson, the film is about “(Madu’s) search for acceptance and belonging while chasing her dreams and pursuing her passion.”

While inspired by Madu’s talent, Benson explained that it was equally vital to portray the rawness of Madu’s struggles because, ultimately, humans are innately motivated to want to search out their “tribe” and feel connected to others.

The award-winning filmmaker further discussed his creative direction and why the team selected to shoot in specific filming locations to capture the “raw states” of the teen’s journey.

“It’s not just a 12-year-old going abroad; this family’s hopes and dreams rest on their shoulders,” he explained. “(The family) prayed for him, saying, ‘Your success is our success; Your success means you can open doors for us, open doors for your siblings.’”

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Benson emphasized that it was integral to indicate how much the Madu family relied on him, noting that “It wouldn’t be a complete story if we didn’t include that part.”

“During the filming, we kept going back to Lagos even though (Madu) was there in the UK. We would go back and show you his mom, his siblings, and how they always connected with him,” Benson added.

The film also chronicles Madu’s increasing vision problems during ballet classes and regular academic courses. After partially failing his eyesight tests by not with the ability to accurately count the fingers held in front of him, he must face one other fear of not realizing his dreams. The handicap becomes a possibility to debate the challenges she or he faces.

When asked about his experience working with one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, Benson admitted: “I never expected it. I used to be stunned when we received the news that Disney can be making this movie with us; I assumed, “This can’t be real.” But it is.”

He went on to praise those that helped make his journey possible from the first day he picked up a camera.

When viewers witness Madu proudly dancing in his village in Lagos, one can only hope that someday he’ll tell a similar story. According to Benson, it is still in Elmhurst, thriving and shining.

Eden Harris is an award-winning DC journalist who enjoys writing about Africa and its many cultures. She has served as a domestic policy producer at Spectrum News and is an emerging leader in foreign affairs and the National Press Club.