Iku Aka

Incoming Editorial·Verified May 28, 2026

In a film written, directed, filmed, and produced by a crew of all Black women including three of Nigerian-American descent, Chinelo approaches what should be one of the happiest days of her life: her wedding. Her soon-to-be fiance must complete Iku Aka, the first stage of cultural marriage in Igbo land, by asking her mother for her hand in marriage. Out of respect for tradition, Chinelo’s mother appoints her uncle, Festus, to speak on the family’s behalf as the eldest and most successful man—but he also is a man who sexually assaulted Chinelo when she was young. The confrontation forces her down a rabbit hole of memories, compelling her to face the deficiencies of tradition.