Why Ryan Coogler’s Sinners Moved Me as a Black American Living in Nigeria

As a Black American expat living in Nigeria, watching Ryan Coogler’s Sinners on the big screen was a proud and emotional moment.  The film connected me with my family’s past while evoking the spiritual presence of my African ancestors.  Sinners was also an opportunity for Black Hollywood directors to showcase Black stories and history on the global stage.  

Sinners starring Micheal B. Jordan and directed by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, tells the story of two twin brothers who fled Chicago in the 1930s  to move back down south to their hometown in a rural Mississippi.   The twins open a blues juke joint only to discover that evil vampires awaited them in the heart of Jim Crow South. 

Michael B. Jordan plays twins Smoke and Stack in the new movie Sinners. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Sinners provided me a rare glimpse of life in 1930s Clarksdale, Mississippi— where my family had been deeply rooted for over 100 years.  While my grandparents never scared me with vampire stories and hoodoo magic, my family shared the horror stories of living under segregation and the backlabor pain of picking cotton. “We made 10 cents an hour,” my grandmother would say, shaking her head in disgrace. My aunts often bickered and joked at family gatherings about who picked the most cotton using humor to soothe painful memories.  For them, their Christian faith and church community were essential to surviving the evilness of white supremacy. 

And even more so, Sinners offers a desperately needed history lesson for African moviegoers on Black American blues history and culture in rural Mississippi—history that’s often missing from African libraries and bookstores.  At a time where Black History is under attack in the United States, historical movies and African American literature are not only welcomed in Africa—they’re  celebrated. 

The sold out theaters across Nigeria during the second opening weekend confirms that African movie goers support movies from Black Hollywood and that black centered stories in America can thrive internationally. Nigerians gasped, laughed and shouted at all the right moments bringing the theater to life just like home.

Unsurprisingly, Nigerian media outlet, Nairametroxs boasted on the headlines “Ryan Coogler’s Sinners hits N269.9 million ($170,000) and dominates Nigerian Box Office in 9 days.”  With a population of roughly 227 million and 90 movie theaters nationwide, that’s a major milestone—especially when compared to the United States with roughly 2000 movie theaters. Kenya’s KBC media outlet noted that although “Sinners had a softer launch internationally $15.4 million (Ksh. 1.9B) across 71 markets, its stateside triumph stands out.” 

With the global impact of films like Sinners and Black Panther, it’s time for Black Hollywood  directors and historians to be more intentional in promoting their work and doing business on the continent. Sinners would had earned even more in international sales across the African Diaspora if there was a strong media campaign instead of relying on social media and word of mouth. The Sinners cast could have had a movie premiere in Abidjan, especially since Ivorian Zaouli dancers performed in the movie. The cast could have had a public screening in South Africa or Kenya and a press conference with African journalists and influencers on local radio and TV. 

The abrupt closure of  US Agency for International Development , which had committed $3.5 million in the creative industries in Nigeria, provides

another opportunity for Black American producers. to invest in the next generation of African storytellers. Black Hollywood could build film and acting schools, movie theaters, student film and art exchanges, and studios on the continent like British Actor Idris Elba. This would create more jobs for African youth and business opportunities for both creators across the Atlantic. 

As anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies continue to threaten Black progress in the United States, Black entertainment leaders must invest now, share stories, and strengthen connections on the continent and across the diaspora.