Nigeria’s Yoruba film billed as first AI-powered movie - Punch Newspapers
A Yoruba-language film, Asiri Ilu Awon Osu (Mystery of Osu Land), has been described by its producers as the world’s first photorealistic AI feature film. The claim was made by the team behind the film in a statement on Friday, which said the production was completed in September 2025, months before an American AI film, Deep Frame, was publicly announced. The Nigerian production was also recognised at the G-Spark Tech Summit, according to the statement. Producer Tanwa Hammed said the filmmakers delayed publicity because they had submitted the project to Guinness World Records and were awaiting verification. “We deliberately delayed the public media campaign because we had already submitted our breakthrough to Guinness World Records and were waiting for official verification. “This distinct timeline proves that no other documented feature film had successfully merged artificial intelligence with traditional cinema before the Nigerian team’s September completion date. “Beyond its historical head start, Asiri Ilu Awon Osu stands out from the completely automated American film by utilising a distinct hybrid filmmaking model,” Hammed said. She said the production timeline showed that Asiri Ilu Awon Osu was completed before other documented projects that have claimed similar milestones. FG targets two million creative industry jobs by 2030 Doomsday: AI builders stoke fears of human extinction I won’t sacrifice comfort for fashion – Arikegold Unlike fully AI-generated productions, the Nigerian film combines artificial intelligence with live-action performances. According to the statement, about 80 per cent of the film was AI-generated or AI-assisted, while the remaining 20 per cent involved live-action performances. The film was produced entirely in Yoruba and incorporates Nigerian cultural elements. Hammed also challenged critics who have questioned whether AI can produce photorealistic films without distortions in faces and backgrounds. She urged them to assess the finished film rather than judge its quality based on perceived limitations of the technology. The producer said AI was used beyond the creation of individual images, with the technology integrated into the film’s storyline, character development and cinematic environments. The filmmakers have called on industry professionals and audiences to review the film’s trailer and production records as they seek recognition for what they describe as a pioneering achievement in AI filmmaking. Ademola Adegbite
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