Impact Days Catalogue
fifdh
By Christina Ifubaraboye

Pülö : Bloodstream of the Kirike

Impact days 2023 Movie
IMPACT DAYS

My people, the Kirike (Okrikans), have always lived on Okrika Island in the Niger Delta—a sacred place with dense forests and rivers merging into the Niger, comparable to the Amazon in biodiversity. Since the 1950s, Big Oil’s crude extraction has turned this delta into one of Earth’s most polluted places. Pollution from the Port Harcourt Refinery wreaks havoc on the environment and our health. As a Kirike native, I mourn the loss of our cherished land, waters and ancestral heritage. Pülö proves that pollution goes beyond the physical; it infringes on human rights, heritage, and spiritual bonds. As the echoes of culture fade, the community’s voice emerges as the final guardian. Who are we without our home and the ties to ancestors who once dwelled in this environment—where we now stand? And is this the last time we ever hear of this island?

Section : Impact Days
Country : Nigeria
Original languages : English, Pidgin, Ijaw
Director
Christina Ifubaraboye (Nigeria)
Producers
Ufuoma Ogagarue (Nigeria)
Elisa Mereghetti (Italy)
Christina Ifubaraboye (Nigeria)
IMBUU Media
Ethnos
Completion
November 2024
Impact Statement
We believe in the potential of Pülö as a tool for social change at the local and regional levels and on a broader scale. This story is paradigmatic of environmental degradation in many parts of the world and can be a strong example for other communities. Environmental degradation has resulted in the poor health of Okrika, poor air quality, the extinction of many aquatic species and foods. Along with awareness-raising activities, we will stimulate institutions to provide better healthcare education, infrastructure and facilities for the people of Okrika and other communities. Key agents, such as government agencies and oil companies, will be prompted to take action to remediate the pollution in the area. The film will also be an essential tool to reinforce the sense of cultural pride and identity in the community.
Pülö seeks to raise awareness of our waters, emphasizing their health impact, and to empower community for change, including cultural restoration. We aim to urge institutions to enhance healthcare and to prompt stakeholders, governments and oil companies to remediate pollution.
Impact Goals
  1. Stimulate: To stimulate debate in the community on the correlation between health and the state of the waters, to identify accountability.
  2. Catalyse: To catalyse wellness initiatives by partnering with civil society agents to address crises and enhance access to healthcare initiatives.
  3. Remediate: Use the film to lobby the government and oil companies to address and remediate pollution in the area proactively.
  4. Cultural restoration: To restore Kirike's heritage and Ijaw's identity through the film's message and by leveraging digital tools like Google's SEO and data analytics to counteract the invisibility experienced by these 'minorities' online.
Impact Strategy
  • Create awareness through community and nationwide film screenings, communication campaigns, roundtables, town hall meetings, public discussions, and the distribution of educational materials.
  • Organise activities to provide healthcare and facilities for the people of Okrika, focusing on vulnerable women and children.
  • Partner with civil society organisations that comprehend the scale of the issues to facilitate a solution-oriented synergy with public servants.
  • Strengthen our network of local and international partners, including civil society organisations and legal experts, to focus on holding oil companies accountable in the Niger Delta, specifically Okrika. This collaboration will pave the way for initiating legal actions at national and international levels.
Contact
Primary contact
Christina Ifubaraboye (Nigeria): christina@imbuu.life

Organisations
Drug Aid Africa
HOMEF – Health of Mother Earth Foundation
Human Rights in the Picture

Broadcaster
Chicoco Radio

Organisations
Drug Aid Africa
HOMEF – Health of Mother Earth Foundation
Human Rights in the Picture

Broadcaster
Chicoco Radio