There are times when a supernatural sighting may be just the thing to effectively snap one out of a downward spiral. This is true in writer/director Lande Yoosuf’s short film, White Agbádá, an intimate look at a woman striving to reclaim peace in her life. The film recently made its World Premiere at the 2025 Woodstock Film Festival.

The Unconventional Path Towards Healing

The film begins with the dictionary definition of the word “agbádá”. Most likely a foreign word to many, the meaning translates to a prestigious, traditional robe worn by men in West Africa. Many wearers of the garment also belong to spiritual communities. This information sets the scene for what’s to come when we meet Ibironke (Idara Victor). Ibironke is a Nigerian-American woman stuck in a cycle of self-destructive habits. With unemployment paperwork cluttering her living room, the lack of urgency to recalibrate her life is obvious.

Watch the White Agbádá trailer here.

After turning down her sister’s plea to join a spiritual family trip to Nigeria, Ibironke spends a day running errands. While out, she runs into some fellow Nigerians, whose presence offers a subtle reminder of her heritage and the importance of embracing her community. But her downward spiral isn’t finished yet, as Ibironke continues to engage in an affair with her soon-to-be-married business partner. It is then that Ibironke has a surreal vision of a cloaked man in her room. The experience freaks her out enough to finally take action by kicking her situationship out of both her bedroom – and her life– for good. It also acts as the catalyst for accepting her sister’s invitation for a spiritual trip, hopeful that this will be the necessary change to better her life.

Director’s Statement

“Loosely inspired by my own struggles—with food addictions, fruitless relationships, and ill-fitting therapy—it reflects the integrated path to healing I only discovered once I embraced my ancestral lineage from Yorubaland, Nigeria. This film asks what it means to be a first-generation American, balancing two identities whose values often collide. Many of my peers have chosen assimilation, yet I see how that void of unanswered questions persists. For me, the “call” to return to my Yoruba roots grew louder the more I resisted, until I could no longer ignore it.”

Takeaway

Running 12 minutes long, White Agbádá is a solid output by filmmaker Lande Yoosuf. The material is cerebral and spiritual, yet accessible enough to relate to and empathize with. High production quality and a strong performance from lead actor Idara Victor ground this supernatural drama in reality. The quietly dramatic score by composer Dolapo Akinkugbe also plays nicely against Daniel Patterson’s cinematography.