Narrative Video Prize goes to “Corn to Corn Flour Meal” by Saalyha Eeman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Watch here
An in-depth look at the Narrative Video Prize: “Corn to Corn Flour Meal” by Saalyha Eeman
In “Corn to Corn Flour Meal”, two-time winner* Saalyha Eeman transforms a simple staple into an evocative story of generational sensory memory. Through lyrical narration and tender visuals, the short film follows the life of corn — from planting and harvesting to roasting at the farm and finally grinding it into meal. It’s a meditation on family, tradition, and the unseen work behind every plate of food.
When this year’s Farm to Plate theme was announced, Saalyha knew she wanted to tell the story of one of her community’s foods — she just wasn’t sure which one. After discussing the theme with her father, he shared childhood memories of accompanying his parents to the farm, planting seeds, roasting freshly harvested corn in the fields, and bringing the rest home to sell or store. Those stories sparked the vision for the film.
Production became a family affair: “The day of production came and everyone was involved,” Saalyha recalls. “My siblings washed the corn while I recorded. It was beautiful as we worked together to tell our story.”
File:Saalyhaeeman.jpg by Saalyha Eeman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Through the process, her appreciation for Africa’s culinary heritage deepened: “We sometimes overlook the beauty, time, and artistry that happens before a meal is placed before us. Producing this film helped me understand why the theme was chosen. It opened my eyes to venture into tourism journalism, so I can capture the beauty of Africa in its full glory.”
For Saalyha, Wiki Loves Africa has become a platform for collective storytelling: “It has helped me and other Africans tell our story — to show the world the part of Africa they are yet to see.”
*Saalyha also won last year with her poetic film “Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Students works for Africa create”.
To download Saalyha’s winning video from Wikimedia Commons, click here!
