A Body Swap, A Village, and A Whole Lot of Drama: Trade by Bata Brings the Unexpected
What happens when two women wake up living each other’s lives? Trade by Bata isn’t your typical village tale—it’s a whirlwind of laughter, surprises, and heartwarming moments set to premiere this May at the NollywoodWeek Film Festival in Paris.
Directed by the talented Biodun Stephen, this offbeat comedy follows a bold Nigerian-American who returns to her roots in search of her late father’s inheritance. But things get weird fast—one morning, she wakes up… different. Like, completely different. Her family is baffled. She’s confused. And then the village begins to whisper: has she somehow swapped souls with the sweet, nosy girl next door?
Spoken in both Yoruba and English, the film taps into themes of self-discovery, family dynamics, and the messy magic of human connection. With a stellar cast including Bolaji Ogunmola, Dele Odule, Mr Macaroni, and Bukunmi “Kiekie” Adeaga, this 117-minute adventure promises to keep audiences laughing and feeling all the feels.
Trade by Bata will be screened as part of the 2025 NollywoodWeek Festival in Paris, running from May 7–11 at Cinéma L’Arlequin. Now in its 12th year, the festival continues to shine a global spotlight on unforgettable stories from Nigeria.
