Wunmi Mosaku joins Joan Iyiola’s short film ‘Mango’ as executive producer

By Natalia Albin Legorreta

Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku has joined the team of Joan Iyiola’s Mango. The short, which premiered at the Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying Santa Barbara International Film Festival last February, got a distribution deal through Disney+ before announcing Mosaku’s executive producer credit. 

Mango, Iyiola’s directorial debut, tells the story of Zadie, a florist silently suffering from fibroids. When she gets her dream job, she tries to control her body as it morphs and growths threaten to take over. 

It is a personal story for Iyiola. “I learnt that fibroids are non-cancerous tumours in and around the womb [...]. There is a higher prevalence of fibroids in Black women, but doctors don’t know why. [...] When I asked my doctor why there was so little research, he smiled and suggested that maybe I do it,” the writer, director and producer wrote for British Vogue back in August last year.

“Mango is a visceral and urgently needed film,” Mosaku told Deadline. “Joan Iyiola turns the long-dismissed reality of women’s experiences with fibroids into a poetic and powerful story. Her voice is striking, full of bravery and humanity. I’m honored to support this award-winning film as it reaches a wider audience and helps transform how we understand fibroids worldwide.”

The short is produced by Iyola’s own Apatan Productions and Salaud Morisset. Alongside Wunmi Mosaku, executive producers are Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor (Dreamers) Thomas Hawkins (Animol), Elisabeth Hopper, Joe Bell (Dọlápọ̀ Is Fine), and Dr. Christine Ekechi.