Bringing Characters to Life: Gloria Ojochogwu Moses’ Costume Design in The Griot

By Ayodeji Rotinwa

When The Griot premiered on November 9, 2021, it quickly set itself apart as a film deeply invested in memory, heritage, and the power of storytelling. Beyond its compelling narrative structure, the film’s strength lay in its visual integrity, an authenticity shaped not only by cinematography and performance, but by costume design that understood culture as living history. Central to this achievement was Gloria Ojochogwu Moses, whose work became an essential, if understated, narrative force.

Directed and produced by Adeoluwa Owu, popularly known as Captain Degzy, The Griot explores themes rooted in oral tradition, ancestral memory, and the preservation of communal truth. These themes required more than visual appeal, they demanded cultural sensitivity, historical awareness, and a design approach capable of translating intangible ideas into tangible form. Gloria approached the project with a clear philosophy: costume must not merely dress the body, but carry meaning, memory, and intention.

In a story centered on the griot, a traditional custodian of history and oral knowledge, costume design carried symbolic weight. Gloria’s work functioned as a bridge between past and present, grounding the film’s themes in material culture. Fabrics, patterns, and construction choices were carefully selected to echo lineage, tradition, and social hierarchy, ensuring that each character visually belonged within the story’s cultural framework.

Her designs did not rely on spectacle. Instead, they embraced restraint and authenticity, allowing costumes to feel lived-in rather than performative. This subtlety reinforced the film’s respect for tradition, avoiding caricature while honoring cultural specificity. Through clothing, the audience could sense generational continuity, inherited roles, and the quiet burden of memory carried by the characters.

Gloria process was deeply rooted in character analysis. Every costume choice reflected an understanding of personal history, emotional state, and narrative function. Differences in texture, silhouette, and colour palette helped define character arcs, signaling authority, vulnerability, transition, or inner conflict without the need for exposition.
As the story unfolded, the costumes subtly evolved alongside the characters. Shifts in structure or tone mirrored emotional transformations, reinforcing moments of tension, revelation, or growth. In many instances, what the characters wore communicated what they could not articulate, making costume a parallel storytelling language operating beneath the dialogue.

Working in close collaboration with the director, cinematographer, and production design team, Gloria ensured that costume design integrated seamlessly into the film’s overall visual composition. Her attention to continuity, movement, and performance needs allowed actors to inhabit their roles fully, unhindered by wardrobe constraints.
This collaborative approach ensured that costumes complemented lighting, framing, and set design, enhancing realism while maintaining visual harmony. The result was a cohesive aesthetic in which every element, from fabric choice to colour balance, supported the film’s emotional tone and thematic depth.

Industry observers and audiences alike praised the costume work in The Griot for its precision and discipline. Rather than dominating the frame, the costumes quietly reinforced the narrative, lending credibility and depth to the film’s world. This restraint proved especially powerful in a story about voice and remembrance, where excess would have undermined authenticity.
In this sense, Gloria’ s designs mirrored the griot’s role itself: present but not intrusive, influential without being ostentatious. The costumes became visual custodians of story and truth, echoing the film’s central metaphor through design.

With The Griot, Gloria Ojochogwu Moses further affirmed her reputation as a thoughtful and research-driven costume designer within Nigeria’s film industry. Her work on the film underscores the vital role of costume design in shaping narrative, particularly in stories grounded in culture and history.

It is a testament to the power of detail, sensitivity, and intentionality qualities that continue to define Gloria’s approach and influence the evolving visual language of Nollywood. As African cinema increasingly asserts its presence on the global stage, contributions like hers ensure that these stories are told with integrity, depth, and respect for the cultures they represent.