Lady O beneath a baobab tree during the Still Smiling documentary shoot in Burkina Faso

The Film

The Documentary

Name: Still Smiling
Genre: Documentary

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About the Film

Still Smiling is more than a documentary. It is a journey of rediscovery, cultural connection, and the courage to begin again. Follow Lady O as she travels across Africa, from Burkina Faso to South Africa and beyond, to reconnect with her African roots, meet inspiring people, and capture the stories, traditions, and everyday moments that remind us of our shared humanity.

Still Smiling is a feature documentary and storytelling project that follows Lady O on a deeply personal journey across Africa, from Burkina Faso to South Africa and beyond, as she reconnects with her African roots. Through authentic conversations, breathtaking landscapes, and meaningful cultural experiences, the film celebrates identity, resilience, obedience, perseverance, action and the power of human connection.

More than a travel documentary, Still Smiling is an invitation to embrace the unknown, trust intuition, honor our heritage, and discover that it is never too late to begin a new chapter.

The Story

One Woman. One Homecoming.

For Lady O, turning 50 was not a milestone to fear. It was an opportunity to pursue a dream that had been waiting for years. With an open heart and a passion for storytelling, she set out to explore Africa, from Burkina Faso to South Africa and beyond, connect with its people, and experience the cultures that have shaped part of her identity.

Every culture holds stories that deserve to be heard. Still Smiling shines a light on the beauty, traditions, resilience, and everyday lives of the people of Burkina Faso and across Africa while encouraging meaningful cultural understanding and genuine human connection.

Follow The Journey

This documentary is unfolding in real time, and you're invited to be part of it. Follow along for behind-the-scenes updates, exclusive content, travel journals, and production milestones as Still Smiling comes to life. Your support helps bring these stories to audiences around the world and ensures they continue to inspire future generations.

Still Becoming

The Setting

Across Africa

Lady O's journey spans three nations across the African continent. From the southern tip of the continent in South Africa, to the Sahel of West Africa in Burkina Faso, and onward to Nigeria in West Africa, each country brings its own cities, cultures, and stories to the film.

Johannesburg anchors the South African leg with the gathering of Africans and the Diaspora who are awakened to their tribal identity biblically and anthropologically, before the route reaches Burkina Faso, the fatherland of upright men and persevering women of the progressive revolution, and continues to Nigeria, where the people desire Pan-African leadership, the specific city is still to be confirmed.

Countries on the Route

Burkina Faso: Capital: Ouagadougou·Region: West Africa, Sahel
South Africa: Capital: Pretoria·Region: Southern Africa
Nigeria: Capital: Abuja·Region: West Africa

Interactive Map

The Route Across Africa

Tap a numbered pin to view each itinerary stop. The animated line traces the outbound journey from Toronto through South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. Muted pins mark stops whose dates are still to be confirmed.