Obasi's passion for horror films and literature began at a young age, watching Hammer Horror films and reading Stephen King novels. Even as a child, he drew inspiration from classic movies, superheroes, and villains, creating his own hand-drawn comic books. After studying computer science at the University of Nigeria, he founded Fiery Film Company in 2012 alongside his wife and a screenwriter.
His directorial journey started with "Ojuju," a zero-budget zombie thriller released in 2014. The film gained global recognition, screening at various international festivals and winning awards. Obasi's second film, "O-Town," a crime thriller, also received critical acclaim. In 2018, he adapted Nnedi Okorafor's story "Hello, Moto" into the short film "Hello, Rain," which premiered at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen.
Obasi's creative journey continued with "Mami Wata," a film concept he began developing in 2016. Drawing inspiration from filmmakers like Akira Kurosawa and David Lynch, he aimed for a hyper-stylized film with substance. The characters in "Mami Wata" were influenced by his late sisters. The film's production involved multiple companies and was shot on location in rural Benin villages. It received awards at Sundance Film Festival and FESPACO, garnering recognition for its cinematography and set design. The film was acquired for North American distribution.
