mai shai
2024
A cup of tea, a warm smile, keeps the city alive.
the story
In almost every Nigerian city, a small roadside tea stands, known as a Mai Shai spot, serves as a gathering place for night owls, early risers, and everyone in between. Run mostly by Hausa men, these spots offer hot tea, bread, noodles, and fried eggs—quick, affordable meals for those on the go.
By day, the spot may seem unremarkable, just a simple wooden table with a kettle and a few loaves of bread. But as night falls, it comes to life. Taxi drivers, students, and workers take quick breaks, chatting about football, politics, or daily struggles over a steaming cup of tea.
mai shai spots are good for unwinding after a long day of hard work
musa
musa is a nothern man in his late 20s who left his village to seek for opportunities in the city. With limited options, he set up a small Mai Shai spot, serving hot tea, bread, and noodles to people. He is known for his skillful hand movement, pouring tea from one cup to another, mixing in just the right amount of sugar and milk. Always wearing his nostalgic cap that reminds him of home, Musa keeps his environment as neat and tidy as himself, ensuring that every customer who walks in finds it hard to leave.
mai shai spot
Musa’s shop is a small but inviting roadside tea spot, neatly arranged with essentials for quick meals. Stacks of milk, sugar, and tea sachets line the wooden shelves, while a table holds eggs, bread, and hot noodles ready to be served to the waiting customer. A large kettle steams beside him, filling the air with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed tea. Though simple, the shop is well-kept, with a warm glow from a dim bulb and a cool evening breeze with sounds from radio tuned to a Hausa channel making it the perfect stop for passersby looking for a quick, satisfying meal.
team
director
concept art
taiwo folu ● akinte ponmile
modeling + lookdev
opeyemi adewole ● badmus abiola
rigging
taiwo folu
animation
onyeme micheal
simulation + fx
onyeme micheal
lighting
emmanuella edeh
tooling
aderemi adesada
sound design
saye bawa
