Bayelsan Silhouettes features seven Nollywood style dramas directed by well-known directors in Nigeria. Each film looks at different aspects of life and love in the Niger Delta. Storylines include the Okada Union President, popularly called You no be Man, whose macho behaviour lands him in trouble, university campus life with its temptations and cults, and young puppy love in secondary school where characters Ovie and Sam have to bear the consequences of hiding their affair. The films include information frames on facts about HIV and AIDS awareness, prevention, and treatment which were developed in consultation with partner organisations: Hope Worldwide, Society for Family Health (SFH), and Family Health International (FHI).

The films (which are partly in the local Ijaw language and Pidjin with sub-titles) are being distributed to television stations across Nigeria. Film screenings are held in communities and schools, and are being distributed to community clinics, health centres, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholder groups across the country. CFC also plans to screen the films on long distance buses, and distribute the films internationally.

At the beginning of the project, the CFC team travelled to Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, and surrounding areas to develop local partnerships and work out logistics. The team visited many local communities, youth groups, organisations, and traditional rulers, informing them about the project and getting their opinions and advice. In-depth-interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with young people (aged 13-25) and stakeholders to learn more about youth lifestyles, sexual behaviour, HIV and AIDS knowledge, and media consumption patterns.

The Bayeslan Silhouettes project included a capacity building element, where CFC involved local Bayeslan youth in the film development process, to give them a chance to make their own movies. Youth were selected after rigorous auditions and screen and writing tests were conducted in local schools to identify talent. Nine candidates were selected to take part in a scriptwriting workshop and were trained in dramatic writing, with two exceptional youth going on to act leading roles in the films.

The print component of Bayeslan Silhouettes includes a magazine and a comic which are designed to support the films and their messaging. In addition, the Bayelsan Silhouettes website offers information on the films as well as information on HIV testing and living positively.

HIV/AIDS, Youth

Bayelsan Silhouettes is part of a broader initiative, the Gbaran-Ubie Media SPDC Project, which also includes a radio drama series, "When Breeze Blow!," focusing on adolescent health, produced by the African Radio Drama Association (ARDA). According to organisers, the films and radio drama series are meant to edu-tain local audiences living near oil rigs in the Delta, as well as impact on audiences across Nigeria.

Communication for Change (CFC) is a non-governmental media organisation which uses radio, television, print, market research, theatre, capacity building, and special events to help change behaviour and attitudes about vital social and environmental issues from an African perspective.