Author: Michael Kolawole

Lísàbí: The Uprising is an ambitious attempt to bring the story of Lísàbí Agbongbo Akala, the legendary Yoruba hero, to the screen. Loosely based on the actual historical event, the Netflix film showcases Lísàbí’s defiance against the oppressive rule of the Alaafin of Oyo and his despicable Ilari. While the film succeeds in some areas—mainly in its depiction of pre-colonial Yoruba life and its striking cinematography—it falters in crucial aspects of storytelling. The story commences with King Olodan’s (Femi Adebayo) courageous resistance against the Alaafin of Oyo’s (Odunlade Adekola) draconian tribute demands, which results in his tragic execution. The Egba…

Lakatabu, a crime thriller directed by Odunlade Adekola, showcases his trademark flair for blending action, comedy, and mysticism to create a drama underscored by his penchant for Yoruba cultural motifs. The story follows Lakatabu (Odunlade Adekola), a fearsome and mysterious criminal whose reign of terror instills fear in the hearts of many. Armed with a mythical power, his gang embarks on a series of audacious operations that leave the people and the authorities baffled. Though fascinating, the movie doesn’t offer anything new. From the opening scene to the end, there is an undeniable sense of déjà vu. That’s because Adekola…

Timini Egbuson has carved a niche for himself in new Nollywood as the go-to lover boy and nasty rich kid. Despite criticism for being typecast and occasionally adding little depth to his roles, he sometimes captivates audiences with his performances.  Though his characters may suggest a limited range, his filmography, which includes romantic dramas, horror thrillers, and comedies, proves otherwise. This article explores and ranks some of his best performances. Breaded Life (2021) In Breaded Life, a comedy-drama directed by Biodun Stephen, Timini plays the light-hearted yet profound role of Summy Cole, a spoiled rich kid, torn in the flesh…

On Saturday, September 2, 2023, moviegoers in Nigeria experienced the inaugural National Cinema Day, offering reduced ticket prices at ₦1,000 to reward loyal fans and rekindle the love of the big screen among former customers. The revenue for that weekend dropped to 76,260,497 naira, from the previous weekend’s 84,150,882 naira. The Saturday gross of 24,574,146 naira was also lower than the previous Saturday’s 27,017,090 naira gross. While the revenue figures might have been discouraging for some stakeholders, there were positives to take from the attendance figures. The attendance for that weekend reached 39,091, making it the second-highest attendance figure of…

Some people find love and living to be effortless, while others struggle to the point of desperation that leads to the brink of death. The latter is the theme of Alágbède, a socially conscious period drama that explores humanity’s relentless pursuit of wealth, happiness, and love—timeless and universal. Alagbede follows the relationship between Adio (Femi Adebayo) a diligent, illiterate, and honest blacksmith and Omolewa (Kehinde Bankole), a school teacher from a middle-class family. Everyone is against their relationship, especially Omolewa’s mother (Bimbo Oshin) and Adio’s master (Taiwo Ibikunle) who also has eyes for Omolewa. These external forces pressure Adio into…

Lately, the formula adopted by Yoruba filmmakers draws inspiration from the culture’s rich folklore and ancient literature. This grounds their narratives in the familiar traditional Yoruba settings, with the stacked presence of popular actors—who have become synonymous with the revived subgenre— not left behind. While this formula has resulted in one or two remarkable outings that effectively blend tradition with contemporary vision, we have also had some adaptations that struggle to strike the right balance. Ajakaju: Beast of Two Worlds, directed by Adebayo Tijani and Odunlade Adekola (two recurring filmmakers in this subgenre) falls into the latter category, where the…

Kunle Afolayan’s fantasy drama series, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, picks up brilliantly from where the pilot (the 2022 Anikulapo) ends. After the protagonist Saro (Kunle Remi), the horny-minded, son of suffering enriched by his libidinal valour, dies for the second time, he is sent back to earth to repay his debt to death before he can journey into heaven. Failure to do so would make him a lost soul who wanders with no resting place for eternity. But Saro owes a huge debt—he raised twenty souls from death when he was on earth—which makes his task daunting. Now a…

When the Anikulapo pilot was released on Netflix two years ago, it was well-received for its brilliant story and commendable performances of the lead actors, Kunle Remi’s Saro and Bimbo Ademoye’s Arolake, whose on-screen chemistry commanded attention, as they skillfully navigated their characters’ arcs, conveying a range of emotions with depth and conviction. Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre, a 6-episode extension of the pilot, continues with the story of Saro and Arolake, adding twists and turns while introducing new characters to help drive the story in this vast Yoruba land to its climactic ending. Taiwo Hassan, Aisha Lawal, and Layi…

When the Anikulapo pilot was released on Netflix two years ago, it was well-received for its brilliant story and commendable performances of the lead actors, Kunle Remi’s Saro and Bimbo Ademoye’s Arolake, whose on-screen chemistry commanded attention, as they skillfully navigated their characters’ arcs, conveying a range of emotions with depth and conviction. Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre, a 6-episode extension of the pilot, continues with the story of Saro and Arolake, adding twists and turns while introducing new characters to help drive the story in this vast Yoruba land to its climactic ending. Lateef Adedimeji, Uzee Usman and Eyiyemi…

Most Nollywood films were initially released in cinemas before their availability on streaming platforms to be viewed by those who must have missed them when they screened and to be seen again by those who saw them during their theatrical run. As the films transition from the big screen to digital platforms, Nollywood audiences in the diaspora also have the chance to experience them on Prime Video and Netflix. Below are 2023 Nollywood cinema-released movies currently available to stream. 2022 Nollywood Films Already Streaming on Netflix and Prime Video 2023 Nollywood Movies on Prime Video The Bride Price The Bride…