Have you been feeling out of touch with Nollywood lately? 2024 has had its fair share of underwhelming releases, so it’s easy to feel like the magic is fading. But before you give up, why not give these titles a chance? From powerful storytelling to captivating performances, here are 11 must-watch films that can reignite your love for Nigerian cinema:
- Eyimofe
In this award-winning feature debut by twins Arie and Chuko Esiri, we watch two people chasing the “Great Nigerian Dream.” It is a Japa story told through the eyes of Mofe (Jude Akuwudike), a printing shop technician, and Rosa (Temi Ami-Williams), a hairdresser, who live separate lives in the slums of Lagos. Mofe wants to go to Spain, and Rosa is sure that the solution to all her problems lies in Italy. In two chapters, Eyimofe: This is My Desire (2020) captures the yearning note struck by its title by showing us how two people’s dreams can affect the course of their lives. It is available on Prime Video and as a Criterion Collection.
- Juju Stories
When skeptical Mercy (Belinda Agedah Yanga) uses a love potion on her crush and it works, when a street urchin (Don Ekwuazi) picks up money and turns into a tuber of yam, and when undergraduate Chinwe (Bukola Oladipupo) finds herself at the center of a witch’s affections, they can hardly believe it. In this three-part anthology—directed by Michael Omonua (Love Potion), Abba Makama (YAM), and C.J. Obasi (Suffer the Witch)—familiar African superstitions and moral lessons become all too real, as they are depicted in such a manner that leaves a chilling sense that they might be true. Perfect for Halloween, Juju Stories (2021) is streaming on Prime Video.
- Breaded Life
Sunmi (Timini Egbuson) is a party boy with no ambitions beyond living off his trust fund. But suddenly, everyone in his life denies knowing him. The only person who recognizes Sunmi after he is penniless on the streets of Lagos is Todowede (Bimbo Ademoye), a cynical bread hawker with a thick egun accent who takes him in on the condition that he works at the local bakery to earn his keep. Directed by Biodun Stephen and set in the universe of Picture Perfect (2016)’s Jobe, Breaded Life (2021) comes alive with the visible struggles of Sunmi and the compelling chemistry between Egbuson and Ademoye’s characters. You can check it out on Netflix.
- For Maria Ebun Pataki
Damilola Orimogunje’s For Maria Ebun Pataki (2020) paints a rare Nollywood picture. Following a difficult birth, Derin (Meg Otanwa) can’t seem to connect with her infant daughter. Her mother-in-law (Tina Mba) doesn’t know what is wrong with her, and her husband (Gabriel Afolayan) is at his wit’s end, but she continues to withdraw emotionally from her family, sliding further into postpartum depression. This is the story of a simple woman from a typical African household, and it is deeply emotional for its sheer simplicity. It is available on Netflix.
- Yahoo+
Ebuka Njoku’s Yahoo+ (2022) revolves around childhood friends Ose (Keezyto) and Abacha (Somadima Adinma), who are struggling to make it big in Nollywood. Out of frustration, they engage in internet fraud, locally known as “Yahoo.” But this also proves unsuccessful, so they fall into the darker world of Yahoo+ by mixing blood rituals with scams. Using a minimalistic—and rather believable—storytelling approach, the film does a good job of portraying the unque brand of desperation that plagues many Nigerian youths today. You can watch it on Netflix.
- The Trade
The Trade (2023) is another crime film that focuses its lenses on the kidnapping underworld. It revolves around Eric (Blossom Chukwujekwu), a kidnapper who has successfully carried out his nefarious activities for more than 10 years while leading a double life as a loving husband and father. But when he snatches his latest victim, the long arm of the law begins to catch up to him. Though not overtly stated, Jade Osiberu draws striking similarities between Eric and the real-life “Billionaire Kidnapper,” Chukwudumeme “Evans” Onwuamadike, who was arrested in 2017. And somehow, this raises the odds of the tension-filled plot. The Trade (2022) is available on Prime Video.
- The Milkmaid
Desmond Ovbiagele’s award-winning The Milkmaid (2020) takes us on a journey to the northern part of Nigeria. Here, we find Aisha (Anthonieta Kalunta) on a quest to find her missing sister, Zainab (Maryam Booth), in an insurgency-filled world that constantly puts obstacles in her path. The storytelling is poignant, and the acting is compelling. But the fact that Aisha’s challenges reflect the harsh realities of many African women is what makes The Milkmaid (2020) powerful. Nigeria submitted the film for the 2021 Oscars International Feature Film (IFF) category (but it wasn’t nominated). It is currently streaming on Prime Video.
- The Meeting
What happens when a man with no political connections travels to Abuja to secure a government contract? Mildred Okwo’s The Meeting (2012) explores this question through the experiences of Mr. Makinde Esho (Femi Jacobs) in a delightfully chaotic way. After sharing a taxi with Ejura (Linda Ejiofor), a Corper, the two bond. However, Makinde encounters constant delays from the minister’s secretary, Clara (Rita Dominic), whose unprofessionalism and catchphrase, “OYO (A.K.A. On Your Own) is your own,” force him to extend his stay. During this time, he and Ejura grow closer, developing a romantic relationship over five days. The Meeting (2012) is a charming romantic comedy that stays grounded in reality, even as it indulges in some whimsical moments. You can watch it on YouTube.
- Isoken
Isoken (Dakore Egbuson-Akande) is successful but unmarried at the age of 34, a crime in the eyes of her mother (Tina Mba), especially after the wedding of her little sister, Osato (Jemima Osunde). Immediately, she is introduced to the handsome Osaze (Joseph Benjamin), a successful Edo man who is everything her mother wants. Though Isoken likes him well enough, she feels a stronger connection with Kevin (Marc Rhys), a white man her mother would never approve of. Jade Osiberu’s Isoken (2017) captures the charm and imperfections of both suitors—with Osaze’s unexpected bad-boy side and Kevin’s endearing presence during Isoken’s worst moments—and carefully cements itself as one of the truest rom-coms in Nigerian cinema. It is available on Netflix.
- B for Boy
Chika Anadu’s B for Boy (2013) follows expectant mother Amaka (Uche Nwadili), whose life changes after her mother-in-law demands that she give birth to a boy or else she will make her son marry another wife. Before this ultimatum, Amaka had everything she wanted: a loving husband, a sweet daughter, and a good job. Now, she is desperate for a son, even if she has to buy him illegally from another woman, Joy (Frances Okeke). B for Boy (2013) premiered at the British Film Institute London Film Festival and won the Breakthrough Audience Award at the American Film Institute film festival in 2013. You can watch it on KweliTV.
11. With Difficulty Comes Ease
Korede Azeez‘s sophomore feature, With Difficulty Comes Ease tells the story of Zainab, a young widow married into a Muslim family, is forced to painfully adjust to life after her husband’s death. Bound by tradition, she must endure her suffocating mother-in-law while staying in the family home until the end of the required mourning period. The film stars Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Ummi Baba Ahmed, Caleb Richards and Michelle Dede. Azeez’s nuanced portrayal of grief and the emotional reality of navigating personal loss combined with the Uzoamaka’s choices as Zainab, make it a must-watch. It’s available on Prime Video.
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