Global cinema set around Valentine’s Day is often rife with romantic love. We get a litany of tropes, some properly executed, others hoping you ignore their flaws. Enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, lovers in the workplace, accidental lovers, the nerdy girl and the jock, the wealthy playboy and the hardworking girl, this list could go on forever.
This year at What Kept Me Up, we’re trying something different. While we still believe in the undying power of romantic love, we’re branching out to explore the other ways love can manifest outside the usual romantic films we’re used to.
Friendships, sibling bonds, communal relationships and chosen family are some manifestations of where love exists as other kinds of bonds formed between people. And we have decided to spotlight a couple of Nigerian films that capture such relationships this Valentine’s period.
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A Tribe Called Judah
Co-directed and produced by Funke Akindele, A Tribe Called Judah follows the story of a single mother and her five sons from five different fathers from different tribes and how they come together to save their mother’s life. It’s a story that centres the love a mother has for her children and vice versa, presenting a family willing to go to any ends for each other. It’s a reminder that the first love we’ll often experience is with our parents and siblings, despite how often they annoy us. Available on Prime Video.
White Waters
White Waters, released in 2007, was directed by Izu Ojukwu and was nominated for 12 awards at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. It chronicles the story of Melvin (OC Ukeje), a struggling teen who is sent to live with his grandmother (Joke Silva), and his rise to athletic success. The central motivation lies with his grandmother who he has formed a deep bond with. He learns that her love for him is unconditional unlike his mother and this goes on to motivate him to success. If you’re looking for a heartwarming family story, White Waters is the perfect choice for you.
The Good Gift
In Kayode Kasum’s The Good Gift, the love a father (Uchemba Williams) has for his daughter radiates through the runtime as they navigate relentless trials and tribulations. The film premiered at AFRIFF 2025 and navigates themes of love, loss and faith. It’s a perfect fit if you’re looking for a film that reinforces your Christian faith, reminding you that the love God has for you is akin to that a father has for his daughter, both willing to die for their children.
Ijogbon
As a young adult, you tend to find a friend group that defines the rest of your life. In Ijogbon (directed by Kunle Afolayan in what is possibly his best Netflix project), we meet a group of teens who stumble upon a bag of diamonds that throws them into a dangerous adventure where their friendship is tested. It’s a film that navigates the fiery love of young adult friendships, where personalities clash and aspirations strain connections. It’s a film to watch if you’re nostalgic for the adventures of being a teenager and the bonds formed during that time.
Ije
The bond of sisterhood is one that transcends distance and time. In Ije, we see that manifest as Chioma (Genevieve Nnaji) travels from Nigeria to the United States to help her sister (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde) who is being charged with the murder of three men, including her husband. A Nigerian classic directed by Chineze Anyaene, this film navigates familial bonds formed by trauma, culture across countries and a woman willing to go to any lengths to vindicate her sister. Starring Nollywood royalty Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ije is the film for you if you want to see how a sister’s love is worth its weight in gold.
Love and Life
A recent widow (Rita Dominic), a woman in a troubled marriage (Michelle Dede) and another woman struggling to settle romantically (Nse Ikpe-Etim) form the core of this film. Directed by Reuben Reng, Love and Life follows these women as they navigate their core issues and their friendship. Female friendships are crucial to the way women live in a world that often mistreats them so if you’re looking for a group of older women riding hard for each other, Love and Life is the way to go this season. Available on Prime Video.
Kasala!
The vibrant, uncontained energy of youth takes the driver’s seat in Ema Edosio’s Kasala! when four friends take one of their uncle’s car for a joyride and end up crashing it. They then have to secure funds to fix the damage before the uncle finds out. A comedy centred on their schemes and experiences, it reminds you of the shenanigans the bonds of youth bring to your doorstep and it’s the right pick for this season if you want to experience a pioneer of the coming-of-age stories in Nollywood.
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