‘A Tribe Called Judah’, Nollywood’s Box Office Record Holder, Delights Nollywood Film Club in April

Nollywood Film Club is a Twitter Space where Nollywood films are discussed every Sunday.

In April, the month that marked the club’s third anniversary, Casa De Novia, Bank Alert, A Tribe Called Judah and Strained, were discussed.

During the month’s final session when the anniversary was celebrated, the speakers shared memorable moments, anecdotes and unforgettable episodes of Nollywood Film Club, which is also available as a podcast.

Let’s recap the club’s discussions of A Tribe Called Judah, the family dramedy now available to stream on Prime Video.

1. Uzor Arukwe’s performance is widely praised, with multiple speakers highlighting his acting as a standout aspect of A Tribe Called Judah despite how synonymous Arukwe has become with this particular role. For a character he has also played in Prophetess, Sugar Rush and Bank Alert, Mr C notes, “He adds nuance to such a flat role.”
2. Mr C acknowledges Funke Akindele’s improvement in filmmaking. However, a speaker notes that someone needs to direct Funke.
3. Timini Egbuson is a surprise positive in A Tribe Called Judah, in what is referred to as one of his better outings.
4. A speaker mentions that A Tribe Called Judah delivers at being better than She Must Be Obeyed, a low bar they set for it.
5. Some speakers appreciate the relatability of the characters and the depiction of regular people in Nigeria. Nobody does it better than Funke Akindele in this area. Olanna says, “the characters don’t seem too far away.”
6. However, there are critiques about pacing issues, including a slow setup and late development of key plot events like Jedidah’s kidney illness. 
7. Some even argue that the film could have used less “fat” of Funke’s character and done more with the boys, such as reducing Funke Akindele’s screen time and focusing more on other characters to enhance pacing. Someone even raises a question about how a Funke film would fare in cinemas without Funke starring in the film.
8. Mixed opinions exist regarding the balance between comedy and emotional moments in the film, with some finding the comedy enjoyable but the emotional aspects lacking.
9. Despite its flaws, many speakers find the film entertaining and enjoyable, providing good vibes and laughter. 
10. The film is seen as a step forward from previous works by Funke Akindele, though some viewers express the desire for her to push boundaries and innovate in her filmmaking even further.
11. Overall, there is a consensus that while A Tribe Called Judah may not be groundbreaking, it succeeds in its primary goal of entertaining audiences. It achieves what a blockbuster should do. Rotimi even has a theory on what the Funke ingredients might be: Funny, Family, Fight, and Funke.

My key lesson: During the commemorative episode that celebrated the club’s third anniversary, the fact was reestablished in my heart that Nollywood really needs Nollywood Film Club.

(Re)listen to the episodes of Nollywood Film Club on your favourite podcast platform.

Live Nollywood Film Club takes place every Sunday at 6 pm (WAT) on Twitter.

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