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From beloved hits like Yemi My Lover and The Wedding Party to unforgettable characters like Isoken and Selina, Nollywood delivers outstanding love stories from time to time. Yes, this is your Valentine’s Day reminder that among the hundreds of romances the industry releases each year, a few succeed with fresh takes, lasting cultural impact, and, of course, butterflies. We also considered key factors like originality and reception (critics and audiences alike) in compiling this list of Nollywood’s greatest romantic films ever.
Fine Wine
At number 20, Seyi Babatope’s Fine Wine (2021) examines the unconventional love affair between a beautiful NYSC member, and a divorced billionaire who is decades older than her—with two adult children. As Kaima (Ego Nwosu) and Seye (Richard Mofe-Damijo) grow closer, they face societal judgments, family drama, and insecurities that make them wonder if age is truly just a number. It is available on YouTube.
Selina
Selina (Bimbo Ademoye) is a local food stall owner who becomes a housekeeper to settle her debts. Reuben (Daniel Etim-Effiong) is her wealthy and well-spoken boss. As romance blooms between the two, their different worlds try to pull them apart. Bunmi Akingbola’s lighthearted Selina (2022), produced by Uduak Isong, follows a love that accepts you just the way you are. Its first installment became a YouTube sensation that captivated viewers and alerted Nollywood to the platform’s unique potential. This four-part saga is perfect for soap opera lovers!
Mr. and Mrs.
When it comes to second-chance romance between live-in ex-couples, Ikechukwu Onyeka’s Mr. and Mrs. (2012) is the blueprint Potato Potahto (2017) and similar films follow. While its central idea of changing an emotionally abusive ex is questionable, Mr. and Mrs. leads such the category Nse Ikpe-Etim’s Susan, whose powerful self-discovery after years of catering to her ex-husband’s every whim has him falling for her again. You can stream it on YouTube.
When Love Happens
Frustrated by single life, Mo (Weruche Opia) starts a vlog to document her search for the perfect man. Soon, she discovers a male friend’s attraction and must decide if he is Mr. Right. Seyi Babatope’s When Love Happens (2014) explores the different kinds of love Mo encounters in her pursuit of marriage, paving the way for modern rom-coms about successful women trying to settle down e.g. Finding Hubby (2020). You can watch it on YouTube.
This Lady Called Life
In This Lady Called Life (2020), Kayode Kasum gives us Aiye (Bisola Aiyeola), a woman struggling to become a chef while raising the son she conceived out of wedlock. As circumstances bring her back to her estranged mother, Aiye gets caught up in Obinna (Efa Iwara), a good-natured photographer who inspires her to reach for her goals. The film comes in at number 16 for its sincere portrayal of a single mother facing family tension on the brink of a brand new love.
Big Love
What happens when a rich man’s son falls for a single mother? Big Love (2023) follows Adil (Timini Egbuson) as he reconnects with his old crush, Adina (Bimbo Ademoye). When he learns of her 3-year-old son, he pretends to be the biological father to shield her from his wealthy family’s judgment. As the lie unravels, Biodun Stephen’s standout romantic drama amongst her multiple efforts—powered by Egbuson and Ademoye’s chemistry—exposes deep-rooted prejudices against unmarried mothers in Nigerian society. You can watch it on Prime Video.
Namaste Wahala
Hamisha Daryani Ahuja’s Namaste Wahala (2020) sweeps Didi (Ini Dima-Okojie) and Raj (Ruslaan Mumtaz) into a whirlwind romance—complete with dance numbers. But cultures collide when he meets her influential Nigerian parents. Despite mostly negative critical reviews and mixed audience reactions, Namaste Wahala (2020) earns its place on our list for its cultural impact as the first Indo-Nigerian rom-com, blending traditions and talents from both countries and starting a trend on X (Twitter) where people shared (and still share) stories of real-life Indo-Nigerian couples. Now streaming on Netflix.
The Royal Hibiscus Hotel
Sparks fly when a London-trained chef returns to her parents’ hotel—her childhood home—to help run it, only to clash with the businessman trying to buy it. Ishaya Bako’s The Royal Hibiscus Hotel (2017) casts Zainab Balogun and Kenneth Okolie in a stunning pairing, with chemistry that fuels this aesthetically pleasing film. The EbonyLife film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. It is currently streaming on Netflix.
The Griot
For the most part, The Griot (2021) teaches shy Lakunle (Lateef Adedimeji) how to “not” win the girl. Rule number one: don’t let your selfish friend, Sanmi (Temilolu Fosodu), take credit for your stories—especially in a village that prizes storytellers. Two: don’t ask him to deliver messages to your crush, Tiwa (Goodness Emmanuel). Told in fluent English with a dash of Yoruba, Adeoluwa Owu’s multilayered folktale clinches this spot with its atypical execution of the delicate romance between Lakunle and Tiwa. (P.S. Get your tissues ready!).
Flower Girl
Kemi (Damilola Adegbite) is a florist hoping her longtime boyfriend, Umar (Chris Attoh), will propose. Instead, he breaks up with her. Enter Nollywood superstar Tunde Kelani (Blossom Chukwujekwu), who suggests a plan: he’ll pretend to be her boyfriend to make Umar jealous. As their fake relationship unfolds with effortless chemistry, genuine conversations, and a makeover montage, Kemi and Tunde start catching real feelings. Michelle Bello’s critically acclaimed Flower Girl (2013) is a must-watch for rom-com lovers who want all the feels!
White Waters
Melvin (OC Ukeje) lives with his sick grandmother and a goldfish named Loneliness. Upon joining the state track team, he falls for Norlah (Rita Dominic), an athlete who helps him gain confidence. Izu Ojukwu’s White Waters (2007)—one of Nigeria’s notable sports films—follows the love story between a socially and academically challenged man and his total opposite. The Amstel Malta Box Office feature earned 12 nominations and 4 wins at the 2008 AMAA and is perfect for fans of inspirational dramas. You can watch it on YouTube.
Letters to a Stranger
If your love language is words of affirmation, Fred Amata’s Letters to a Stranger (2007) is perfect for you! Jemima (Genevieve Nnaji) is a writer having problems with her longtime boyfriend Frederick (Fred Amata), she finds solace in writing “letters to a stranger” on her laptop. One day, she dials a wrong number belonging to the more attentive Sadiq (Yemi Blaq), who starts tugging on her heartstrings. Who will she choose?
It is streaming on YouTube.
Picture Perfect
A chance encounter between Kumbi (Mary Njoku), an educated tailor, and Jobe (Bolanle Ninalowo), an “area boy” on the streets of Lagos, leads to an unlikely friendship that quickly becomes more. Tope Alake’s Picture Perfect (2016)—written and produced by Biodun Stephen—comes in at number 8 with the dynamic performances from Ninalowo and Njoku in their unique love story. (Fun fact: Bolanle Ninalowo is still portraying different versions of Jobe in Nollywood!)
The Meeting
Mildred Okwo’s critically acclaimed The Meeting (2012) is a rom-com that blends natural humour with a sharp critique of Nigerian bureaucracy. When Makinde (Femi Jacobs) visits Abuja to secure a government contract, he meets Ejura (Linda Ejiofor), a kind NYSC member. The two grow close as what is supposed to be a brief trip extends indefinitely, thanks to the minister’s dramatic secretary who keeps delaying him. You can check it out on YouTube!
Phone Swap
A fashion designer and an arrogant businessman mistakenly switch phones at the airport. Mary (Nse Ikpe-Etim) and Akin (Wale Ojo)—who also board the wrong flights—must fix the chaos through phone calls that slowly turn into a long-distance romance. Phone Swap (2012), directed by Kunle Afolayan, is the first major Nigerian film to center its plot around mobile phones, reflecting their rapid rise since their introduction in the early 2000s. It is streaming on Kanopy (with a public library card or university login).
Oleku
After his mother pressures him to find a wife, Ajani (Yemi Shodimu), a final-year student at the University of Ibadan, finds himself in an “entanglement” with three different women.
Based on Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola’s novel, Tunde Kelani’s Oleku (1997) is known for its love triangle (sorry, square), a high standard of the Yoruba language, and the short Iro and Buba fashion trend it popularized. It is available on YouTube.
Abeni
A wealthy man’s daughter, Abeni (Sola Asedeko), falls in love with the former gateman’s son, Akanni (Abdel Hakim Amzat), marking the start of a relationship filled with obstacles. With Abeni (2006), filmmaker Tunde Kelani addresses class divides and captures a cross-cultural romance between Nigeria and the Benin Republic, shot in both countries.
You can watch it on YouTube.
The Wedding Party
On Dunni (Adesua Etomi-Wellington) and Dozie (Bankole “Banky W” Wellington)’s wedding day, debutant director Kemi Adetiba peels off the layers of their high-class owambe with comedy, drama, and a touch of armed robbery.
Upon its release, a disruptive product of the ELFIKE collective, The Wedding Party (2016) was the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time (it is currently number 5 on the list!). It is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Yemi My Lover
Yemi (Yemi Ayebo) falls hopelessly in love with a mermaid after meeting her as a child in this classic movie featuring Tajudeen Oyewole, Iyabo Momoh, and Kunle Adetokunbo (aka Dejo Tunfulu). Niyi Love Atolagbe’s Yemi My Lover (1993) captivated audiences with its iconic romance and Bollywood-style songs in the era of TV broadcasts and VHS. Today, the term “Yemi My Lover” is still used to describe a man who has fallen completely for his woman, as reflected in Olamide’s single “Yemi My Lover” (2013).
Isoken
When 30-something-year-old Isoken (Dakore Egbuson-Akande) forms a love triangle with the charming Osaze (Joseph Benjamin)—her traditional mother’s choice—and Kevin (Marc Rhys), a white man offering a more relaxed kind of love, she must choose between two good men. Jade Osiberu’s 2017 debut feature stands out with striking visuals and a well-balanced cast. Add the strong performances at the heart of its relatable plot, Isoken’s convincing dilemma, and her transformation as she code-switches between the two men, and it becomes the perfect Nigerian romantic film.
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