Looking back from January to March, even until the first two weeks of April, I think we can all agree that we have been spoiled for choice when it comes to feeding our eyes with good movies. 2024 has been a good year for Nollywood releases, with the likes of Afamefuna and Ajakaku holding it down in the movie session, while ‘Oloture: The Journey‘ and Anikulapo have held it down in the series session. All I can say is what a first quarter!
Well, I am not going to keep talking about the movies in the first quarter now, am I? The remainder of the year promises to deliver in the Nollywood category. To get a grasp of what to expect, let’s delve in (forgive my A.I.) to see the blockbusters that will keep us at the edge of our seats this second quarter.
5. Water and Garri
Credit: Instagram
I am starting off the list with a movie that features the queen of Afrobeats, Nigerian bad gyal Tiwa Savage. Following the success of the ‘Water & Garri’ EP in 2021, Tiwa is releasing a movie with the same title on May 10th on Amazon Prime. I’m sure we are all familiar with the “Water & Garri album,” and if we are not, the single “Somebody’s Son” that was on everyone’s lips in 2021 was on that album.
The play follows an aspirational fashion designer, Aisha (Savage), who returns to her homeland after a decade away in the United States to grieve a family member. The homecoming isn’t a pleasant situation, as there has been an increase in violence and high levels of tension. She has to learn to live with her wounds and face the guilt she left behind as she makes new connections with her loved ones, old friends, and former partner.
The drama is not lacking in the cast aspect either, as the likes of Mike Afolarin, known for his role in Far From Home; Andrew Bunting, known for his role in Dynamite; and Jemima Osunde, with whom I think we are all familiar, will all be gracing our screens.
4. Postcards
Credit: BellaNaija
This series welcomes Nollywood’s collaboration with Bollywood. It would be the second of its kind, the first being ‘Namaste Wahala’, and they’re both directed and produced by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja. The series is set to be released on May 3rd on Netflix.
Predictably, Nigeria and India served as the filming locations for the film. It follows the story of a woman (Sola Sobowale) who goes to India for a medical checkup, but as simple as a medical checkup sounds, it transitions to a series of life-changing events. The movie gives adventurous vibes—not the ones you will willingly walk into, but the ones you will be glad you experienced and came out alive.
Featuring in this series will be veteran actors like Sola Sobowale and RMD, with the likes of Tobi Bakare and Nancy Isime. What a nice way to blend in the old and new cats!
3. Finding Messiah
Credit: Nollywood Reporter
With a stirring trailer, an already trending soundtrack, and one of Africa’s finest tasked with writing and directing the movie, I am sure we can confidently say the movie will bang! The trailer alone had us seated at the edge of our chairs. Now guess what the whole movie will bring; it’s already giving off breaking box office vibes.
The drama tells the story of a make-believe country, “The Republic of Zambay,” troubled by political unrest. The country has its own culture and sensibilities, and because it is a make-believe country, the director confirmed that he was tasked with bringing this masterpiece to life. Aside from the story that is being waited upon, the cast is also quite intriguing to look forward to. Daddy Showkey makes a comeback, the veteran Pete Edochie will be gracing our screens with his presence, and the likes of Uzi Kwednu and Sunshine Rosman will also act as supporting actors in the movie.
Although the movie doesn’t have a set date yet, the trailer has been out for a bit, and the theme song (Prison Song) is being talked about on various social media platforms. I can say that the release date might be just around the corner.
2. Blacksmith: Alagbede
Credit: Genesis Cinema
The story follows the life of a blacksmith who seeks to make it big by doing whatever it takes. As we know, for all success stories, there are ups and downs that one might encounter before reaching the top. Well, this movie will capture how the blacksmith faces the pressures, fears, and hustles as he finds a way to make it big.
The movie, unlike the ones we have mentioned above, has both the Yoruba and English languages as its primary sources of communication. The movie was released in cinemas on April 19th and it stars actors like Adebowale Adebayo, Bimbo Oshin, Femi Adebayo, Gabriel Olasubomi Afolayan, Jaiye Kuti, Kehinde Bankole, Mr Macaroni, and Taiwo Ibikunle, bringing the script to life.
- Red circle
Credit: Nollywire
For Nollywood fans who love thrillers, this one is for you. The teaser for the movie has me bursting with excitement about what is coming. And there is more, the one and only Bukky Wright, known for her famous Omotara Johnson, is making a comeback to the movie industry. Although the date hasn’t been released yet, teasers have started dropping, and I think that should signal the release of the movie.
The movie follows the story of typical Lagos life; the teaser starts with a woman’s bag being snatched after she was handed a “you have been tagged” card. Sounds thrilling, right? Hopefully, it lives up to its teaser hype, and from the streets, the next thing we are seeing is a group of people being abducted in a room and it features people from all walks of life.
From an “egbon adugbo” kind of guy to a “the law”, the hostages represented all kinds of people that are typical in everyday life. They are all trapped in the room, and the same question on their minds is the same on mine: Why? Why them? Could it be for money, or could it be revenge? Well, we won’t know until we watch it.
Aside from Bukky Wright making her comeback, the movie features actors like Tobi Bakre, Timini Egbuson, Omowunmi Dada, and Ruggedman, among others.
Honourable mentions
To finish up this list, let’s end it with a couple of movies that would be groundbreaking, just like the ones listed above. Come to think of it, we might even get one that would break A Tribe Called Judah’s box office record, I know it’s not an easy feat to break, but, I mean, impossible is nothing.
To Kill a Monkey
Credit: BellaNaija
From the hands of one of Nollywood’s finest directors, Kemi Adetiba, this movie is set to turn heads. The crime thriller is set to be released this year as part of Netflix’s collaboration with Nollywood.
With Kemi Adetiba, everyone knows that a masterpiece is set to be delivered and with the cast that you’ll see much later, the movie might just be greater than ‘King of the Boys’. We have seen what she did with KOB, and in no time we will be seeing what she will do with ‘To Kill A Monkey,’ a series that delves into the world of cybercrime. To Kill a Monkey will star the likes of William Benson, Bucci Franklin, Chidi Mokeme, Damilola Adegbite, Ireti Doyle, and many more.
This is Lagos
Credit: IMDB
I am sure we must have heard the phrase “This is Lagos” or “Eko lawa”, the Yoruba translation, once or twice if you have stayed or currently stay in Lagos. For me, I have heard it countless times. The movie follows Lagos through the Lens of Stevo, played by Gabriel Afolayan, a hustler, as we call it in Nigeria, who has taken the phrase “no gree for anybody” to heart. With an insatiable hunger for super-stardom, how well will he reach his goal in a city where you don’t know who is who as everybody stays guarding? The movie will star the likes of Jesse Jags, Mike Folarin, and Kate Henshaw, among others.
That’s all from me today on some of the Nollywood movies to be anticipated in 2024. I’m sure you are as eager as I am to watch these movies. While we await the release of these dramas and series, what better to do than keep ourselves entertained with the new releases in cinemas that are on everyone’s lips, the likes of ‘Àjosepò’ and Trepidation?
Ajosepo is a story that delves into the lives of Dapo and Tani, a young couple preparing for their wedding. As their families gather in a luxurious hotel, festivities soon give way to turmoil as long-held secrets, family tensions, and unexpected revelations threaten to tear them apart. While Trepidation is inspired by a desire to reshape the African horror genre and explore the intricate connection between the spiritual and physical realms. It tells the tale of a young mother tormented by terrifying nightmares after visiting an abandoned family property. As she embarks on a quest for answers, she uncovers a terrifying truth that her family has concealed for decades.
