Over the years, trending Nollywood movies have predominantly utilized the English language, catering to the diverse Nigerian population composed of various ethnic groups. However, in recent times, Yoruba filmmakers and writers have opted for a different approach in narrating their tales—embracing the use of the Yoruba language.
It’s fair to assert that the Yoruba people possess a remarkable storytelling prowess. Their narratives are invariably accompanied by music, featuring talking drums and praise singers who eloquently express reverence and adoration for a central character, typically the protagonist. Yoruba films not only employ the Yoruba language for communication and expression but also encapsulate the entirety of Yoruba culture.
This cultural immersion extends to their attire, incorporating traditional elements such as buba, Sokoto, Iro, Ipele, and gele as costumes. The settings often depict villages nestled in hills and mountains, characterized by huts constructed with clay and thatched roofs. Additionally, their belief in the supernatural is prominently portrayed, with charms and potions taking center stage, especially in battle scenes.
The following is a list of Yoruba movies you should add to your list;
Aníkúlápó
Aníkúlápó, a Nigerian epic fantasy movie from 2022, was created by Kunle Afolayan and made available on Netflix on September 30, 2022. The cast includes Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Sola Sobowale, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, and Taiwo Hassan. Filmed in Oyo State, Afolayan has likened it to a ‘Game of Thrones’ reimagined in Nigeria, with a more accurate portrayal of Yoruba culture.
Jagun Jagun
Jagun Jagun (The Warrior) is a 2023 Netflix original epic Yoruba film produced by Femi Adebayo Salami and Euphoria360 Media . It was directed by Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo Salami.The film stars Femi Adebayo, Adedimeji Lateef, Bimbo Ademoye, Faithia Balogun, Mr Macaroni, Bukunmi Oluwasina, Ibrahim Yekini and Muyiwa Ademola. Jagun Jagun narrates the tale of Ogundiji, a Warlord who starts sensing a threat from Gbotija, a young warrior with a mission to avenge his father’s death. Ogundiji, known for being a dictator seizing kingdoms for unjust rulers, becomes uneasy with the emergence of Gbotija.
Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman.
The 2022 Yoruba-language Nigerian historical drama film, “Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman,” directed by Biyi Bandele and available on Netflix, is an adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s play “Death and the King’s Horseman.” Soyinka wrote the play during his political exile from Nigeria while at Churchill College in Cambridge. The film, depicting a real incident in Yorubaland during British Colonial rule, features Odunlade Adekola as the main character, supported by a cast including Shaffy Bello, Brymo, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, Jide Kosoko, Langley Kirkwood, Joke Silva, and others.
Understanding the dialogues in Yoruba movies is no longer a challenge. Similar to Bollywood films and Korean dramas, Yoruba movies have gained global reach as viewers utilize subtitles for clarity.
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