This Week in Nollywood: Funke Akindele Hits N1bn + What To Watch Today

Nollywood officially hits a N1bn+ gross on a single project. Mo Abudu announces Oloture sequel and more to come in the new year.

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This Week in Nollywood is a recapitulation of the significant events in the industry this week. While you were busy chasing the bag during the week, Nollywood was cooking! Here are the things you missed. 

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Funke Akindele crowned box office maestro as A Tribe Called Judah hits 1 billion Naira at the box office 

Akindele’s 2023 December blockbuster release hit the one billion naira mark. This feat would reaffirm the filmmaker’s position as box office queen as her film, A Tribe Called Judah makes a new record as the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time. Although a new record has been made, the race is ongoing for the film as it’s still showing in cinemas across the country. 

Ebonylife’s CEO Mo Abudu announces Oloture Sequel

Oloture: The Journey, the anticipated sequel to the Oloture film where the titular character takes on a new challenge in her undercover journalism career which takes her across Niger and Libya. Abudu noted that this sequel is going to be a series. The sequel comes highly anticipated following the release of the prequel film Oloture which starred notable actors like Sharon Ooja, Omoni Oboli, Blossom Chukwujekwu, and other notable actors. These actors are expected to reprise their roles in the sequel and the series is currently in its post production phase.

Though there’s been no official date announced, the series is expected to be released this year.

Africa Magic launches exciting new shows - The Theory of Breakfast, Unscripted, Hook, Line and Sinkah, Checkout and Manfriend

2024 is gearing up to be an even more productive year for Africa Magic as it kicks off with brand-new content launching alongside the New Year. The broadcast company is premiering six new series in January, starting from January 1 till January 23. The shows are individually different and cut across diverse genres.

The Theory of Breakfast a romantic drama with several interwoven love stories launched on January 1. The show follows two BFFs who have secretly been in love with each other. Unusual events preceding one of their weddings cause stowed-away love to bloom between them amidst a heart-wrenching series of heartbreaks. New episodes premiere every Monday and Tuesday at 8 pm on Africa Magic Showcase.

Checkout is a comedy-drama, set in a large superstore, “Treatz”. The store owner’s divorced sister, Margaret, handles the day-to-day operations. Every episode brings humorous scenarios and conflict between the staff and customers. Viewers will see everything - from shoppers who don’t have enough money at the counter to shoplifters who get caught stealing ridiculous things. It launched on January 1 and airs every weekday at 8 pm on Africa Magic Urban. 

Hook, Line, and Sinkah follow three young half-brothers - Ugo, Sodiq, and Kenny Jacobson who despite their father’s legendary philandering antecedents, he doesn’t hold any of them in high regard. To help them become more ‘manly’, he obligates them to live together in one of his properties and work in his company. Their cohabitation is characterized by misogyny and male chauvinism as they slowly realize those qualities are rooted in fake manliness or toxic masculinity. The show launched on January 3 and airs on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv ch. 151) every Wednesday at 8:30 pm. 

Unscripted takes on the form of a popular reality TV show’s reunion. The series promises to be messier than any legendary Nigerian reunion ever. Every reality TV fan will enjoy the unmitigated chaos, abundance of drama and the ever-changing landscape of ships. Viewers must choose sides because only one person can be the ultimate reality star. The show stars Bobby Ekpe, Wumi Tuase, Obehi Aburime, Ajayi Akorede and more. the series premiered on January 3, at 9 pm on Africa Magic Showcase, 

Niyi Akinmolayan Teases Cultural Documentary 

Filmmaker and CEO of AnthillStudios, Niyi Akinmolayan on Thursday, January 4 teased an upcoming cultural documentary through his tweet page. This film would tell a story of rainmaking and the powerful Sango deity of the Yoruba people of Western Nigeria. The filmmaker is known for his edgy and ambitious approach to storytelling as seen through his previous films such as Elevator Baby, House of Secrets, and the child adventure film Mikolo. Akinmolayan emphasized his respect and regard for cultural traditions even in storytelling as he noted that he had undergone the necessary rituals and has learned a lot through the process of making this upcoming documentary. The question he poses through this project inquires if rainmaking is truly real or just a trick. We are about to find out. 

Films Showing this weekend 

Manfriend

Set in the heart of a bustling city, the King family navigates a whirlwind of emotions, secrets, and aspirations amidst planning their mother’s grand 50th birthday bash. Doosuur King, the dependable middle daughter, takes the lead in organizing the event. She employs her sisters’ help, but they are too absorbed in their conflicts to contribute to the party arrangements. The show premieres on January 5 and airs at 8:30 pm every Friday on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv ch. 151).