ORI (REBIRTH)
ORI (THE REBIRTH) – A STORY OF DESTINY, FATE, AND DIVINE INTERVENTION.
Muyiwa Ademola Authentic (MUY) has his new movie Ori: The Rebirth out, a sequel to his 2003 released Ori.
Ori: The Rebirth tells the story of Bisade (Muyiwa Ademola), a successful man gripped by his fate and tormented by unseen forces. His mother-in-law, Yeye Fernandez, cloaked in spiritual righteousness, is secretly plotting his demise. Bisade is called home urgently from a trip to Abuja, but his plane crashes on the way—a divine interruption of evil. From here, the story becomes a riddle. He survives, but loses his memory, landing in a quiet village where he builds a new life with Temidun (Toyin Abraham), who is already raising their son, Eniafe. A spiritual war, masterminded by the cunning Yeye Fernandez and her dark cult, threatens to rip apart his life and plunge him once more into the vortex of his unfinished past.
Well, the passage of time is poorly marked, making it difficult to track how long Bisade has been missing or how he transitioned into this second life. It’s only when his fate starts to unravel—through a spiritual attack and Temidun’s desperate prayers—that he regains his memory. The issue? His return to memory is abrupt. There is no visual or narrative bridge. One moment he is bleeding in a trance-like battle, the next, clarity.
This narrative unfolds with emotional and spiritual urgency, yet it struggles under the weight of its own structure. The story frequently jumps in time without proper cues, blurring key transitions. Characters appear or reappear without clear grounding. The film wants to be a mystery, but often ends up being an enigma even to those paying close attention.
Despite its narrative flaws, the film is anchored by powerful performances. Toyin Abraham gives a soul-baring performance as Temidun, exuding grief, hope, and spiritual resilience. Her tears don’t feel performative; they pull you in. Sola Sobowale, as the matriarch whose fear of generational curses fuels devastating decisions, remains a force. Though she shares no screen time with Toyin, their parallel journeys reflect a mother’s capacity to destroy or protect, both equally laced with love.
Muyiwa Ademola revisits his role with mature restraint. He doesn’t push too hard; instead, he allows the chaos of Bisade’s world to swallow him naturally. Omowunmi Dada, as Bisade’s first wife Olapeju, and the young actor playing Eniafe, give grounded performances, even if the script forgets to flesh them out fully. Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekola, and Lateef Adedimeji appear, but their roles feel more like marketing placements than essential parts of the story.
Where Ori: The Rebirth succeeds technically is in its visual language. The cinematography in village scenes is rich and atmospheric. The mise-en-scène effectively brings a sense of time and place. The soundtrack is a standout element. Music heightens mood and delivers emotional cues. In several scenes, especially those featuring spiritual encounters, the music does more storytelling than the dialogue.
We must also commend the make-up team who delivered an amazing make-up effect especially scenes that showed Muyiwa Ademola’s plane crash injuries.
Still, for all its imperfections, Ori: The Rebirth stands out. It is its spiritual and psychological layering that makes it a compelling, if flawed, return. What it does offer is a compelling reminder that in the realm of the Yoruba worldview, no coincidence is ever just coincidence. Destiny is a character all on its own.
The movie Ori: The Rebirth was released May 1, 2025 and Directed by Adekola Tijani, Muyiwa Ademola and Tope Adebayo Salami
Star Performer- Sola Sobowale
Playing the role Yeye Fernandez, we are left in the accustomed electrifying manner Sola Sobowale effortlessly acts her roles.
Can-do-better Performer- Nil
From All of Us at Real Nollywood, we rate the movie an 80%
