IYALODE

WHY ‘IYALODE’ APPEARS TO BE A JERRY-BUILT EPIC FILM

Telling Epic movies are not easy, and we know , however, when effort is put in, we can tell. After back to back Epic releases across Nollywood, Iyalode was received with excitement as we were ready to be visually satisfied watching our rich African culture in display, but were we satisfied?

Iyalode tells the story of fearsome Ajikaka, a heroine who fights for what she believes, she is tested in many battles but she emerges ever victorious. She has the support of nature, as Earth obeys her command and aids her in her victories, on the other hand, she has a mother who is rightly next in line for the Iyalode title, a high-ranking female chieftaincy title, often translated as “mother/head of women”, however, she is robbed of this title by conspiracy, she is banished from the land, but, when the truth resurfaces, she is brought back into the land, but this time, she can’t take this title again having suffered a taboo. She then summons her daughter, Ajikaka to come receive the title. Ajikaka returns a welcomed heroine back to her people. However, shortly after her return, she suffers the same fate as her mother, but against all odds she must have her mother’s wish of having the Iyalode title received by their family. What happens next shows at the cinema. Enough of the spoilers!

Well, to be candid, I did not enjoy Iyalode until the last scene, and that was because the last scene ended in an “I didn’t see that coming” way. I’m not going to be a spoiler of someone’s ‘market’, but let’s be frank, Iyalode was not well thought through at all. First, halfway, I asked myself, what exactly is the story in this movie? It just appeared to be fight scenes and incoherent dialogues. The plot tried to join different stories together from three kingdoms, and it was clear there were difficulties doing that. The movie rolled on a good cast, but a good cast will not do justice to an inexistent storyline.

Also, Toyin Abraham needs to tone it down on the the theatrics, some scenes looked just cringy with the very unecessary facial and dramatic gesticulations. Sometimes less is more

However, despite a bland plot and storyline, there were some positives to smile on, and the first will be some great make-up! For instance, the make-up on Ibrahim Chatta was impeccable, so real. Another positive to take was the cinematography, the fight scenes were properly done and most action scenes generally. Nollywood has really come a long way in shooting fight scenes and it appears the new standard is quite high.

Some of the cast in these are Toyin Abraham, Kolawole Ajeyemi, Bukky Wright, Kehinde Bankole, Ibrahim Chatta, Peju Ogunmola, Aisha Lawal, Muyiwa Ademola, and Gabriel Afolayan. It also features Wale Ojo, marking his first time acting in an epic Yoruba movie. 

The movie was produced by Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi and Kolawole Ajeyemi, and directed by Adebayo Tijani.

The movie was released on June 6, 2025 and it shows across cinemas.

From All of Us at RealNollywood, we rate the movie a 47%