This December will most likely be a remarkable month for the Nigerian movie industry as actresses turned filmmakers Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham and Mercy Aigbe are taking centre stage with their upcoming films.
Funke and Toyin are well known for releasing box office films for their fans almost every December.
Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Battle on Buka Street by Funke, and Ijakumo: The Born Again Strippers by Toyin are some of the popular movies produced by these women in the last two years.
Mercy Aigbe, however, will be joining the box office race with her star-studded Ada Omo Daddy cast which features the likes of Sola Sobowale, Dele Odule, Big Brother Naija’s Phyna, Omowunmi Dada and legendary actor Charles Okafor who would be making his cinema comeback seven years after featuring in the 2016 award-winning film 93 Days with Bimbo Akintola.
Funke’s A Tribe Called Judah and Toyin’s Malaika and Mercy Aigbe’s Ada Omo Daddy are set to grace the screens, collectively raising the bar and reshaping the narratives of movie-making in Nollywood.
These filmmakers have been tirelessly enlisting the services of their colleagues, social media influencers and even fans to promote their highly-anticipated films.
Mercy, who appears to be taking no chances in her quest to spread the gospel of Ada Omo Daddy, has also brought in her quiet-looking film producer husband Kazim Adeoti to promote the film.
The duo has come up with several creative content for the promo including Kazim posing as a bodyguard for his wife in Kizz Daniel’s ‘My Gee’ challenge.
Funke, on her part, enlisted the services of her Jenifa’s Dairy co-star Juliana Olayode for a Jenifa and Toyo Baby collaboration to promote A Tribe Called Judah which also features Juliana and would serve as her first feature in Funke’s production since the duo settled their differences.
Elevator Baby star Toyin is not left out in the battle for the best promo as the actress has also gathered skit makers like Efe Carter, Isbae U, Ejinyu Oluwa and even singer Teni who recorded the Malaika soundtrack to promote the film.
Toyin has also resurrected the career of actor Emeka Ike who will be returning to the big screen as her onscreen husband in Malaika after a big hiatus.
Toyin and Mercy have also been showing love to each other by posting, sharing and making positive comments on the promos, trailers and skits for their movies.
Mo Abudu, Chioma Ude, Bolanle Austen-Peters: Three women going head-to-head in Nollywood
These women alongside the likes of Mo Abudu, Chioma Ude, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Emem Isong, Mildred Okwo and the late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe are the perfect example of women defying all odds and thriving in a male-dominated African media landscape.
The trio’s foray into the cinematic realm is not just a trend, it is proof of the evolving landscape of Nollywood where talent and hard work thrive and reign supreme regardless of gender and the sky is big enough for everyone to succeed.
Toyin’s film will be released on December 22 while Funke and Mercy are both releasing their films on December 15.
