Fújì is a popular Yoruba musical genre. It arose from the improvisational wéré music, also known as ajísari, a genre of music performed to wake Muslims before dawn during the Ramadan fasting season. Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister popularized wéré music during the 1950s and 60s and conceived the term "fújì" in an unusual way. According to Barrister, "I came up with it when I saw a poster at an airport, advertising the Mount Fuji, which is the highest peak in Japan." Fújì should not be mistaken for the Yorùbá words "fuja" or "faaji," which mean leisure or enjoyment.
Kunle Afolayan(listen) is a Nigerian actor, producer and director. He is widely credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollywood storylines. After starting his film career as an actor in the 1999 political drama Saworoide, Afolayan made his directorial debut in 2006 with Irapada, a Nigerian supernatural thriller, which won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language. His follow-on directing credits include The Figurine, Phone Swap, October 1, and Citation. October 1 was the winner of 16 major African movie awards in 2015 and the second highest grossing Nigerian film in Nigerian cinemas at the time of its release, a feat Afolayan was to repeat two years later with The CEO. In 2021, the director signed a three-picture deal with Netflix. Swallow, the screen adaption of Sefi Atta's book of the same name was the first to be released in October 2021, followed by Aníkúlápó, an epic Nigerian fantasy released in September 2022. Afolayan has described the work as a "Game of Thrones recreated in Nigeria but with a better representation of our culture”. Eleven days after its release, it was the #1 most-watched non-English Netflix original film.
Tunde Kelani, popularly known as TK, is a Nigerian filmmaker. In a career spanning more than four decades, TK specialises in producing movies that promote Nigeria's rich cultural heritage and have a root in documentation, archiving, education, entertainment and promotion of the culture.
Dazzling Mirage is a 2014 Nigerian drama film, produced and directed by Tunde Kelani; it stars Kemi "Lala" Akindoju, Kunle Afolayan, Bimbo Manuel, Yomi Fash Lanso, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Seun Akindele. It also features special appearances from Adewale Ayuba, Sean Tizzle, Tunde Babalola and Steve Sodiya. The film is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare, adapted to screen by Ade Solanke. It tells the story of a young sickle-cell patient and the various social and emotional challenges she is faced with.
Maami is a 2011 Nigerian drama film produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. It is based on a novel of the same name, written by Femi Osofisan, and adapted to screen by Tunde Babalola. It stars Funke Akindele as Maami, along with Wole Ojo and Olumide Bakare. Though the film was a commercial failure, it was generally met with positive critical reviews.
Yemi ShodimuListen is a Yoruba dramatist, television presenter, film director and filmmaker.
Sola AsedekoListen is a Nigerian film actress, film-maker and director. She is popularly known as Abeni for her lead role in Abeni, a 2006 Nigerian film, produced and directed by Tunde Kelani.
Kabirah KafidipeListen is a Nigerian film actress, director and producer. She is popularly known as “Araparegangan” for her role in Saworoide, a 1999 Nigerian film produced and directed by Tunde Kelani.
Niji Akanni is a Nigerian dramatist, screenwriter, director, producer and filmmaker.
Tunde Adegbola, born 1 August 1955, also known as T. A. or Uncle T, is a scientist, musician, engineer, linguist and culture activist. He is best known for his work in setting up most of the pioneering private Television and Radio stations in Nigeria. He is the founder of TIWA systems, and the executive director of Alt-i.
Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in The New York Times. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there is no clear or agreed-upon definition for the term, which has made it a subject of several controversies.
Ti Oluwa Ni Ile is a Nollywood Yoruba drama film sequel directed by Tunde Kelani. Released in 1993 through Mainframe Films and Television Productions, the film was Tunde Kelani's debut film as a film director. It was made in 3 parts and listed as one of the 10 best selling Yoruba movies.
The Yoruba Names Project is a documentation project set up to ensure the transfer of language and cultural resources of Yoruba language into a publicly accessible online format. It was launched on February 19, 2016.
The New Patriots is a 2020 Nigerian political drama film directed by Adebayo Tijani and Terry Ayebo. The film was produced by Rotimi Adelola, from a screenplay by Niji Akanni and translated to Yoruba by Prof. Mrs. Oluwayemisi Adebowale. The story was written by Rotimi Adelola, inspired by Patriots and Sinners, a novel written by Nnenna Ihebom. The script contributors include Tunde Kelani, Rotimi Adelola, Niji Akanni, Muritala Sule, film director Dami Taiwo and Jibola Soyele. The film received positive reviews from critics and was screened at several international film festivals
O Le Ku is a 1997 Nigerian romantic drama film produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. It is an adaptation of Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola's novel of the same name. It was released in 1997 by Mainframe Film and Television Productions. It was made in two parts.
Ayinla is a musical eponymous film based on the life of Ayinla Yusuf popularly known as Ayinla Omowura, an Apala musician who was stabbed to death by his manager named Bayewu in a bar fight on 6 May 1980 at Abeokuta. The film premiered on 13 June 2021 in Lagos and was released to theatres on 18 June 2021. Directed by Tunde Kelani, the film was set in the 1970s and early 1980s and shot in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Lateef Adedimeji assumed the role of Ayinla, starring alongside Omowumi Dada, Bimbo Manuel, Ade Laoye, Kunle Afolayan, Bimbo Ademoye and Mr Macaroni. Ayinla is Kelani's first major film since his 2015 release of Dazzling Mirage. The budget for this feature film is officially given as ₦50 Million.
Kòseégbé is a 1995 Yoruba drama film directed by Tunde Kelani based on a stage play of the same name by Akinwunmi Isola. The cast consisted of actors from the Obafemi Awolowo University theatre. It was released through Mainframe Films and Television Productions.
Thunderbolt: Magun is a 2001 Nigerian drama film directed and produced by Tunde Kelani. It was based on a book title Magun written by Adebayo Faleti and adapted for screenplay by Femi Kayode.
Agogo Eewo is a 2002 Yoruba-language film and sequel to the 1999 film, Saworoide. It was written by Akunwunmi Isola And produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. It stars Dejumo Lewis, Deola Faleye, Lere Paimo and Larinde Akinleye.
