Akinmolayan co-wrote the screenplay with Yinka Olaoye, collaborating with Al Notions Studios and Anthill Studios to combine advanced motion capture and VFX. Filmed primarily in Abeokuta and Ogun State, Nigeria, the location accurately reflects the film's pre-colonial southwestern Nigeria setting and the historical resistance of the Egba people against the Oyo Empire.[1]
Lisabi: The Uprising premiered on Netflix Nigeria on September 27, 2024, and was praised for its visuals and historical accuracy. While some critics cited uneven character development and pacing, the film reached number one on Netflix Nigeria's film chart within three days.[2] The film has received numerous award nominations, winning three Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.[3]
Plot
In late-Oyo EmpireNigeria, Olodan ruler of the Olodan kingdom, refuses to pay the massive tributes demanded of him by the Alaafin ruler of the Oyo Empire. He is ruthlessly attacked and brought to the palace. The tributes in money and agricultural products are extracted by force from the people's own business. The Alaafin of Oyo, infuriated by Olodan's defiance, executes him as a warning to anyone who dared to defy.
Despite the Egba people's compliance with tribute demands, Sangodeyi, the ruthless head of the tribute collectors, and his brutal subordinates terrorize them. They take more than what is owed, rape young women, and kill those who resist, making life unbearable for the farmers and villagers of Egba land as their oppression intensifies.
Oshokenu, Lisabi's friend, sees something horrific when the collectors, having taken all the cash from a female merchant, carry off her daughter as well. Oshokenu's resistance of the unfairness is exposed as he rages at their brutality, yelling, "Why do you take only women? Men accompany them as well. As a punishment for disobedience, the tribute collectors mercilessly punished him by distorting his face in full public view as an exhibition of authority. Oshokenu wants to marry Abebi, a handsome, fair Egba woman, as much as he is known to be a lazy farmer. He successfully courted her with Lisabi's assistance, and Abebi consented to the marriage. But on Oshokenu's wedding day, Sangodeyi and his men target him in an effort to break his spirit. Abebi is severely raped by Sangodeyi as she is intercepted on her way to her new house. Tragically, Abebi ends her own life because she was devastated by the stress and disgrace.
After becoming enraged about Abebi's passing, Oshokenu sets out to demand revenge. He fights against the collectors and kills ten of them before he is shot and murdered. He is near death when Lisabi finds him. On his deathbed, Oshokenu begs beside his companion. Following an empathetic conversation with his dying friend, Lisabi decides to take on the responsibility of the Egba people's struggle for justice. He comes up with a plan where the farmers will appear to work together and in synch as part of a communal agricultural effort in order to allay suspicions by the Oyo army. However, Lisabi is secretly preparing more: to organize the Egba people for a mass uprising against their rulers.
Lisabi strategically formed the Aaro society, a communal work group that secretly fueled the Egba uprising. As tensions escalated with their Oyo overlords, Lisabi planned a covert rebellion, Ending in fierce battles where the Egba triumphed, finally achieving independence.
Lisabi: The Uprising was first announced as part of a two-part epic by Netflix on September 19, 2024, marking one of the streaming service's more significant ventures into Yoruba historical drama.[4][5] The first installment, The Uprising, was set for release on September 27, 2024, with its sequel, Lisabi: A Legend Is Born, released in January 2025.[6][7]
The film was a product of Nollywood's "New Nollywood" trend, targeting higher production standards, culturally derived narratives, and period epics influenced by international cinema. Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, known for combining mysticism with historical drama, the film represents a significant investment in Yoruba heritage cinema, with a budget surpassing N200 million.[8][9] In the lead-up to production, Akinmolayan revealed that the original cut of the film was over three hours long. He explained that Netflix recommended splitting it into two parts so audiences would not have to sit through one extended runtime.[10] He and co-writers (including Yinka Olaoye) then restructured the narrative: The Uprising emphasizes the beginnings of Lisabi’s revolt, while A Legend Is Born handles his legacy, mythic elements, and aftermath.[10]
The Lisabi production team had made it a priority to only use Nigerians. In an Interview with BusinessDay, Akinmolayan confirmed that the film’s production crew was 100% Nigerian, offsetting Nollywood's historical dependence on foreign technical specialists.The choice was both aesthetic and political: to show that local filmmakers can deliver epic scale without external help.[9]
Anthill Studios, Akinmolayan's production house, partnered with Netflix and Al Notions Studios to execute the project. In interviews, Akinmolayan argues that economic constraints are Nollywood's biggest challenge not creativity.[10][9] The film received support from the Nigerian Film Corporation and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to help promote Nigerian history and culture to a global audience.[11]
Story development
"After my exploits in Ayinla, I knew I had to do this to further glorify my Egba heritage. Egba people, this is for you. The entire Yoruba, Africa and Blacks worldwide, this is for you."[12]
The production was started off as an act of passion by actor and executive producerLateef Adedimeji, inspired by his earlier work directing the biopic Ayinla (2021) to put on screen the legend of Yoruba lesser-known heroes. Adedimeji, also cast in the title role Lisabi, wanted to educate the young generation about the likes of Lisabi, marketing the film as a ground for cultural pride and freedom. Adebimpe Oyebade and Victoria Akujobi produced the film, co-scripting the loosely based-on-fact screenplay by Akinmolayan and Yinka Olaoye on Lisabi's strategic adoption of the Aaro age-grade society for the mobilization and arming of Egba men as communal labor, and not for fighting. The film featured the villainous Ogundoyin of Ibrahim Chatta, Jide Awobona, Eniola Ajao, and Adebowale Adedayo.[13]
"The Uprising" portrays increasing oppression since Egba farmers are taxed and harassed by the Oyo Empire, so Lisabi is driven to organize a rebellion. The Aaro society, a cooperation through communal residence, secretly reorganizes to train and recruit combatants.[4]
Filming
City where the filming took place
Principal photography began on February 2024, at Abeokuta and the surrounding areas within Ogun State, Nigeria, following months of pre-production and location finding in southwestern Nigeria. The movie was primarily captured in Yoruba for authenticity reasons with English subtitles added during post-production. The team built historical Egba villages, palaces, and Oyo camps from locally procured material and hand-made props inspired by 18th-century Yoruba architecture.[14]
Production designer Abiola Ojo oversaw the creation of several sets, including the Alaafin's Palace, Lisabi’s secret hideout, and the forest of Aaro, the primary location for the rebellion's training scenes.[15] Akinmolayan noted that unpredictable weather and the rough terrain often made filming challenging, resulting in multiple scheduling changes.[9]
Visual and special effects
Special effects for Lisabi: The Uprising were provided by Hakeem Onilogbo, making the Yoruba tribal marks and attire realistic, thus helping to establish the period look for the film. While Visual effects and post-production visual effects was handled by Anthill Studios.[16] Anthill added CGI creature design and applied contemporary visual effects techniques to accurately replicate the historical settings, enhancing the film's visual impact. The film's genre incorporates supernatural elements, such as Lisabi's spiritual powers, which Akinmolayan combined to enhance the drama; however, this has led to controversies regarding authenticity.[8]
Music and soundtrack
Nigerian film composer Tolu Obanro was brought on board to create the score for Lisabi: The Uprising following his work on Jagun Jagun.[17][18] The score was crafted using traditional Yoruba melodies, and Obanro employed various techniques to achieve a rich soundscape for the film. He noted, "Many techniques were used in mixing Lisabi’s sound. I aimed for depth in all the scenes, including sound effects. There was also crowd recording and soundscaping." He further emphasized the importance of orchestration for the film's dynamic action sequences, stating, “Even silence is a form of sound; it needs proper orchestral support.”[19]
Release
On 23 August 2024, Netflix announced its acquisition of the distribution rights for Niyi Akinmolayan's latest film, Lisabi: The Uprising, which was originally slated for release on 22 September 2024, at the 12 June Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.[20][11] In the same statement, Netflix revealed that a sequel titled Lisabi: A Legend is Born was released in January 10 2025.[21] The film was released on 27 September 2024.[22]
Reception
Audience viewership
The film climbed to the number one spot on Netflix's Nigeria film chart in Nigeria within just three days of its release, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).[2]
Critical response
Confidence Cletus of Premium Times lauded Ibrahim Chatta's powerful portrayal of the ruthless tribute collector, Songodeyi, in his review. He remarked that Chatta's performance "radiated pure intensity, delivering 100 percent action." Cletus emphasized how Chatta infused the character with life, suspense, and a commanding presence, surpassing all expectations and leaving "no room for improvement." Cletus also highlighted Lateef Adedimeji's performance as Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, commending his stellar production and acting. He noted that Adedimeji "seized every opportunity to deliver a remarkable performance," contributing to what he described as one of the standout Nollywood films of 2024. Overall, Cletus awarded the film a commendable 8/10 rating, recognizing its exceptional performances and production quality.[18]
Muhibat Sulaimon of Lifestyle The Cable described the film as a "spectacle with small flaws" and commended the performances of Ibrahim Chatta, Odunlade Adekola, Mr. Macaroni, Liquorose, and Lateef Adedimeji. Sulaimon praised the professionalism in the costume design and tribal mark effects but pointed out shortcomings in some of the visual effects (VFX). For example, the beheading of Sangodeyi was criticized for lacking realism, as there was no proper depiction of blood flow, making it look static "like a tree." Additionally, the transformation of Lisabi's helpmates into animals was noted as underwhelming and lacking realism. Overall, Sulaimon gave the film a 7/10 rating.[23]
Noghama Ehioghae of African Folder praised the film's costumes in her review, highlighting the rich cultural elements and the added authenticity brought by the subtle inclusion of a camel. However, she critiqued the film for being more of a traditional biopic, suggesting that it could have been more captivating. She remarked, "The film lacked suspense and gripping moments," except Osokenu's death and the battle between Lisabi and Songodeyi. Ultimately, Ehioghae gave the movie a rating of 5.2 out of 10.[24]
Accolades
At the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA), the film was nominated in Ten categories, including Best Overall Movie, Best Director (Tunde Aina), and Best Actor in a Drama (Lateef Adedimeji).[25][26] And won three.[3]
The Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful West African states at the time, exerted significant control over many neighboring peoples, including the Egba. This control was marked by heavy tribute demands and forced labor. The Egba people, residing primarily in what is now southwestern Nigeria, were subjected to various forms of exploitation by the Oyo rulers, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and a desire for autonomy.[27]
The Rise of Lisabi
Lisabi Gbongbo Akala head statue
Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, the paramount Egba chief, was a major character during this era of resistance. Lisabi was born in Itoku, which is a ward in Abeokuta.[28] Lisabi had been recognized as being endowed with intelligence, leadership abilities, and warfare combat capabilities. Lisabi began secretly mobilizing the Aaro, an Egba traditional age-grade association, as the nucleus of the resistance movement. Under the cover of customary communal labour, Lisabi prepared and equipped the Egba men to stage a mass revolt against Oyo rule.[29][30]
The Uprising
The uprising, known as Lisabi's Rebellion, was planned and executed. In a coordinated attack, Lisabi and his followers launched a series of strikes against the Oyo Empire's garrison forces stationed in Egba territory. These surprise attacks were swift and devastating, resulting in the destruction of Oyo's local power and infrastructure in the region.[31][32]
Lisabi's strategy relied on guerilla tactics, which involved a combination of ambushes and hit-and-run raids, making it difficult for the Oyo forces to retaliate effectively. Within a short period, the Egba people had overthrown Oyo's control and declared their independence.[33]
In present-day Nigeria, Lisabi is a revered historical figure, particularly among the Egba people. His story is taught in schools, and his role in Egba's history is celebrated through cultural events, monuments, and storytelling.[27] The annual Lisabi Festival is marked by traditional music, dances, and reenactments of the uprising, serving as both a celebration of Egba heritage and a reminder of the importance of self-determination.[34]
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