20 Best Nigerian Yoruba Movies You Must See

The Nigerian film industry makes films in various Nigerian languages, of which Yoruba is one of them. These movies reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country. The production of Yoruba movies in Nigeria dates back to early 1977 when Ola Balogun produced Ajani Ogun. Since then, some of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies have grown extensively and have crossed the shores of many countries.

Nigerian Yoruba movies have been modified into different genres like comedy, fiction, romance, action, etc. Viewers are guaranteed to get whatever they are looking for in a Yoruba movie. You need not worry about understanding the language, as most Yoruba movies have English subtitles. Here, we will be listing the best Nigerian Yoruba movies that you must see.

Best Nigerian Yoruba Movies

1. Omo Hausa

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Romantic comedy
• Producer: Feranmi Olamilekan
• Director: Adebayo Tijani
• Cast: Odunlade Adekola, Yinka Quadri, Sunday Alli, Fausat Balogun, Ladi Folarin

The Adebayo Tijani-directed movie was centered on cultural barriers between lovers. It featured Odunlade Adekola (Tade) and Bukumi Olwasina (Lalalatu) involved in a love story tested by cultural boundaries. Since the movie’s release, Omo Hausa has received mixed reviews and warm reception from movie lovers.

2. Iwe Igbelu 

• Release date: January 28, 2020
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: N/A
• Director: Kamarudeen Saba
• Cast: Iyabo Ojo, Kunle Afod, Adekemi Taofeek, Jumoke George, Tunde Owokoniran, Ayo Ade-Kosh, Alesh Sanni.

From the directorial achievements of Kamarudeen Saba emerged Iwe Igbelu. The movie is all about what many faces searching for greener pastures abroad. It illustrates a young couple who were caught in the web of hardship. They relocated abroad with the hope of making their lives better, but unfortunately, they found themselves in a complicated situation they never anticipated. Following the message passed through the movie, it has received positive reviews from critics.

3. Ayinla

• Release date: June 13, 2021
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Jadesola Osiberu
• Director: Tunde Kelani
• Cast: Lateef Adedimeji, Omowumi Dada, Bimbo Manuel, Ade Laoye, Kunle Afolayan, Mr Macaroni

Ayinla is one of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies that keeps viewers intrigued. It tilted towards the remembrance of Ayinla Yusuf, an Apala musician during the 1970s and 1980s, and was directed by Tunde Kelani. Set in the 1970s and 1980s, the movie portrayed Ayinla (Lateef Adedimeji) as a man who developed a volatile temperament and became a philanderer at the pinnacle of his career.

Ajala, a show promoter, offered to take him and his crew on tour to London as his music became top-notch. As the preparations for the London trip were going on, he slept with his manager’s girlfriend, which brought about a fight between the two. Ayinya confronted his manager (Bayewu) in a bar, resulting in a fight. In the fight process, Ayinla was stabbed and killed by Bayewu.

The movie has gotten both positive and negative reviews from critics. However, reports show that the movie performed well at the box office. Ayinla also received the 2021 African Movie Academy Awards for his achievement in cinematography.

4. Amori

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Action
• Producer: Afeez Bakare
• Director(s): Afeez Bakare, Babatunde Anjola
• Cast: Fathia Balogun, Bukola Adeeyo, Ibrahim Chetta, Kemi Afolabi, Murphy Afolabi

Amori is one of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies that will fascinate you until the last action. The movie presents actions in a bid to pass the necessary message. It shows the struggle and ill-treatment of young Amori from the hands of her guardian. To survive, she did any menial job that crossed the path.

She met with an evil gang that initiated her into their group and had her live a different life. However, they will all have to face a disaster in no distant time. The movie has received mixed reviews from critics since its release.

5. Bamidele Agoro

• Release date: 2021
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Olayemi Jimoh Hakeem
• Director: Wasiu Owoiya
• Cast: Odunade Adekola, Olayemi Jimoh, Seliat Adebowale, Feranmi Oyalowo, Bimbo Oshin

This movie illustrates what has become of the children of most elites today. It portrays the rude son of a wealthy man who is always violating the law and scaling through without facing the law. He always takes advantage of his father’s connections and position in society to oppress people without facing the consequences attached. The police set out to bring him to law, but all their efforts to carry out their plan weren’t easy because of his father’s position in society.

6. Agbaje Omo Onile 

• Release date: 2018
• Genre: Drama
• Producer(s): Adebayo Tijani, Kazim Afolayan
• Director: Adebayo Tijani
• Cast: Odunlade Adekola, Ibrahim Chatta, Muyiwa Ademola, Lateef Adedimeji, Afeez Eniola.

This is a suspense-filled movie that depicts fetish acts in today’s society. Odunlade took up the role of the main character in the movie, giving out his best as usual. Agbaje Omo Onile is deemed a perfect film for Yoruba movie lovers who look forward to movies with educative plots. Agbaje is into selling lands and the habit of reselling lands to the highest bidder.

He realized that he could scale through this criminal act by fortifying himself to become very powerful or become a god. This movie has received positive reviews from critics so far.

7. Ogboju Ole

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Action
• Producer(s): Surakat Agbetokun, Oloba Almaroof Afolayan
• Director: Afolabi Shonde
• Cast: Murphy Afolabi, Peju Ajiboye, Aishat Raji, Kemi Azonto, Surakat Agbetokun

This is one of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies that means judgment is of God. It talks about a lady whose family was stripped of all their properties by thieves. But, instead of being patient for the judgment of God upon the culprits, she took laws into her hands. The movie had gotten both positive and negative reviews from critics.

8. Atidade Kiniun

• Release date: 2018
• Genre: Drama
• Producer(s): Afolabi Shonde, Adebanke A Sowole
• Director: Afolabi Shonde
• Cast: Murphy Afolabi, Joke Muyiwa, Regina Chukwu, Ladi Folarin, Leye Adesile (Kuti)

Atidade Kinium is a movie that portrays many people’s misconceptions about people who fortune smile at the wrong time. After the mother of a young man dies, luck shines on him, and he becomes rich and famous. Naturally, this became confusing as people think it’s either a coincidence or that he has more to it. However, with the way things have turned out to be in real life, critics have received positive reviews.

9. Eti Keji

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Mariam Kareem Oluwole
• Director: Sam Adebayo Oluwale
• Cast: Bimbo Oshin, Murphy Afolabi, Yinka Quadri, Yetunde Bakare, Rycardo A

A young lady became rude and hostile towards her sister’s goodwill for her. An attitude she developed after seeing a seer that will indeed become a disaster between the two sisters. The movie has gained mixed reviews so far.

10. Eyitayo

• Release date: 2018
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Bimbo Oshin
• Director: Muyiwa Ademola
• Cast: Bimbo Oshin, Bimbo Akintola, Yemi Blaq, Muyiwa Ademola, Rose Odika

This movie is a suspense-filled drama by Bimbo Oshin that portrays Eyitayo (Bimbo Akintola), a marriage counselor who finds solace and satisfaction in her job. However, revenge became a huge part of her when she met Obamaki. This is one of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies that have received highly positive reviews.

11. Aje Meta

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Afolabi Shonde, Adebukola Adelakun
• Director: Afolabi Shonde
• Cast: Jaiye Kuti, Ladi Folarin, Tunde Usman, Wunmi Toriola, Ranti Adebayo

Aje Meta is about a woman who had no child deceived her driver into getting her pregnant and paid him off to hold up her secret. However, the driver turned out to be torn in her flesh and started blackmailing her. Finally, she couldn’t stand the emotional torture anymore and took the drastic step of reporting him to the underworld. Aje Meta has ranked one of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies with many positive reviews from critics.

12. Ore Ojokan

• Release date: 2018
• Genre: Drama
• Producer(s): Owolabi Ajasa, Sola Oyedele, Wasiu Owoiya, Yemi Jumoh
• Director(s): Akokwe Iranti, Olayinka Johnson
• Cast: Odunlade Adekola, Irti Osayemi, Lekan Olatunji, Owolabi Ajasa, Funmi Adebemi, Olayemi Jumoh

This movie centers on the implications of lending a helping hand to some people in society. A cab driver got into trouble that led him to be locked up in jail shortly after he helped a crying mother and her daughter. This movie is an eye-opener with the evil that has become a norm in society. It has received mixed reviews with lots of positive reviews from critics.

13. Ebubu Mi 

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Regina Chukwu
• Director: Okiki Afolayan
• Cast: Regina Chukwu, Mide Martins, Yinka Quadri, Bukunmi Oluwasina, Ngozi Nwozu, Tomitope Solaja, Bukky Ogunmota

This exciting movie written by Regina Chukwu, starring most star actors and actresses like Mide Martins, Bukumi Oluwasina, is very educative. The movie illustrates that what we want for ourselves is not what we need to enjoy comfort most time. This movie centered on people’s daily life experiences has received positive reviews so far.

14. Ile Afoju

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Drama
• Producers: Ladi Folarin, Alhaji Yusuf
• Director: Okiki Afolayan
• Cast: Odunlade Adekola, Opeyemi Aiyeola, Regina Chukwu, Yinka Quadri, Ganiu Nofiu

Ile Afoju illustrates a philanthropist (Odunlade Adekola) who employed a blind lady to carry out domestic services in his home. He got caught in the web when some mysteries that would test his power and unusual action arose. This is one of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies with mixed reviews.

15. Omo Alhaji

• Release date: 2018
•  Genre: Drama
• Producer: Yinka Solomon
• Director: Ibrahim Yekini (Itele d Icon)
• Cast: Antar Laniyan, Kemi Afolabi, Ibrahim Yekini, Babtunde Bernard, Olayinka Solomon

Omo Alhaji portrays the life of the daughter of a prestigious religious man who takes dancing as a profession. However, she is trapped with keeping up with the double identity since her father does not support the profession. The movie has gotten both positive and negative reviews from critics.

16. Oba Ara

• Release date: 2018
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Debo Adedayo
• Director: Tiamuyi Bashiru Adewunmi
• Cast: Debo Adedayo, Yewande Adekoya, Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo), Sunny Alli, Muyideen Oladapo

Oba Ara is one of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies that convey more morals. It is all about a married woman who throws her words around without limits regardless of the situation surrounding her and refuses to put a stop to it. This led to an unexpected incident which left her dumbfounded. This movie has been met with both positive and negative reviews from critics.

17. Ebu Ika

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Ademola Adenekan
• Director: Allwell Ademola
• Cast: Allwell Ademola, Rotimi Salami, Funsho Adeolu, Saidi Balogun, Morenikeji Alahusa

Ebu Ika is a Yoruba movie that centers on Jamal (Rotimi Salami) and his mother (Allwell Salami), whose hard days turned into joy and happiness. However, this found joy didn’t last for his mother after getting married. This movie has gotten mixed reviews from critics since its release.

18. Olopa Olorun

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Kikelomo Oguntade
• Director: Seun Olaiya
• Cast: Bankole Sunday, Remi Surutu, Akin Lewis, Rotimi Salami, Nkechi Blessing Sunday

Olopa Olorun is one of the best Nigerian Yoruba movies that illustrate the humiliation associated with the poor in society. A poor boy from a small village faces the scorn of his entire community because of his family’s poverty. But, as fate would have it, things dramatically change for him afterward. The message passed through the movie has received positive reviews from critics.

19. Akorin Emi

• Release date: 2019
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Wunmi Olowokandi
• Director: Olufemi Odunuga
• Cast: Biola Adebayo, Segun Ogungbe, Wunmi Olowokandi, Fausat Balogun, Monsuru Ijayegbemi

Akorin Emi is centered on two intriguing stories of two talented and attractive sisters who came from the same background and ethnicity but had a great difference in morals. They both faced life from different angles as the bond that holds them from childhood is held in the underworld. The two are stuck in the puzzle of who will untangle this hidden mystery. The movie has been faced with mixed reviews following the suspense in the drama.

20. Ako Ise

• Release date: 2018
• Genre: Drama
• Producer: Wunmi Olabimtanm
• Director: Adekunle Adeniyi
• Cast: Femi Adebayo, Damola Olatunji, Wunmi Olabimtanm, Ibrahim Yekini, Yomi Olohunlolaye

Ako Ise, a suspense-filled movie, portrays a Photojournalist (Bamise) who got a hot chase over some important documents he had in his possession. Seeing that they had lost track of his whereabouts, they abducted his pregnant wife as bait to nab him. The movie, which centers on what happens in people’s daily lives, has gotten good reviews so far.