Faithia Balogun’s Historical Epic Heads to Cinemas May 1

Lagos, Nigeria — February 5, 2026

Nollywood filmmaker and actress Faithia Balogun is set to bring one of Yoruba history’s most formidable figures to the big screen as her long-anticipated historical epic on Efunroye Tinubu prepares for a nationwide cinema release on May 1, 2026.

The film chronicles the extraordinary rise of Efunroye Tinubu, a 19th-century powerbroker renowned for her sharp business acumen as a merchant in palm oil and cloth. Through sweeping visuals and intimate character study, the story explores how Tinubu leveraged wealth and strategy to become a central political force in the Yoruba hinterland, famously influencing the installation of kings and shaping regional power dynamics.

Beyond commerce and court politics, the epic also depicts Tinubu’s resistance to early British incursions, presenting her as a complex figure who navigated diplomacy, defiance, and survival at a time of intensifying colonial pressure. Balogun’s portrayal emphasizes Tinubu’s tactical intelligence and unyielding presence in a male-dominated political landscape.

First announced in late 2024, the project initially sparked backlash due to Efunroye Tinubu’s documented involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. Critics questioned whether the film might gloss over this aspect of her legacy. In response, Balogun clarified that the production was never intended as a hagiography, but rather an artistic exploration of a historically significant woman—one that confronts both her triumphs and her moral contradictions.

“Our history is layered,” Balogun said at the time. “Telling it honestly means acknowledging strength and brilliance alongside uncomfortable truths.”
As trailers and festival previews have circulated, public reception has shifted markedly. Cultural historians and film critics have praised the production for its attention to period detail, use of Yoruba language and customs, and its commitment to preserving indigenous narratives often sidelined in mainstream cinema.

With its blend of spectacle, political intrigue, and cultural reclamation, Faithia Balogun’s epic is now being hailed as a significant contribution to historical storytelling in Nollywood—one poised to ignite fresh conversations about memory, power, and the women who shaped West African history.