The urge to time travel lives in my mind rent-free. And because science hasn’t figured out time travel yet because scientists are focused on other things like curing diseases, period dramas are the only to satisfy this urge.
So with that in mind, I’ve decided to share a list of my favourite Nollywood period dramas. You can thank my obsession with wanting to escape this time period.
1. October 1 (2014)
Running time: 2h 28m
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Genre: Crime, Drama
Set on the tense eve of Nigeria’s independence, October 1 follows Inspector Danladi Waziri, a northern police officer, sent to a Western Nigerian town to solve a series of grisly murders. The film perfectly captures the tense atmosphere of a nation on the brink of freedom.
The vintage cars, classic fashion, and the palpable political tension it evokes make it one of the most accurate depictions of late-colonial Nigeria, offering a vivid window into the country’s formative years.
2. Aníkúlápó (2022)
Running time: 2h 22m
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
We follow Saro, a young man who journeys to the ancient Oyo kingdom seeking greener pastures but finds himself entangled in a forbidden affair with the King’s youngest wife. After his execution, he is resurrected by a mythical bird, and granted the power to wake the dead.
Aníkúlápó is a visual spectacle. The intricate costumes and elaborate palace sets make it a deeply immersive cultural experience. If you have ever wondered what it is like to live in pre-colonial Yoruba kingdoms, Aníkúlápó gives you the best look.
3. 76 (2016)
Running time: 2h 22m
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
76 is one of Nollywood’s lofty attempts at a history lesson. Set against the backdrop of the 1976 military coup and General Murtala Muhammed’s assassination, the story follows a pregnant woman fighting to prove her husband’s innocence after he is wrongly accused of involvement.
From the period accurate sets to costumes, the movie does a magnificent job at bringing the story of the Dimka coup to life. Interestingly, it goes further than the coup by masterfully blending this historical narrative with a love story. It makes one wonder about the personal lives of some of our national heroes.
4. Half of a Yellow Sun (2013)
Running time: 1h 51m
Director: Biyi Bandele
Genre: Drama, Romance
Based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel, the story follows wealthy twin sisters, Olanna and Kainene, whose privileged lives and romantic relationships are irrevocably torn apart by the Nigerian-Biafran war. It is a powerful exploration of the human cost of conflict.
The film is a silent dance between the public and private. We see personal experiences mirroring public tension. For example, Olanna and Odenigbo’s wedding is shortly followed by a bomb explosion from Nigerian forces, blurring the boundaries between the private and public.
Watch Half of a Yellow Sun on Netflix.
ALSO READ: Every Nollywood Remake So Far, Ranked from Best to Worst
5. King of Thieves (Agesinkole) (2022)
Running time: 1h 48m
Director: Tope Adebayo
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
This epic fantasy movie tells the story of Agesinkole, a legendary and ruthless bandit who terrorizes the fictional kingdom of Ajeromi with his crimes and alleged supernatural powers, while the king and his chiefs struggle to find a way to capture him.
The film vividly portrays precolonial Yoruba society with striking colour, pageantry, and detail, giving the story a strong sense of depth and authenticity.
Watch King of Thieves (Agesinkole) on Prime Video.
6. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024)
Running time: 1h 31m
Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
Genre: Drama
In this biopic, Kehinde Bankole stars as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the pioneering educator, women’s rights activist, and political leader who challenged colonial rule and patriarchal norms in mid-20th-century Nigeria. The film traces her journey from Abeokuta Grammar School to becoming a fearless advocate for justice, laying the foundation for modern feminist activism in Nigeria.
This film is particularly significant because it brings to life a name we often hear in history books but rarely see in full colour. It also arrived at a moment when Nigerian audiences craved stories that reflect their history.
Watch Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti on Prime Video.
7. Invasion 1897 (2014)
Running time: 1h 53m
Director: Izu Ojukwu
Genre: Historical drama
Set during the 1897 British expedition that destroyed the Benin Kingdom, Invasion 1897 centres on Oba Ovonramwen (Olu Jacobs), whose kingdom faces annihilation by foreign forces hungry for power and treasure. The film paints a rich picture of the charged emotions around the invasion.
This film shows how a rich culture was destroyed and the resilience of a people fighting to preserve their identity. By refusing to let this dark episode fade into history, it challenges viewers to confront colonialism’s brutal legacy in Nigeria.
Watch Invasion 1897 on Netflix.
8. Ayinla (2021)
Running time: 1h 59m
Director: Tunde Kelani
Genre: Drama
Ayinla is a passionate retelling of the life and tragic fall of Apala legend Ayinla Omowura (Lateef Adedimeji). Set in 1970s Abeokuta, the film follows the magnetic yet self-destructive musician whose rising fame, tangled love affairs, and hostilities with his manager culminate in an unexpected ending.
With Lateef Adedimeji delivering a stellar performance as Ayinla and Kelani recreating the era through the perfect music and costumes, Ayinla feels less like a biopic and more like a cultural homage, celebrating Yoruba culture.
9. The Herbert Macaulay Affair (2019)
Running time: 1h 31m
Director: Imoh Umoren
Genre: Drama
Another Nollywood entry into the biopic trend, the film follows Herbert Macaulay, a Nigerian nationalist, as he rallies Nigerians to confront their colonial oppressors. The story begins with Macaulay’s return from studying in Plymouth in 1893, when he takes up a surveying job with the colonial administration, which eventually leads him to a life of rebellion.
With its period-accurate settings, the film paints a rich picture of early 20th-century Nigeria and the struggles faced by those who dared to challenge colonial power.
Watch Herbert Macaulay Affair on Apple TV.
10. 1929: Women’s War (2019)
Running time: 1h 30m
Director: Moses Eskor
Genre: Drama
In 1929: Women War, the women of Ikot Abasi make history when they rise against colonial taxation, challenging both British authority and the local warrant chiefs enforcing it. Sola Sobowale and Ireti Doyle play the main characters, Mama Miroba and Adiaha Edem, respectively.
The film aptly captures the grit that fueled the popularly acclaimed women’s war in 1929. It shines a light on a crucial, but often overlooked historical event. It really makes you want to be a part of the ranks of these courageous women who spoke truth to power.
Watch 1929: Women War on Prime Video.
