One thing about Nollywood is that they will always save the best for the last. The rest of the year is packed with many exciting movies featuring actresses that consistently give the best performances in whatever you watch them in. We have dramas, comedies, romcoms and even political thrillers all starring some of our most exciting women in Nollywood. So, we put together a list you can use to plan your cinema visits for the rest of this year.
Genoveva Umeh in Tele X Zikora
Release date: October 23rd
We’ve seen Genoveva shine in many Nollywood movies recently. I mean, nobody can forget her star making performance in Blood Sisters. That’s why we’re thrilled to see her play Zikora in the young adult drama, Tele X Zikora. The movie is set on a university campus and follows two students from different backgrounds whose paths have crossed in university. Everyone has been begging for stories like this because we’ve been starved since Far From Home so we can’t wait to meet the new character Genoveva will play.
Funke Akindele in The Four
Release date: December 16th
The queen of the box office returns to our screens this December and she’s bringing a brand new story along with her. We’ve known her for her legend-making role as Jenifa but she’s consistently explored new narratives with her December releases. This time she’s playing Labake whose exact qualities are being kept under wraps but we’re sure that once December rolls around, there will be a new Funke character we’ll be obsessed with.
Toyin Abraham in Bestie
Release date: December 16th
The December box office is always a battle between Funke and Toyin and this year won’t be any different. She’s bringing her intense energy in a new blockbuster, Bestie. There’s no official trailer or story reveal yet but one thing you can always count on is Toyin giving you a dramatic story filled with laughs and jaw dropping moments and for that, we’re waiting with baited breath.
Teniola Aladese in Black Market
Release date: October 1st
If you weren’t part of the 51,000 people that broke the world record at Tafawa Balewa Square last weekend, worry not because you can watch Black Market when it comes to the cinemas and also witness Teniola give a rousing performance. The movie follows a group of women smugglers who must come together to save a child and when you watch it, you too can claim to be part of a Guinness World Record.
Omowunmi Dada in The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives
Release Date: December 4th
Omowunmi’s rise in Nollywood has been the stuff of dreams. From roles in Yoruba language titles to supporting characters, she is always on our screens. After participating in the world record breaking Black Market she’s coming back in the anticipated The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. Her role as Bolanle is the movie’s heart and from the trailer alone, we are in for another star-making performance.
Uzoamaka Power in Phoenix Fury
Release date: October 30th
After writing and starring in the biggest movie of the year so far, Call of My Life, Uzoamaka returns to our screens in Phoenix Fury. She plays Ifeatu in this movie that premiered at the African International Film Festival in 2024 winning the Best Film and Best Director awards. Uzoamaka’s ability to bring depth to every character will be the thing the audience will be looking out for and judging from the clips we’ve seen, we’re surely in good hands.
Sunshine Rosman in East West Love
Release date: October 9th
There’s nothing we love more than a love story and we are getting one with the beautiful Sunshine Rosman, what’s not there to be excited about? East West Love is a cross country romance where Tito (Sunshine) is heartbroken in Kenya and has to begin the journey of healing. We can feel the giddiness this movie is going to bring already.
Chioma Akpotha in The Four
Release date: December 16th
Everyone knows where they were when Chioma Akpotha gave that moving speech at the altar during Gangs of Lagos and if you weren’t there then you missed a history making performance. The good thing is you have the chance to see her again in The Four as Somto. Judging by her long history as one of the most consistent actors in Nollywood, there’s no arguing this one will be just as exciting as the rest.
Onyinye Odokoro in Phoenix Fury
Release Date: October 24th
We already got a taste of Onyinye’s talent this year in Before We Sleep from the Zikoko Life Anthology and we get to witness her give another masterclass as Nnena in Phoenix Fury. The trailer teases a sisterhood with Uzoamaka’s character and that alone has sold us.
Bimbo Ademoye in The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives
Release Date: December 4th
Bimbo has consistently entertained us on her YouTube channel and she’s taking those skills to the larger screen in The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. This adaptation has been in the conversations of every Nigerian movie lover and one thing they’re all excited about is seeing Bimbo Ademoye eat up yet another role. We’re right there with them.
