20 Best Nigerian Yoruba Movies You Must See in 2023

Publish date: 2024-08-05

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

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 

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

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

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

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 

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

Best Nigerian Yoruba Movies

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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

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

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

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

Best Nigerian Yoruba Movies

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

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

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

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.

List of the 20 Best Nigerian Yoruba Movies 

  • Omo Hausa
  • Iwe Igbelu
  • Ayinla
  • Amori
  • Bamidele Agoro
  • Agbaje Omo Onile
  • Ogboju Ole
  • Atidade Kiniun
  • Eti Keji
  • Eyitayo
  • Aje Meta
  • Ore Ojokan
  • Ebubu Mi
  • Ile Afoju
  • Omo Alhaji
  • Oba Ara
  • Ebu Ika
  • Olopa Olorun
  • Akorin Emi
  • Ako Ise

    • What is the history of Yoruba movies?

    The history of Yoruba films dates back to the 1970s and the first Yoruba film was Ajani Ogun, made by Ola Balogun in 1977. Ija Ominira and Ajani Ogun are the two pioneering Yoruba feature-length films, and Aiye, a celluloid film was released in 1979 and produced by the late Chief Hubert Adedeji Ogunde. He was an actor, playwright, theatre manager, and founder of the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria, the African Music Research Party.

    Over the years, the Yoruba film industry, genially referred to as “Yorrywood”, has produced a diverse range of films that entertain and educate audiences of fluent speakers and non-speakers alike. These films are known for their cultural richness, exciting storylines, and almost accurate depictions of the Nigerian experience. The first Yoruba movies also include Jaiyesimi, Aropin N’tenia, and Ayanmo, feature-length films influenced by Yoruba mysticism.

     Is Yoruba Movies Under Nollywood?

    Yes, Yoruba movies are a part of Nollywood as Nollywood is a body that encompasses the totality of activities taking place in the Nigerian film industry. Yoruba movies have been an integral part of Nigeria’s movie industry for decades, from the days of travelling troupes and playing companies.

    Nollywood also includes films of the Igbo, Hausa, Edo, Efik, Ijaw, Urhobo, Ibibio, Annang or any other of the over 300 Nigerian languages”. Under Nollywood are also the Nigerian/African diaspora films considered affiliated with Nigeria or made specifically to capture the Nigerian audience.

    Which Site Can I Download Yoruba Films for Free?

    There are many online platforms where you can download Yoruba movies for free. The websites to download free Yoruba movies include YouTube which contains a wide collection of Yoruba old and latest Yoruba films. Other online platforms to download Yoruba films for free include

    Where Can I Watch Free Yoruba Movies Online?

    YouTube is the best online platform where you can watch old and latest Yoruba movies online for free. Streaming sites like iROKOtv, Nollywoodbest, Nollywood5star, and Naijapals are some of the best free websites to watch Nigerian Yoruba movies online. Also on the list are newer platforms like Prime Video and Netflix.

    What are the Most Popular Yoruba Movies to Watch?

    The Yoruba film, Jagun Jagun (2023) is currently the most popular Yoruba movie to watch. The Netflix original epic Yoruba film produced by Femi Adebayo was released on 10 August 2023, and it earned over 2 million views in its first three days, and 3,700,000 views by 20 August 2023, making it one of the top 10 most-watched non-English films globally during that period.  The Netflix movie includes star actors like Lateef Adedimeji, Fatia Balogun and Bimbo Ademoye. Others on the list of most popular Yoruba movies to watch include Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman, Anikulapo (2022), and Ijogbon (2023).

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