Nollywood veteran Jide Kosoko, aka Jide Babs, has finally dropped his much-anticipated movie Esugbayi Eleko, a 119-minute historical drama that portrays the reign and struggle of Lagos king Oba Esugbayi Eleko against the British colonial forces.
The movie, which featured in the August 2025 release of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) approvals, recounts the monarch’s 1925 exile, his camaraderie with nationalist politician Herbert Macaulay, market women’s leader Alimotu Pelewura’s insistence, and the ideology of Idejo chiefs.
Following his royal heritage, Kosoko referred to the film as a legacy film, carefully crafted with cultural authenticity in its use of language, dressing, and set designs.
“Oba Esugbayi Eleko was not just a king; he was an icon of resistance, wisdom, and preservation of our culture,” Kosoko explained.
Onlookers believe the production can usher in a new window for Nollywood in conventional storytelling and will go on to pick up awards on the international film festival scene.
