Some stories cut deeper than the blade, not because of the battles they show, but because of the truths they carry.

Labake Olododo: The Warrior Lord isn’t just a movie. It’s a mirror into a past that feels frighteningly present. A reminder that women have always held power, not just behind the scenes, but in the center of the storm.

Let’s talk about what makes this Yoruba epic not just worth watching, but worth feeling.

1. This Wasn’t Just History — It Was Ancestral Memory

You don’t watch Labake Olododo to learn facts, you watch it to remember.

To remember the aunties who led clans with one eye on survival and the other on justice.
To remember that African women have always been warriors, even when the textbooks tried to forget them.

Iyabo Ojo doesn’t just play Labake, she carries her like an inheritance. You feel it in her walk, her eyes, her silences. It’s less “performance” and more “possession”, like Labake stepped out of history and borrowed her body.

And she’s not alone.

The cast? Loaded. Femi Adebayo brings his usual fire — grounded and intense. Faithia Williams Balogun glides through her scenes like royalty. Kunle Afolayan shows up with that weighty presence we’ve come to expect. And Mr. Macaroni? Stripped of comedy, he proves his range with a performance that surprises in the best way.

This isn’t just a strong lead, it’s a strong ensemble.

2. The Story Lives in the Costumes, Not Just the Dialogue

From the beaded crowns to the war-ready wrappers, every look told you who someone was or wanted to be.

Labake’s outfits weren’t just about looking powerful. They felt ceremonial, like they had their own history, sewn into every seam.

You know when an elder wears aso-oke that belonged to her grandmother? Yeah, it gave that energy.

3. The Kind of Leadership We Don’t Talk About Enough

Labake is tough. But not loud. Not overbearing. Her strength lives in silence, in restraint, in emotional control.

She makes sacrifices, not for applause, but because that’s what leaders do.

There’s something deeply Nigerian about that, women holding things together with threadbare patience, often in the background, often unthanked.

This film brings that kind of leadership to the front row.

4. It Let Yoruba Culture Breathe

Some movies add tradition as spice, this one let it cook the whole meal.

The language wasn’t watered down. The rituals weren’t simplified. It felt like the filmmakers trusted us to understand, and if we didn’t, to learn.

Even if you don’t speak Yoruba fluently, you feel the weight of it in every argument, prayer, and proverb.

5. The Premiere Was a Love Letter to Culture

Let’s be honest, premieres can be just photo ops. But this one? It felt more like a cultural gathering.

The theme was “Inner Warrior” and people showed up like they were ready to storm a palace (in the best way). Traditional outfits, drums, palm wine… the vibe was thick.

It reminded everyone that film isn’t just entertainment — it’s preservation.

Final Thoughts: Watch It With Your Chest

This isn’t just a film about ancient Yoruba warriors. It’s a reminder. A reminder that African women have always led, always fought, always mattered.

It opens conversations about legacy, about sacrifice, about how much is asked of women in leadership. It’s emotional, heavy, beautiful, and needed.

So if you’re into stories that feel close to home, that spark something in your chest, that remind you who we are and where we come from, you need to see this.

Now showing in cinemas across Nigeria.

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