The 2026 Nollywood epic production by Lateef and Adebimpe Adedimeji titled Kiriji has officially been wrapped up. The Filming concluded after months of intensive work across locations in Ekiti and Ibadan, where the cast and crew recreated the 19th-century battlefields with authentic costumes and war chants. The project has been hailed as a cultural preservation effort, ensuring that the story of Yoruba resilience and unity is shown and passed from generation to generation.
The film was directed by Kayode Kasum, with a screenplay by Muritala Sule. seeks to bring to life the dramatic events of the Kiriji War, also known as the Ekiti–Parapo War, which raged from 1877 to 1893 among the Yoruba sub-ethnic kingdoms. While the official release Date has not been announced, available information shows that Kiriji closely dramatizes key events, battles, and personal stories from both sides of the conflict. And the wrap-up signals that audiences will soon witness one of Nigeria’s most historical dramas.
Lateef Adedimeji has consistently emphasized the film’s mission to “tell our stories ourselves” and to “showcase our land to the world.” To truly tell the story, the casting of Kiriji was a mix of established actors and over 6,000 extras from Ekiti reflect the scale of historical events. This ensured Authenticity in both language and performance. The Cast includes Lateef Adedimeji, Adebimpe Adedimeji, Odunlade Adekola, Tobi Bakare, Uzee Usman, Bukky Wright, Femi Branch, and Additional Local actors over 6,000 from Ekiti.
The upcoming film Kiriji is expected to weave the historical figures during the Kijiri war into a narrative that highlights both the brutality of the war and the resilience of the Yoruba people. More than a war Drama, the movie goes deep into the history of the Yoruba people, which has become part of their cultural heritage. It teaches the modern Yoruba indigene, especially those who hail from Ekiti, Ibadan, Ijebu, Egba, among others, an important part of their historical culture and ancestral land.
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