Lisabi: A Legend is Born has a lot to prove. Following the mixed reception of Lisabi: The Uprising, this sequel faces the task of redeeming the franchise. While the first film had its merits, including its ambitious cultural themes, it struggled with pacing, emotional depth, and some underwhelming CGI. Now, with a chance to build on what came before, A Legend is Born needs to correct those missteps and offer a more engaging, well-rounded experience.

The question is whether it can do just that and live up to the potential the story has.

Before reading this, if you haven’t, consider reading our review of Lisabi: The Uprising. This review contains spoilers.

Story

The story of aims to delve deeper into the life of Lisabi, the legendary Egba hero, by exploring themes of betrayal, pride, and the consequences of leadership. It positions itself as an intimate portrayal of Lisabi’s struggles following the liberation of the Egba people from the tyranny of the Oyo Empire. The filmmakers appear to focus on the grand battles to the personal toll of leadership, highlighting how power and adulation can spark envy and dissent among allies.

In practice, the film struggles to deliver its thematic intentions with clarity or impact. While it sets up Lisabi as a tragic figure undone by betrayal and hubris, the lack of meaningful character development dilutes its emotional weight. Themes such as loyalty and ambition are muddled, with character actions often feeling unearned or disconnected. The result is a story that feels shallow and fails to evoke the gravity of Lisabi’s legacy, leaving viewers disengaged from the emotional core of the film.

Plot

The plot follows Lisabi and the Egba people as they fend off a final assault from the Oyo Empire, culminating in victory. However, as peace settles, the narrative shifts to internal conflicts within the Egba community. Envy and resentment among Lisabi’s allies begin to fester, leading to betrayal and ultimately Lisabi’s downfall. The film seemingly attempts to show the complexity of leadership, portraying Lisabi as both a hero and a flawed man whose pride leads to tragic consequences.

What unfolds on screen is a disjointed and poorly paced series of events. The battle against the Oyo warriors, which dominates the early portion of the film, feels overly extended with repetitive, exaggerated slow-motion sequences. Once the focus shifts to internal conflicts, the narrative becomes scattered and illogical, with character motivations appearing abrupt and inconsistent. Significant moments, such as Bejide’s death or Lisabi’s fall from grace, lack the buildup needed for emotional resonance. The plot often feels directionless, with excessive flashbacks and unnecessary sequences detracting from the overall pacing and coherence.

Performances

Lateef Adedimeji as Lisabi shoulders the narrative’s weight as the protagonist. His portrayal captures moments of charisma and leadership, but his delivery falters in conveying Lisabi’s emotional complexities. Lisabi, as the protagonist, is the heart of the narrative. His character is central to both the mythology and the plot, portrayed as a figure chosen by the gods with a purpose greater than himself.

The flashback of his tragic origin:his mother’s death and the gods’ intervention, establishes him as a Moses-like figure, destined for greatness. However, the execution of Lisabi’s pride and eventual moral downfall feels disconnected from the strong foundation laid for him. The character’s pride, rooted in his destiny as the chosen one, is meant to evolve from admirable confidence to destructive arrogance.

However, Lateef’s performance struggles to anchor these transitions, leaving critical scenes, such as Bejide’s death and his interactions with Ikeola emotionally unconvincing. While he exudes presence in his commanding moments, Lisabi’s journey feels shallow, as the disconnect between intention and execution hinders audience investment in the character’s arc and it almost looses the essence of an epic.

As Ikeola, Adebimpe ‘Mo Bimpe’ Adedimeji provides a stabilizing presence in Lisabi’s life, serving as a voice of reason and caution. Ikeola plays a supporting yet pivotal role as Lisabi’s confidant and implied love interest. Her character’s role in forewarning Lisabi about betrayal is vital, yet the film’s disjointed structure and underdeveloped narrative undermine her significance. Her actions and concerns lack context within the narrative, making her motivations unclear and her warnings seem misplaced.

Mo Bimpe’s performance is restrained but lacks the depth to make Ikeola’s concerns and relationship with Lisabi convincing. The lack of development in her relationship with Lisabi leads to an absence of chemistry between the real-life couple in the film. This in turn leaves pivotal moments, such as Lisabi’s grief over her death, feeling forced, over-the-top, and farfetched. Despite the potential of Ikeola’s character, the portrayal comes across as lacklustre, with little to elevate her role beyond a plot device.

Bimbo Akintola delivers a poignant performance as Lisabi’s mother, whose sacrifice sets the foundation for the protagonist’s journey. Her portrayal conveys desperation and maternal love, adding emotional weight to the flashback scenes. However, the poorly executed CGI and overuse of slow motion, with one major discrepancy, distract from the intensity of her performance. While Akintola brings dignity to the role, the technical shortcomings of the scene undermine its impact, leaving her otherwise heartfelt moments diminished.

Olumide Oworu’s Bejide is a critical figure who challenges Lisabi’s authority, exposing the protagonist’s moral decline. Oworu’s portrayal captures Bejide’s conviction and boldness, but the character’s abrupt presence and disappearance lacks the emotional buildup necessary for its intended impact. His confrontation with Lisabi, which should have marked a turning point in the narrative, feels rushed and underwhelming.

Deyemi Okanlawon and Seun Akindele deliver brief yet commanding performances, while Kola Ajeyemi, Jide Awobona, and Damilola Ogunsi remain relegated to the sidelines. Their presence adds diversity to the cast but does little to elevate the film. Gabriel Afolayan and Odunlade Adekola shine in moments that hint at their potential, but the film’s lack of focus prevents them from leaving a lasting impression.

The supporting cast, including talents like Muyiwa Ademola, Gabriel Afolayan, Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), Odunlade Adekola, Kevin Ikeduba, Boma Akpore, Olarotimi Fakunle, Olayode Juliana and Efe Irele, and Ibrahim Yekini Icon. Despite their individual strengths, the ensemble struggles to overcome the film’s overarching narrative flaws. Many characters feel like filler, with unclear motivations and limited screen time, leaving them underutilized and forgettable.

Technical Aspects

The technical aspects of Lisabi: A Legend is Born leave much to be desired. The fight scenes are overly long, with excessive slow motion that disrupts the pacing and highlights flaws in execution. Wooden swords and visible mistakes, like a character striking the ground instead of his opponent, show a lack of precision in choreography (not to talk of the 17th century baby wearing diapers.) These issues could have been masked with faster cuts or tighter editing.

The CGI, particularly the Mikolo-esque bird, is poorly executed. The CGI, though integral to the story, its unrealistic appearance makes its presence in the scene unnecessary. The practical effects used to create an eerie atmosphere are commendable, with a few striking shots.

The soundtrack, while powerful and evocative, competes with dialogue in some instances, making it difficult to follow conversations. This recurring issue from the first installment remains unaddressed, further detracting from the film’s overall quality. Combined with slow pacing and unnecessary flashbacks, the technical flaws amplify the film’s underwhelming impact.

Final Thoughts

Lisabi: A Legend is Born had an opportunity to redeem the shortcomings of Lisabi: The Uprising, but instead, it compounds the flaws of its predecessor. The oral history of Lisabi, which holds the mystery of his life and death at its core, provides a fascinating foundation, but the film fails to capture this intrigue. While The Uprising struggled with pacing and inconsistent storytelling, A Legend is Born amplifies these issues, delivering a disjointed narrative that feels both unnecessary and directionless. Instead of expanding on Lisabi’s legacy with purpose, the sequel meanders through poorly executed sequences, offering no substantial improvement.

The sequel’s attempt to replicate the oral tradition’s fragmented nature backfires due to its lack of coherence. Scenes such as Lisabi’s interaction with Ikeola and the extended flashbacks are not only misplaced but also poorly timed, disrupting the flow of the story. Critical moments, like Ikeola’s warnings about betrayal, feel forced and lack the context to make them impactful.

The exaggerated use of slow motion, coupled with underwhelming CGI, further drags the film into mediocrity, distracting from the emotional weight of the narrative. Even pivotal plot points, such as Bejide’s death and Lisabi’s resulting pride, fail to leave a lasting impression due to shallow development.

Compared to The Uprising, Lisabi: A Legend is Born feels even more unnecessary. The Uprising had its faults but at least introduced the audience to Lisabi’s journey with a sense of purpose, however flawed. A Legend is Born offers no such justification for its existence, delivering a stretched and redundant story that seems to exist solely for the sake of continuation. The extended fight sequences and flashbacks, meant to deepen the narrative, only highlight the lack of meaningful progression.

Verdict

In the end, Lisabi: A Legend is Born is a missed opportunity to right the wrongs of its first instalment. Instead of honouring the complex and enigmatic figure of Lisabi, the film feels like an overstretched retelling devoid of creativity or direction. It not only fails to redeem itself but also diminishes the impact of the Lisabi story, making it an unnecessary addition.

Rating: 2/5