Nigeria needs to invest more in cultural storytelling – Muyiwa Ademola
Nollywoodicon and one of the leading figures in Yoruba cinema, Muyiwa Ademola, popularly known as ‘Mr. Authentic, has spent more than two decades captivating audiences with his unique storytelling.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, the acclaimed actor and filmmaker speaks on his upcoming projects, the need for greater support for culturally significant films, and the journey that has shaped his career.
It’s the second half of the year. How has it been so far for you and your brand?
It’s been amazing so far. We’re witnessing another boom in the cinema industry, and I think 2026 has seen the highest number of releases in our industry’s history.
At the moment, I’m observing more as an audience member. I’m trying to understand what people want to watch, what they love, what they dislike, and what truly excites them at the cinema. So, it’s been an amazing period for the industry and for creatives at large.
Does that mean there won’t be a cinema project from you this year?
None that I can think of. I deliberately decided to take a break from releasing my personal cinema projects this year, so I could have the time and opportunity to reflect, plan and strategise for the projects ahead.
Two decades after the original Ori, you released Ori Rebirth last year, and Nigerians embraced it wholeheartedly. How did it feel to see the acceptance and box-office success?
Sincerely, it’s the kind of experience I’ll be telling future generations about. I’ve even told my children about it, and I hope they’ll tell their own children as well.
Honestly, the love and acceptance were overwhelming. Despite the limited number of projects my colleagues and I released, Ori Rebirth sold out at virtually every screening. I’m grateful that the film grossed ₦419.5 million, making it one of the highest-grossing Nigerian films of all time. We also broke records internationally, becoming one of the highest-grossing Nollywood epic films in the United Kingdom. For all of this, and for the many beautiful projects still to come, I’m truly grateful.
Why do you think people connected so strongly with Ori Rebirth?
Not to brag, but if you’re familiar with the Muyiwa Ademola brand, you’ll know I don’t rush my projects. I take my time before embarking on any personal production. You may see me acting in other people’s films, but when it comes to my own projects, I wait until I’m fully convinced that everything is ready. That’s exactly what happened with Ori Rebirth, and I believe the audience appreciated that commitment to quality.
What’s next for your fans?
As I said earlier, I intentionally chose not to release any project this year because all hands are currently on deck for my next major production. Alapadupe is coming, and I’m confident my fans will be amazed by what we’re putting together.
Having spent more than two decades in the industry, what has been the major factor behind your longevity?
First, I take my time. I believe that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. I don’t rush the creative process. I can spend three, four, five or even six years writing a single script, and I won’t begin filming until I’m completely satisfied.
For me, filmmaking goes beyond entertainment. I believe these films will outlive me and serve as reference points long after I’m gone. That’s one of the reasons I give every project my absolute best. I’m never in a hurry because I’m my only competition.
Being a creative is more than just business to me. There are other businesses one can venture into and fail without anyone noticing. But if I fail as a filmmaker, that failure would be visible to everyone, and I wouldn’t be proud of it.
What has sustained me over the years is resilience, hard work, authenticity, perseverance and, above all, my trust in God, because He is the only one who never disappoints.
As a cultural ambassador, do you think we’re doing enough to tell our stories?
You can never finish telling our stories. We’re trying, sincerely, but we still need more support.
Some stories deserve to be told even if they don’t generate huge profits. For instance, if I want to tell the story of someone like Ogunmola, it may be historically important, but it might not necessarily become a commercial blockbuster. That shouldn’t stop such stories from being told, and neither should we alter history to make them more commercially appealing.
What kind of support do you think is needed?
I believe government ministries and relevant agencies should sponsor projects like these and ensure that important historical stories are told accurately.
These films preserve our history, even if they don’t generate huge financial returns. Some stories are difficult to produce because they are rooted in history and deserve to be presented truthfully.
We need more sponsors. We need government agencies, non-governmental organisations and private institutions to invest in what we do and help preserve our cultural heritage through film.
Would it be right to say the Yoruba film industry is gaining more recognition in cinema?
We’ve always been making progress, to be honest. The industry goes through different phases. There are periods when Yoruba films dominate, and others when films from other parts of the industry receive more attention.
But personally, I don’t like to separate us into Yoruba, English or Igbo industries. We are one Nigerian film industry.
In my next film, you’ll see actors from different ethnic backgrounds. You may find Yoruba actors speaking Hausa or Igbo actors speaking Yoruba. We’ve become more integrated, and I think that’s exactly what Nigeria needs at this point.
We need to return to the days when people embraced one another beyond tribal lines, when inter-tribal marriages were common, and relationships were built on genuine love and unity rather than ethnic divisions.
