Ronke Odusanya and Femi Adebayo are two titans whose names alone guarantee a certain level of dramatic fireworks in Yoruba cinema. Their latest pairing, ASHABI OLOBI, is a two-hour-long political melodrama that promises a deep dive into the corrosive nature of power, female ambition in a patriarchal structure, and the severe consequences of pride.
Marketed as a 2025 drama, this film delivers exactly what its pedigree suggests: high-stakes palace scheming, intense emotional outbursts, and a storyline rooted deeply in cultural tradition. But does it transcend the often-melodramatic trappings of its genre to achieve genuine cinematic brilliance? For the most part, yes, but not without a few stumbles in technical execution. ASHABI OLOBI is a compelling, if occasionally over-paced, reminder that the most dangerous battleground is often the one where royalty sits.
1. The Hook: Opening Verdict & Narrative Setup
From its opening moments, ASHABI OLOBI establishes an environment rife with tension. The film begins not with a celebration, but with a funeral: the King is dead. In the ensuing power vacuum, the formidable Queen-Mother, Ashabi Olobi (Ronke Odusanya), steps into the role of Regent. This narrative choice immediately positions the film within a rich socio-cultural tapestry, exploring the inherent conflict between tradition and the unexpected rise of a powerful female figure.
The central conflict hinges on Ashabi’s character: a woman of palpable pride and undeniable political acumen, she finds herself intoxicated by the authority she holds. When the time comes for the rightful heir—likely Femi Adebayo’s character, whose measured intensity contrasts sharply with her fire—to assume the throne, Ashabi refuses to yield. Her refusal is not merely political; it is deeply personal, rooted in a newly discovered hubris that she mistakes for destiny. The film explores the domino effect of this one act of defiance, which immediately sets rival families and palace chiefs (including the veteran presence of Abeni Agbon) into a furious war of sabotage and deceit. While the film’s runtime is substantial, the initial setup is compelling enough to anchor the viewer, promising a classical tragedy unfolding in a meticulously rendered traditional setting.
2. Performance Analysis: The Battle of Wills and Wails
The success of ASHABI OLOBI rests almost entirely on the shoulders of its lead stars, and they deliver a masterclass in contrasting dramatic styles that defines the film's emotional core.
Ronke Odusanya: The Fury of the Regent
Ronke Odusanya’s portrayal of Ashabi Olobi is the molten core of the movie. Known for her ability to navigate both subtle and high-octane emotional registers, Odusanya chooses fire for Ashabi. Her performance is one of calculated, yet utterly volatile, ambition.
In the early scenes, she beautifully conveys the controlled grief of a Queen-Mother, holding her court together. However, the moment she tastes the full authority of the throne, a seismic shift occurs. Her eyes, often lauded for their expressiveness, transform into instruments of cold calculation. There is a magnificent, pivotal scene—occurring roughly 35 minutes into the film—where she dismisses a delegation of elders seeking counsel on the succession. Here, Odusanya's slight tightening of her jaw and a barely contained snarl convey more about her character’s refusal to yield than any lengthy dialogue could.
Where the performance occasionally stumbles is, ironically, where the script sometimes demands it: high-pitched, drawn-out moments of despair or rage. In Yoruba cinema, this melodrama is often a feature, not a bug, but Odusanya’s more restrained moments of simmering betrayal are far more potent than her tearful, screaming confrontations in the final act. Nevertheless, her overall commitment to playing Ashabi as a woman consumed by her own reflection ensures the viewer understands the tragic trajectory of the character.
Femi Adebayo: Ambition in Measured Doses
Femi Adebayo, in a role that requires more internal struggle than external theatrics, serves as the perfect counterweight to Odusanya’s intensity. Adebayo’s acting here is defined by his restraint. As the presumptive heir, his character—a man whose authority is legitimate but temporarily suspended—must navigate the political waters without appearing overly desperate or aggressive.
Adebayo expertly uses stillness to convey power. In his few scenes confronting Ashabi, he does not shout; he observes. His quiet fury is palpable, conveyed through tight facial control and a voice lowered almost to a conspiratorial whisper. His chemistry with Odusanya is electric, not in a romantic sense, but in a purely adversarial one. When they clash, the scene crackles because his measured delivery contrasts so sharply with her explosive reactions, creating a beautiful tension that holds the political intrigue together. This restraint grounds the plot in reality, preventing the drama from spiraling entirely into caricature.
The Ensemble: Grounding the Palace Intrigue
The supporting cast, particularly the elders and chiefs, played by actors like Abeni Agbon, are instrumental in establishing the authentic, ceremonial atmosphere of the royal court. These actors, often veteran performers, are the lifeblood of the film’s political tension. Their subtle headshakes, pronouncements in deep Yoruba proverbs, and slow-moving deliberation ensure that the struggle feels weighty and governed by ancient, immutable rules. They function as a collective conscience and opposition, successfully painting a vivid picture of a kingdom teetering on the edge of civil strife due to one person's pride.
3. Directorial Execution & Technical Merit
While the performances are stellar, the directorial execution and technical merit reveal the film’s nature as a direct-to-digital drama, rather than a grand cinematic feature.
Pacing and Editing: The Two-Hour Test
The 1 hour 55 minute runtime is a major commitment, and the film’s pacing is its most inconsistent element. The first act, establishing the political landscape, is taut and efficient. The second act, which focuses heavily on the sabotage and deceit—long, drawn-out meetings, whispered conversations, and the slow unraveling of Ashabi’s power—suffers from a distinct mid-movie sag. There are sequences involving minor characters plotting revenge that could have been trimmed or accelerated, causing the overall narrative momentum to dip around the 80-minute mark.
The editing, too, is typical of the genre. While mostly competent, there are a few jarring cuts, especially during moments of high emotion where the transition from a wide shot to an extreme close-up feels abrupt, interrupting the flow rather than emphasizing the drama. The director often lingers on reaction shots for too long, perhaps trusting the power of the actors' expressions over the rhythm of the sequence.
Cinematography and Visual Language
The cinematography, however, is commendable. The film utilizes a rich palette, favoring deep reds, golds, and earthen tones that ground the royalty in the warmth of the traditional setting. The costuming, particularly Ashabi’s royal attire, is vibrant and thoughtfully executed, using color as a non-verbal cue for power and status.
The camera work is functional and effective. The director employs the mise-en-scène (the arrangement of everything that appears in the frame) smartly, often placing Ashabi high on her throne, visually isolating her from the commoners and elders, thereby emphasizing her increasing detachment and hubris. Lighting is generally naturalistic, avoiding the harsh, flat lighting that plagued older Nollywood films, adding a professional sheen to the palace interiors.
Sound and Score: The Drumbeat of Tragedy
The sound design is where the film finds great emotional texture. The non-diegetic background score is, as expected, intensely dramatic, relying heavily on traditional Yoruba percussion instruments. However, it is used effectively to signal impending doom or cultural weight. Specifically, the recurring use of the talking drum (gangan) to underscore Ashabi’s growing isolation is a powerful, culturally resonant choice. The sound often ceases entirely during her moments of quiet internal reflection, a deliberate technique that draws the viewer into her psychological turmoil.
4. Script and Thematic Depth
The script of ASHABI OLOBI is built on a foundation of classic dramatic structure, but its greatest strength lies in its use of language and its exploration of universal themes through a specific cultural lens.
Dialogue and Proverbs
The dialogue is sharp, often elevated by the seamless integration of Yoruba proverbs (owe). These proverbs are not just decoration; they function as narrative tools, serving as veiled warnings and moral statements passed between the elders. When Ashabi dismisses a chief who speaks in metaphor, it underscores her arrogance—she is too proud to heed the wisdom of tradition, favoring direct, power-driven language instead.
Conversely, the script occasionally leans into exposition, particularly when detailing the political lineage or the complex rules of succession. This is perhaps necessary for a broad audience, but it leads to a few scenes where characters simply recite the stakes rather than letting the action demonstrate them.
Thematic Exploration: Pride and Patriarchy
The central theme—that pride (hubris) is the fatal flaw leading to ruin—is handled with compelling clarity. Ashabi Olobi’s battle is not just against the families; it is against the structural limits imposed on her by tradition, which allows her temporary power but not permanent rule. The film successfully uses her ambition as a cautionary tale for those who seek to defy the natural or societal order.
The plot twists, revolving around sabotage and hidden enemies within the royal household, are largely predictable to a seasoned viewer of the genre. We know Ashabi will fall, but the film makes the journey compelling by focusing on how she falls—dismantled not by superior force, but by her own self-destructive choices. The eventual resolution, while predictable, offers a satisfying, if deeply moralistic, catharsis appropriate for the dramatic stakes set from the beginning. The film successfully avoids simplistic good vs. evil by showing that the "rightful" king's faction is also capable of deceit, illustrating that the pursuit of power is universally corrupting.
5. Conclusion & Final Rating
ASHABI OLOBI is a powerful, star-driven piece of Yoruba cinema that delivers high drama and meaningful cultural commentary. Ronke Odusanya gives one of her most commanding performances, carrying the weight of the crown and the audience’s attention with equal gravity. While the technical pacing could have been tighter and the final act a bit less didactic, the film’s strengths in performance and visual authenticity easily outweigh its flaws. It is a solid entry into the genre and a testament to the enduring power of classic storytelling.
★★★★/5
VERDICT SENTENCE:
A compelling and commanding Yoruba drama, ASHABI OLOBI showcases the destructive beauty of ambition, powered by Ronke Odusanya's fierce, unforgettable central performance.
CALL TO WATCH:
If you are a fan of traditional Nollywood narratives, deep character studies, and the explosive drama generated when two acting powerhouses collide, then ASHABI OLOBI is required viewing. Head over to the platform and witness the fall of a queen driven by her own relentless pride. Watch it, and then come back here to tell us if you were rooting for Ashabi or the crown!
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