In this special edition of the Ranks Africa Spotlight Series, we honour one of the most powerful women in African cinema—Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi. As she prepares to unveil her epic new film, Iyalode, hitting cinemas nationwide on June 6, 2025, we celebrate not just her upcoming release but the legacy she continues to build every time she steps on set.
Toyin is not just an actress—she is the moment, the movement, and the master of her craft. From comedy to drama, producing to directing, mentoring to motherhood, she has done it all—and done it with excellence. For over two decades, she has remained at the top of her game, proving that passion, integrity, and talent are timeless.
When Toyin Abraham walks into a room, the temperature rises—not from heat, but from reverence.
Not a single word is spoken, yet somehow, every soul present stands a little straighter, breathes a little deeper.
It’s not just star power—it’s spirit power. She doesn’t demand applause; she deserves it, every thunderous second of it.
She’s not just acting. She’s not just producing. She’s not just directing.
Toyin Abraham is translating the soul of a people into story.
She doesn’t play characters. She transcends them.
She doesn’t wear the crown of Nollywood royalty — she built the throne, one film, one scene, one tear, one laughter at a time.
Born into humble beginnings, Toyin’s achievements wasn’t gifted; it was earned—with scraped knees and unstoppable passion.
She began as a hopeful dreamer and bloomed into one of the most bankable names in African cinema. Over two decades, she has remained a constant force in a shifting industry, becoming a North Star for Nollywood — guiding, evolving, breaking ceilings.
From her early comic triumphs in the Alakada series to soul-shaking performances in Elevator Baby, Malaika, and The Ghost and the Tout, Toyin has carved a space so uniquely hers, it’s almost spiritual.
Her 2024 blockbuster, Alakada: Bad and Boujee, raked in over ₦500 million, not just proving her as a box office queen but showing that a story rooted in truth, culture, and hustle will always resonate.
Toyin Abraham is not chasing roles. She’s creating lanes.
As a producer, she’s constantly reshaping narratives. As a director, she crafts emotion into motion. And as a philanthropic powerhouse, she’s giving back—without cameras, without noise, just heart.
Through her production company and film academy, she is building new generations of storytellers, casting fresh faces, opening doors that were once bolted shut.
“I don’t have to shine alone. I want others to shine too.”
— Toyin Abraham
The Arrival of ‘Iyalode’: A Cinematic Crown
Coming to cinemas on June 6, 2025, is a film that feels less like a release and more like a cultural awakening—IYALODE.
Produced by Toyin Abraham and directed by cinematic veteran Adebayo Tijani, Iyalode is an epic drama of power, resilience, royalty, and womanhood. The cast reads like a Hall of Fame: Kehinde Bankole, Iyabo Ojo, Bukky Wright, Muyiwa Ademola, Wale Ojo, and her husband Kolawole Ajeyemi. Together, they breathe life into a story that promises to be one of 2025’s defining cinematic moments.
More than a movie, Iyalode is a cultural offering—a call back to roots, pride, strength, and the grace of womanhood in its purest form. This is not just for entertainment; this is a must-watch moment in African film history.
