Anikulapo is a Nigerian period drama film on Netflix, which is produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan. The film follows a man named Saro, who after an affair with a queen leads to his demise, an eager traveller encounters a mystical bird with the power to give him another life.
The cast of the film includes Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Sola Sobowale, Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Taiwo Hassan, Faithia Balogun, Adebayo Salami, Kareem Adepoju, Moji Olayiwola and Aisha Lawal. It has a runtime of about 2 hours and 22 minutes in total.
It tells a beautiful story through the eyes of culture and tradition, set in the pre-colonial era as far back as the 17th century of the Old Oyo Empire. The name Anikulapo means one who holds death in his purse.
Also Read: Anikulapo Ending Explained: What Happened to Arolake and Saro? How Did He Get Resurrection Power?
5 Movies Like Anikulapo to Watch on Netflix
Ayinla (2021)
The film is based on the life of Ayinla Omowura, an Apala musician, who was killed by Bayewu, his manager, after a fight in a bar at Abeokuta on May 6, 1980. Before Tupac vs Biggie, and all the other ‘beefs’ you know, we had the bitter rivalry between these two.
This musical film follows the life of popular Yoruba Apala musician Ayinla Omuwura, from his rise to fame and relationships to his untimely death. It is set in the 1990s and 1980s and shot in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, Nigeria. You can watch this film on Netflix.
Nneka The Pretty Serpent (2020)
It is a 2020 remake of the 1994 horror mystery film of the same name. It was directed by Tosin Igho with Idia Aisien playing the lead role alongside Bovi Ugboma, Bimbo Ademoye, Zack Orji, Shaffy Bello, Beverly Osu and Ndidi Obi. It was written by Adia Uyoyou.
The film follows, years after the mysterious murder of her parents, a traumatized woman who gains supernatural powers that aid in her quest for revenge against the killers. When her parents are murdered, Nneka encounters the Queen of the Coast who offers to help her in revealing the identities of the people who killed her parents. This changes the course of her life as she sets out on a mission of revenge.
You can watch this film here.
The Figurine (Araromire) (2009)
It is a 2009 Nigerian supernatural suspense thriller film written by Kemi Adesoye, produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan, who also stars in the film as one of the main protagonists. It also stars Ramsey Nouah and Omoni Oboli.
The film shows that when a pair of friends discover a mystical sculpture in an abandoned shrine, good fortune is bestowed upon them until luck starts running out. Unknown to them, the sculpture is from the goddess ‘Araromire’ which bestows seven years of good luck on anyone who encounters it, and after the seven years have expired, seven years of bad luck follow.
The lives of the two friends begin to change for good, as they become successful and wealthy businessmen. However, after seven years, things start to change for the worse. You can watch this film here.
Man of God (2022)
Man of God is produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters and stars Akah Nnani, Osas Ighodaro, Dorcas Shola-Fapson, Prince Nelson Enwerem, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, Jude Chukwuka, Olumide Oworu, Mawuli Gavor and many others.
In the film, Samuel forsakes his harsh religious upbringing to live his own life — but his soul remains caught between the world and the faith he left behind. The story is also based on the Prodigal son lore. You can watch the film here.
October 1 (2014)
October 1 is a Nigerian dark psychological thriller film written by Tunde Babalola and produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan. This film is set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s looming independence from Britain, where detective Danladi Waziri races to capture a killer terrorizing local women.
The film shows the last months of Colonial Nigeria in 1960 recounting the story of Danladi Waziri (Sadiq Daba), a police officer from Northern Nigeria who is posted to the remote town of Akote in Western Nigeria to investigate the frequent female murders in the community. He is supposed to solve the mystery before the Nigerian flag is raised on October 1, 1960, Nigeria’s Independence Day.
You can watch this film on Netflix.
Which one of our recommendations are you excited to watch? Let us know in the comments down below!
Anikulapo is currently streaming on Netflix.
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