Entertainment
Tunde Kelani’s ‘Cordelia’ Marks Bold Return with Gripping Political Drama
Tunde Kelani’s returns with ‘Cordelia’, a gripping Nigerian film exploring political unrest, secrets, and conscience, featuring a stellar cast and powerful drama
‘Cordelia’ tells the story of a weary university professor who shelters a wounded female student amidst campus unrest.
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Now, he returns with ‘Cordelia’, a compelling and politically charged drama that signals his bold re-entry into the world of cinema.
It has been three long years since revered Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani last took the director’s chair.
But she’s not just another victim—she’s the daughter of a man involved in a failed military coup.
As tensions escalate, buried secrets begin to emerge, and the professor must decide where he stands in a society on the brink.
Set against a backdrop of political uncertainty, betrayal, and the complex moral questions that come with survival, Cordelia is a slow-burning thriller that blends personal drama with national stakes.
The film’s power lies not only in its plot but in the depth of its characters and the silence between their words.
Written by the esteemed playwright Professor Femi Osofisan and directed by Tunde Kelani, Cordelia draws on the strength of two Nigerian cultural titans.
It is a collaboration that elevates the film’s narrative beyond the surface of events, inviting viewers to reflect on choices, consequences, and conscience.
The film’s cast is just as noteworthy. Yvonne Jegede delivers a raw and vulnerable performance, supported by the ever-graceful Omowunmi Dada, and William Benson, who gives the lead role a quiet but forceful presence.
Femi Adebayo and Bassey Keppy Ekpeyong round out the ensemble with emotionally resonant roles that keep the audience fully engaged.
Cordelia is the kind of story that lingers — a haunting mix of conscience, culture and conflict only Kelani could deliver.
With Cordelia, Tunde Kelani once again demonstrates why he remains one of the most respected voices in Nigerian cinema.
The film is rich in cultural subtext, yet universally relatable. It’s about power, silence, moral struggle—and how personal decisions echo through political landscapes.
More than just a comeback, Cordelia feels like a continuation of the questions Kelani has always asked through his films.
How do individuals survive under broken systems? What happens when doing the right thing threatens one’s safety? What truths must be spoken, even when they endanger us?
“Cordelia is the kind of story that lingers — a haunting mix of conscience, culture and conflict only Kelani could deliver,” a critic said following an early screening.
The visual style of the film retains Kelani’s signature eye for detail.
From dimly lit dorm rooms to university corridors steeped in tension, the cinematography builds an atmosphere of suspense without ever resorting to gimmickry.
Everything feels earned, deliberate, and weighted.
This is not just another Nollywood release—it is a film of importance. It pushes the viewer to think, reflect, and question.
While Cordelia may not follow the fast-paced trends currently dominating African streaming charts, it offers something richer: an urgent story told with depth and patience.
For those craving a film that speaks directly to the complexities of Nigerian society, Cordelia is exactly that.
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And for fans of Tunde Kelani, the film is a welcome reminder of why his voice is needed now more than ever.
Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has questioned the authenticity of an interim order issued by the Lagos State High Court on 2 September 2026, restraining her from publishing photographs of Priscilla Ojo’s one-year-old son, Rakeem Mkambala, and from posting editorials concerning the family on specified social media platforms.
Anjorin raised the issue during an Instagram Live session on Friday, 4 September, after Priscilla shared a copy of the court order online.
The actress argued that publicising court documents before formally serving the respondent undermines the case.
“Your case na dead on arrival. If you post court letter on any platform before serving person wey you wan go serve, that court case na fake court case,” Anjorin said during the live session.
Her comments came shortly after the High Court of Lagos State granted an ex parte application brought by Priscilla, her husband, Tanzanian singer Juma Mussa Mkambala, and their son, Rakeem.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya issued the interim order in Suit No. LD/ADR/6646/2026.
The order restrains Anjorin, as well as people acting under her authority, from publishing, posting, circulating, uploading or broadcasting photographs of Rakeem on specified social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok.
The court also directed Anjorin to cease publishing or broadcasting editorials concerning the applicants on the platforms covered by the order.
An ex parte order is made at an interim stage without the respondent being heard. The order is therefore not a final determination of the dispute and remains subject to further proceedings.
Priscilla shared the certified copy of the order on her Instagram Story on Friday, bringing the legal development into public view.
Anjorin’s reaction centres on the timing and manner in which the court documents were publicised. Her assertion that such publication makes a case “fake” is her own claim and is not a finding contained in the court order.
The development marks another chapter in the prolonged public dispute between Anjorin and Priscilla’s family, particularly Priscilla’s mother, actress Iyabo Ojo.
The disagreement has played out largely on social media and has previously resulted in legal action, including a ₦1 billion defamation suit filed by Iyabo Ojo against Anjorin.
In recent weeks, the dispute has also drawn Priscilla and her young son into the controversy, following public comments by Anjorin concerning the family.
Kesiena Tony Adjekpovu, popularly known as Kess, has said that participating in Big Brother Naija can make life harder, offering a candid reflection on the challenges that may come with the reality television experience.
The former Big Brother Naija housemate made the comment in a statement shared on social media, where he suggested that winning or simply taking part in the reality show does not necessarily make life easier after leaving the house.
“Big Brother makes your life harder,” Kess said.
The remark has drawn attention because life after reality television can bring a different set of expectations, particularly as former housemates adjust to increased public attention and the pressure that can accompany visibility.
Kess was a housemate on the seventh season of Big Brother Naija, which aired in 2022. He entered the show as a businessman and was among the contestants who competed for the season’s grand prize.
His time on the programme also placed him in the public eye, giving viewers an opportunity to follow his personality and relationships inside the house.
Kess’s latest comment offers a more reflective view of the reality TV platform, suggesting that the experience does not end when a contestant leaves the house.
However, he did not provide further details in the available post explaining which specific aspects of life after Big Brother he was referring to.
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