Tag: IREKE

A cinematic experience is set to hit cinemas worldwide on July 25, as Ireke: Rise of the Maroons, a 96-minute historical drama makes its highly anticipated global release. Directed by Emmy-nominated BBC journalist, Gbolahan Peter Macjob, the film promises to be a monumental entry into African storytelling on the big screen.

Starring a constellation of Nollywood and international talents including Bolanle Ninalowo, Tobi Bakre, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, Peter Fatomilola, Fathia Balogun, Antar Laniyan and Yemi Shodimu, among others, Ireke delivers a compelling narrative that delves deep into Africa’s entanglement in the trans-atlantic slave trade and the legacy of resistance that followed.

Set in the 18th century, the film captures the harrowing journey of a Nigerian family caught in the web of slavery, charting their descent from their homeland to Caribbean plantations. There, the enslaved Africans would rise in rebellion, a historical uprising that birthed the Maroons, a community of self-liberated slaves whose fierce resistance forced a truce and contributed to the eventual end of slavery in the Caribbean.

Speaking about the film’s significance, Macjob emphasized the importance of owning the African narrative.

“The slave theme is not new, but every single slave movie we have watched was made in Hollywood,” he said.

“The time has come for us to be the ones telling our stories. The fact that this story centers around the heroics of our ancestors is exactly why I, as a journalist and storyteller, had to bring it to life.”

Macjob added that Ireke reopens essential historical conversations, especially among Africans and their diasporic counterparts in the Caribbean and across the globe.

“These were slaves who collaborated and found victory through unity. Our history shows we are stronger together than apart,” he noted.

“The film doesn’t shy away from the complexity of African participation in the slave trade. It explores the economic motivations, such as the sugarcane plantation boom that contributed to internal collaboration in the transatlantic tragedy.

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But ultimately, Ireke is a tale of triumph, rebellion and cultural reckoning, Macjob said.

After debuting at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival making it the first Nigerian local language film to premiere at the prestigious event, Ireke has already garnered international attention and critical acclaim. It has opened up renewed global conversations on shared histories, particularly between nations in the Global South and audiences in the Global North.

Marking several firsts, the film will be released simultaneously in over 100 cinemas across Nigeria, the UK, Ghana, Benin and Austria, a feat previously unmatched by any Nigerian production. Adding to its accolades, Ireke has also secured an exclusive distribution deal with Europe’s largest cinema chain, Odeon, becoming the first Nigerian movie to achieve this milestone.

As July 25 draws near, Ireke: Rise of the Maroons stands not just as a movie release, but as a cultural moment, a bold reclamation of African history, identity and voice.

Acclaimed storyteller Peter Macjob has said his ambitious film IREKE due for premier on Friday, July 25 will blow minds. 

With a groundbreaking simultaneous premiere in London, Lagos, and Abeokuta, the film is described as a cinematic fusion of Yoruba spirituality, romance, and rebellion.

The film, years in the making, is Macjob’s most personal and expansive work to date. Speaking ahead of the release, he described the experience as “surreal and humbling,” noting that the project had lived within him for years before coming to life on screen. “To see it premiere in three cities at once—it feels like a spiritual release,” he said.

At its core, IREKE is a tale of resistance and rebirth, inspired by Yoruba heritage and symbolism. The title, derived from the Yoruba word for sugarcane, captures the paradox of sweetness grown through hardship. 

“IREKE was born from a desire to explore Yoruba heritage through a powerful, human lens,” Macjob explained. “I wanted to tell a story about freedom—emotional, spiritual, physical—through characters that feel ancient and modern at once.”

Set in a mythic world shaped by tradition and tyranny, the film stars Westy Baba as Johnson, a manipulative official who embodies the dangers of unchecked power, and Bolanle Ninalowo as a rebellious warrior slave who becomes the heartbeat of a growing revolution.

Also starring are veteran actress Faithia Williams Balogun and a strong supporting cast that Macjob says brought “heart and fire” to every scene.

Despite the epic scale, IREKE is a deeply personal endeavor for Macjob, who served as writer, director, and producer.

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“It was intense, but also deeply rewarding,” he said. “Being involved at every level allowed me to protect the integrity of the story.” 

He credited his collaborators—including Big Cass, TY Toyin Moore, Dapo and Jacinta Macjob, and UK-based executive producers Clare and Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe of BUFF Studios—for helping bring the vision to life.

Authenticity was a guiding principle throughout production. The film was shot in sacred Yoruba locations using traditional fabrics and indigenous language. “It wasn’t just about aesthetics,” said Macjob. “It was about honoring our ancestors and preserving culture through cinema.”

Macjob describes IREKE as more than just a story of rebellion—it is also a meditation on love as a form of resistance. “Love can challenge systems. Silence has power, and breaking that silence can cost everything, but it’s worth it,” he said. “I wanted audiences to feel something ancient rise in them.”

Choosing London as one of the premiere cities was deliberate. Macjob says the city’s vibrant Nigerian diaspora makes it the perfect venue to share a story rooted in African heritage. “I want them to see themselves on screen—to feel seen, challenged, and inspired,” he added.

With its global premiere on the horizon, IREKE is already generating buzz beyond Nollywood circles. Macjob confirmed that the team is submitting the film to international festivals and exploring streaming deals. There are also discussions around expanding the IREKE universe into a sequel or series. “The world we’ve built is just getting started,” he teased.

A powerful blend of myth, history, and contemporary resonance, IREKE stands poised to be a landmark film, one that not only celebrates Yoruba culture but elevates African storytelling on the world stage.

As the credits roll on July 25, audiences in London, Lagos, and Abeokuta will witness not just a film premiere but the arrival of a new cinematic vision.