Discover Nigeria Entertainment Nollywood Farmer’s Bride: Nollywood’s Fresh Look at Love and Power Leyira Virtue BarisukaOctober 31, 20250604 views When you think of Nollywood, your mind might conjure images of modern city dramas, comedies, or romances. But in late 2024, a quiet, unsettling period piece asked more complex questions. Farmer’s Bride, a film co-directed by Adebayo Tijani and Jack’enneth Opukeme, premiered in Nigerian cinemas on September 27, 2024, and later became available on Netflix in select regions. It immediately sparked conversations about love, tradition, agency, and the soft edges of power in African films. Set in 1980s Ibadan, the film portrays a triangle of an older farmer, his young wife, and a restless nephew within a community shaped by tradition and hierarchy. The result is a textured blend of romance, moral conflict and a brush with the supernatural, aligning it with evolving African cinematic themes and prestige-leaning Nollywood storytelling. Farmer’s Bride Movie Analysis Farmer’s Bride follows Odun (Femi Branch), a wealthy, lonely farmer who marries Funmi (Gbubemi Ejeye), hoping to anchor his life and legacy. But affection offered as “protection” becomes control, and Funmi’s unhappiness draws her toward Odun’s nephew (Tobi Bakre). What begins as a quiet domestic unease turns into an act of transgression with social, spiritual, and personal consequences. FilmOne’s official synopsis highlights the 1980s setting and the film’s dramatic and thriller elements. The story’s core questions echo through the film: How does a culture’s idea of marriage shape who gets to choose? Can “care” become a tool of control? What does resistance look like when it has to be quiet to survive? The Cast of The Farmer’s Bride Director-duo Tijani and Opukeme assembled these actors to make the movie a success: Gbubemi Ejeye (Funmi) is the film’s emotional centre; critics consistently praise her quiet interior performance and the way agency grows in small acts. Tobi Bakre (the nephew): A kinetic foil to tradition, his restlessness brings urgency to the forbidden romance. Femi Branch (Odun): A study in “patriarchy as protection,” tender on the surface, possessive in practice. Other Cast Members The ensemble includes Mercy Aigbe, Wumi Toriola, and Efe Irele. The FilmOne and IMDb listings corroborate the principal cast. The Vision: Co-Directors With a Clear Lens Adebayo Tijani and Jack’enneth Opukeme steer away from melodrama toward measured intensity. Their style is focused and straightforward; they use silence. The film employs close-up shots and utilises natural lighting. Instead of significant speeches, they let faces, pauses, and the environment tell the story. Interviews and press materials frame the film as a “values and choices” story. Producers and Key Departments The project comes through FilmOne Studios/Entertainment (production and distribution), with a craft package tuned to the period: Production design & costumes: the movie feels earthy and real, as there is brown soil, green fields, and simple homes, so the world looks lived-in. The film avoids flashy sets. It keeps things natural, so we focus on people, not decoration. Sound and music are gentle and traditional. Many scenes are quiet on purpose, allowing the emotions to breathe. At the business level, box-office trackers recorded a strong local run. Reports and trade coverage note that the film crossed the ₦100m milestone and tracked to ₦113.6m soon after opening, with some aggregators later placing cumulative earnings in the ₦150m+ range; one industry piece translated early grosses to ~$65k–69k in initial reporting windows. Figures vary by source, but they agree on above-par domestic performance for a period drama. The Big Themes 1. Love and duty The movie shows a marriage that is part love and part obligation. In many communities, family, money, age, and respect all affect marriage. That tension is central to both The Farmer’s Bride and the themes of love and tradition found in many African films. 2. Power as “care” Odun believes providing for Funmi gives him the right to decide everything. The film asks: when does protection become control? This aligns with today’s discussion about African culture and representation in movies. 3. Quiet female strength Funmi does not fight loudly. She takes small, risky steps; small “no’s” that grow into change. This fits the spirit of African feminist movies, where a woman’s slow, steady choices can still be powerful. Final Thoughts: African Feminist Movies In the end, The Farmer’s Bride movie stands out not because it is loud, but because it examines how people use tradition to nurture and control, and how a woman might push back without breaking the world she still has to live in. If you’re looking for a film that explores African cinema themes with honesty and heart, this is a strong choice. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about The Farmer’s Bride 1: What is The Farmer’s Bride about? A young woman in 1980s Ibadan marries an older farmer. She feels trapped, falls for his nephew, and their choices shake the family and community. 2: When was The Farmer’s Bride released? It opened in Nigeria on September 27, 2024. It later appeared on Netflix in some regions 3: Who directed The Farmer’s Bride? Adebayo Tijani and Jack’enneth Opukeme wrote the screenplay.