Inside the Making of House of Ga’a: Cast, Production, and Location Highlights

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When you think of Nollywood, what comes to mind? For many, it’s urban dramas, comedies, and romance films that capture everyday Nigerian life. But in 2024, a new kind of story shook things up. House of Ga’a, directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters, premiered on Netflix and instantly sparked conversations. This was not just another movie, but a unique blend of historical Nollywood, political drama, and Shakespearean tragedy.

Set in the 18th-century Oyo Empire, the film digs deep into power struggles, betrayal, and ambition, all of which are elements that feel just as relevant today as they did centuries ago. Within days of its release, House of Ga’a landed in Netflix’s global Top 10 for non-English films, signalling that audiences worldwide were hungry for Nollywood stories told on this grand scale.

Beyond the screen, every detail aimed to transport viewers to a turbulent period of Yoruba history. Let’s look at the casts, highlights, and behind the scenes. 

 

The Premise

House of Ga’a tells the story of one man’s dangerous obsession with power. Bashorun Ga’a is his name, and this role was played masterfully by Femi Branch as a kingmaker in the Oyo Empire. But his role as a behind-the-scenes power broker isn’t enough; his ambition pushes him to overshadow and even control the kings he once served.

Mike Afolarin, as his son Oyemekun, narrates the story, adding a personal and emotional dimension to the political chaos. We see Ga’a not just as a ruthless strategist but also as a father, mentor and flawed man.

The themes are:

• How far will someone go in pursuit of power?
• Can loyalty survive in the face of betrayal?
• Does ambition ultimately destroy those who cannot control it?

Critics have compared the story’s structure to Shakespearean tragedies like Macbeth or King Lear. Watching Ga’a manipulate, betray, and ultimately face the consequences of his ambition feels like watching a Nigerian classic written with the weight of global drama.

 

The Cast of House of Ga’a

One of the first things audiences noticed was the star-studded cast. Bolanle Austen-Peters didn’t hold back in assembling some of Nollywood’s most respected names, along with rising stars. The casts are: 

• Femi Branch as Bashorun Ga’a: As the titular character, Femi Branch carries the movie with charisma and menace.
• Mike Afolarin as Oyemekun, Ga’as’s son: Audiences familiar with Mike from Far From Home already knew he had range. His youthful energy balances the older cast, giving younger audiences a character to connect with.
• Funke Akindele: Known for her versatility (Jenifa’s Diary, Battle on Buka Street), Akindele delivers a nuanced performance. In House of Ga’a, she steps away from comedy to embody a decisive, dramatic role that grounds the film emotionally.
• Toyin Abraham: As Edan Asiko, Toyin shows her mastery of historical drama.
• Lateef Adedimeji: Cast as Olubu (sometimes referred to as Lubu)

Other Cast Members

The film also features a long list of Nollywood heavyweights, including:

• Bimbo Manuel

• Stan Nze

• Gabriel Afolayan

• Femi Adebayo

• Ali Nuhu

• Ibrahim Chatta

This ensemble ensured that House of Ga’a felt like an actual cultural event rather than just another release. Each actor brought something unique, and together, they built the world of the Oyo Empire in a way that felt both grand and believable.

 

Bolanle Austen-Peters: The Visionary Director

If you know Nigerian theatre and film, the name Bolanle Austen-Peters rings loudly. She is the founder of Terra Kulture and BAP Productions, both of which have set benchmarks for storytelling in Nigeria. Austen-Peters has a reputation for delivering productions that balance artistic depth with commercial appeal, and House of Ga’a might be her boldest project yet.

She described the film as an effort to “recreate the grandeur of Yoruba history while telling a story that feels relevant to today’s world.” That goal is evident in every detail: the sprawling sets, the traditional costumes, and the scale of the ensemble cast.

READ MORE:

• Femi Adebayo’s Yoruba Film Journey: From Comedy Roles to Epic Leads
• Acting in the Service of Country: Ibrahim Chatta’s Role Choices Explained
• Ali Nuhu’s Top 5 Kannywood Films and How They Were Made

 

The Writer: Tunde Babalola

The screenplay was penned by Tunde Babalola, a respected screenwriter known for weaving culturally rooted stories with universal appeal. His ability to adapt historical themes into compelling drama gave the movie its Shakespearean quality, which was grand, tragic, and unforgettable.

 

Producers and Crew

Bolanle Austen-Peters and Joseph Umoibom co-produced the film.

The cinematography leaned heavily on sweeping visuals that captured the power of the Oyo Empire.

Costume and set design teams worked tirelessly to create a believable 18th-century Yoruba world, even though some critics later noted that a few details strayed from historical accuracy.

 

Filming Locations: Why Epe Became Oyo

One of the movie’s strongest assets is its authentic setting. Rather than relying on computer-generated backdrops, Austen-Peters and her team filmed much of House of Ga’a at the BAP Productions Film Village in Epe, Lagos State.

 

Why Epe and not Oyo state?

• The Film Village sits on more than 10,000 acres of land, filled with hills, rivers, and rural landscapes perfect for historical dramas.
• Its open spaces allowed the crew to build entire replica villages and palaces without the interruptions of city life.
• The terrain naturally resembled the expansive lands of the Oyo Empire, making it easier to immerse the audience in the story.

 

Final Thoughts: Historic Nollywood Movies

In the end, House of Ga’a will be remembered as a modern Nollywood classic not because it was flawless, but because it dared to be different. It dared to tell a Yoruba story on an epic scale, to assemble some of the best talent in Nollywood, and to put Nigerian history on Netflix for the world to see.

For that, it earns its place in the conversation of Nollywood’s most essential films of the decade. And perhaps more importantly, it opens the door for more epics, more history, and more ambitious filmmaking in Africa’s most significant movie industry.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about House of Ga’a

1: What is House of Ga’a about?

House of Ga’a tells the story of Bashorun Ga’a, a powerful kingmaker in the Oyo Empire who becomes obsessed with controlling the kings he once served.

2: When was House of Ga’a released?

The movie premiered on Netflix on July 26, 2024, making it accessible to global audiences from the first day.

3: Who directed House of Ga’a?

The film was directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters, one of Nigeria’s leading theatre and film directors, known for pushing Nollywood into new territories with large-scale productions.

4: Who are the prominent cast members?

Femi Branch as Bashorun Ga’a

Mike Afolarin as Oyemekun

Funke Akindele

Toyin Abraham as Edan Asiko

Lateef Adedimeji as Olubu