The Story⚡
The Iyaloja of Isale-Eko is dead. Her daughter wants the title. But the market women are about to learn that she is not who she says she is.
Tell Me More
Iyaloja centres on a young woman who gets caught up in the battle for the Iyaloja title after her mother dies. She appears sincere to the market women of Isale-Eko, but they soon discover her past is not as it seems.
When the position falls vacant, she steps forward to claim it. She is charming, she is persuasive, and to the market women around her, she appears to be the natural heir. But as the contest for succession unfolds, her past begins to unravel, and the community that seemed ready to embrace her must decide what to do with what they find.
In Isale-Eko, the original settlement that became Lagos Island, the Iyaloja oversees traders, resolves disputes among market women, and represents their interests to traditional rulers. The Yoruba term Ìyál’ọ́jà translates literally as “mother of the market.” While a Babalawoja (father of the market) may exist, the Iyalowoja usually holds greater influence. The position is installed by the reigning king or recognised authorities and remains one of the clearest examples of formal female leadership in Yoruba society.
Director Asurf Oluseyi brings the story to the screen. The production draws on a cast of established Nigerian actors familiar to audiences from both Yoruba-language films and broader Nollywood releases. Kehinde Bankole leads as the central figure whose arrival disrupts the market’s balance. She is joined by Iyabo Ojo, Faithia Williams, Jide Kene Achufusi, Tina Mba, Idowu Philips (known as Mama Rainbow), Ngozi Nwosu, Wale Ojo, Nimi Adekanmbi, Lina Idoko, Tunbosun Aiyedehin and others, including Tope Olowoniyan and Kiitan Bukola.
The project is produced by Joy Efe Odiete and Sozofilms, with Odiete also serving as a key figure at Blue Pictures Entertainment, the company handling distribution. ATEH is listed as executive producer.
Isale-Eko itself forms part of Lagos’s living history. Its markets have long served as economic and social centres where women traders exercise real authority through the Iyaloja structure. By placing a contemporary drama within this setting, the film draws directly from a system that continues to function in Oke-Arin, Balogun and other Island markets today.
In Summary
Iyaloja is coming to cinemas nationwide on May 29, 2026.
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