''Isoken'' is a 2017 romantic comedy film written and directed by Jadesola Osiberu (in her directorial debut). The film stars Dakore Akande, Joseph Benjamin, and

Marc Rhys Marc Rhys (born ''Marc Alun Williams''; September 8, 1988 in Bridgend, South Wales), is a professional actor and one of the recipients of the 2016 Ian Charleston Award. The youngest son of teachers Nevin and Jean Williams. Trained as an actor in ...

. The film was produced by Tribe85 productions and distributed by Silverbird Distributions in Nigeria and Evrit film in the UK. It premiered in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2017 at the West End's Cineworld in London and then in Nigeria on 16 June 2017 at the Landmark event center, Victoria Island, Lagos. The movie is one of the creative industry projects under the NollyFund loan scheme supported by the Bank of Industry.

Plot summary

Everyone in the Osayande family worries about Isoken. Although she has what appears to have a perfect life – beautiful, successful and surrounded by great family and friends – Isoken is still unmarried at 34 which, in a culture obsessed with marriage, is serious cause for concern. Things come to a head at her youngest sister's wedding when her overbearing mother thrusts her into an orchestrated matchmaking with the ultimate Edo man, Osaze. Osaze is handsome, successful and from a good family, making him perfect Nigerian husband material. But in an unexpected turn of events, Isoken meets Kevin who she finds herself falling in love with and he just might be what she truly wants in a partner. The only problem is, not only is he not an Edo man, he is

Oyinbo Oyinbo is a Yoruba word used to refer to early Caucasians. In the early 1470s, the first Portuguese berth in Eko, a Yorubaland, presently called Lagos. The word was first used by the Yoruba to describe the Portuguese they saw and later extend to ...

( white). Isoken is a romantic comedy that explores cultural expectations, racial stereotypes and the bonds that unite families in touching, dramatic and comedic ways.

Cast

* Dakore Akande as Isoken * Joseph Benjamin as Osaze *

as Kevin * Funke Akindele as Agnes * Lydia Forson as Kukua *

Damilola Adegbite Damilola Adegbite (born Oluwadamilola Adegbite; 18 May 1985) is Nigerian actress, Model, and Television personality. She played Thelema Duke in the soap opera ''Tinsel'', and Kemi Williams in the movie '' Flower Girl''. She won Best Actress in a T ...

as Joke *

Tina Mba Tina Mba is a Nigerian actress who was nominated for Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards. Career In 2017, she starred in '' Isoken'', ''Bariga Suger'', '' Okafor's Law'' amo ...

as mama Isoken * Patrick Doyle as Papa Isoken *

Nedu Wazobia Nedu Wazobia (born Chinedu Ani Emmanuel) is a Nigerian on-air personality, broadcast journalist, TV presenter, actor, comedian and content creator. He is known for his pidgin rendition of the daily news on popular radio station Wazobia FM 94.1 ...

as Chuks * Jemima Osunde * Bolanle Olukanni as Rume *Rita Edwards as Aunty *

Omasan Buwa Omasan Tokunbo Maxine Buwa (born October 27, 1965) is a Nigerian social worker and media commentator who rose to prominence as Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria winner in 1987. Throughout her career, she has worked as a model, television presenter, ...

as Aunty *

Efa Iwara Efa Iwara, also known as Efa, is a Nigerian actor and rapper. Early life and education Iwara was born on 20 August 1990 in Ibadan, Oyo State to his Professor of Linguistics father and Librarian mother. He hails from Ugep in Cross River Sta ...

Critical reception

The movie was met with a lot of positive reviews. Although Nollywood Reinvented rated the movie 64%, they also state that if there's any one word befitting of describing this movie it would be "beautiful" Isoken went on to gather several nominations and awards, winning the 2018 AMVCA Best Film West African and for best Best Director, Best Foreign Film at BronzeLens Film Festival 2018 in Atlanta and Prix du Public at Nollywood Week Paris also in 2018. Isoken established Jadesola as not just a film Director, but an award-winning director.

Awards

References

External links