The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, on Monday evening received acclaimed Nollywood actor and filmmaker Lateef Adedimeji, alongside members of his production crew, at the historic Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The visit, which came as part of preparations for a major historical film project on the Ekiti-Parapo War, popularly known as the Kiriji War, underscored growing efforts within the Nigerian creative industry to reclaim and reframe Yoruba historical narratives through cinema.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the engagement formed part of Adedimeji’s consultation with the revered monarch to seek royal blessings and institutional support for the forthcoming production. The film is expected to spotlight one of the most significant military and socio-political conflicts in Yoruba history, which shaped power dynamics in the 19th-century Yoruba world.
During the visit, Adedimeji emphasized the responsibility of African filmmakers to preserve indigenous history and cultural values through authentic storytelling. He noted that the continent’s vast historical archives remain underrepresented in global cinema and called for stronger commitment to original African narratives that reflect identity, heritage, and civilization.
He further stressed the need for Africa to develop its own global storytelling platforms, stating that sustained investment in quality content could position the continent alongside major international film ecosystems.
In response, the Ooni of Ife commended the actor’s vision and reaffirmed the importance of cultural preservation through creative expression. The monarch noted that Yoruba history contains “thousands of untold stories” spanning governance, spirituality, innovation, and societal development, all of which remain vital to global historical understanding.
He urged filmmakers and cultural practitioners to remain intentional in documenting and promoting Yoruba heritage, describing film, literature, and the arts as powerful tools for safeguarding identity and educating future generations.
The Ooni also extended royal blessings to Adedimeji and his team, expressing confidence that the Kiriji War film project would contribute significantly to the global projection of Yoruba history and cultural pride. He further offered prayers for the actor and his wife, actress Adebimpe Oyebade, on the arrival of their newborn triplets, describing it as a divine blessing.
The palace visit reflects a broader cultural renaissance in which traditional institutions and modern creatives are increasingly collaborating to reposition Yoruba history on the global stage through film and storytelling.
