Bolanle Ninalowo shines in IREKE with spiritual warrior role, diving deep into Yoruba mythology and ancestral power in this historical fantasy epic

anle Ninalowo shines in IREKE, a powerful historical fantasy that premieres on 25 July in London, Lagos, and Abeokuta.

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The actor delivers one of his most intense performances yet, portraying a warrior slave haunted by spirits and driven by rebellion.

In a moving interview, Ninalowo said, “He’s a man caught between anger and submission, haunted by spirits and oppressed by kings. He fights with fire in his soul and pain in his past.”

Bolanle Ninalowo shines in IREKE not just in battle scenes but in delivering a raw emotional portrayal rooted in Yoruba tradition.

The film, directed by Gbolahan Peter Macjob, explores themes of love, oppression, and spiritual awakening.

“It was intense. Spiritual. Necessary,” Ninalowo explained. “My character gave me the chance to dig deep into ancestral memory and channel raw emotion.”

The cast and crew created an atmosphere that Ninalowo described as sacred. He said, “There were days we cried after scenes because the energy was so heavy and so real.”

My character gave me the chance to dig deep into ancestral memory and channel raw emotion.

To prepare for the role, Ninalowo trained rigorously for combat scenes and adopted a meditative process to fully immerse himself in the character.

“I stayed silent for hours on set to stay in character. It was a journey,” he revealed.

IREKE follows a defiant slave whose memories and rebellion are triggered by a sacred herb. The narrative weaves spiritual depth, romance, and political drama into a tale that aims to redefine African epic cinema.

“Freedom isn’t just physical, it’s spiritual. Love can heal, but it can also haunt. And our history, no matter how painful, deserves to be told,” Ninalowo concluded.

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The film is executive-produced in the UK by Dr Clare Anyiam-Osigwe and Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe. With its international debut, IREKE positions itself as a global celebration of Yoruba mythology and African storytelling.