In this part of the world, the choice of words people use tends to change from time to time. Some say we are in the ‘Soro Soke’ generation where people these days get so comfortable using slangs such as ‘’This life no balance’’ (life isn’t always a bed of roses) but in the actual sense of it, life itself isn’t balanced regardless of how you choose to look at it.
This unbalanced way of life holds sway in the lives of practitioners in the Nigerian movie industry popularly known as Nollywood.
Looking back to 10 years ago in Nollywood, the name Toyin Aimakhu (her maiden name) rang a bell but only in a subset of the filmmaking industry in Nigeria but fast forward to this present day, natural evolution has taken place. At that time, she featured in predominantly Yoruba movies but as of this moment, things have taken a right turn for her.
For Toyin, life has been unbalanced as she has moved from being a Yoruba acting sensation to an actor that determines the cinema earnings of any Nollywood flick. These days people choose to go to the cinema just because she appeared in the movie poster or banner. This was evident in blockbuster movies such as Elevator Baby, a 2019 Nigerian drama thriller produced by Niyi Akinmolayan featuring Toyin Abraham, Timini Egbuson, and a host of others. The movie was rated among the highest-grossing Nigerian movies of that year.
Toyin also took part in Bling Lagosians alongside Monalisa Chinda, Bisola Aiyeola, Osas Ighodaro, Sharon Ooja, Alex Ekubo, and others, the movie was also produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters who by the way needs no introduction.
This piece won’t be complete without mentioning Fate of Alakada, a 2020 Nigerian action-comedy which attracted the likes of Big Brother Naija winner Mercy Eke, Samuel Perry also known as Broda Shaggi, and others.
Toyin Abraham didn’t stop there, she released the Ghost and The Tout and Ghost and The Tout Too. The Ghost and The Tout made over N77m at the cinema and it featured stars such as Femi Adebayo, Omowunmi Dada, Chioma Omeruah, Dele Odule, Lasisi Elenu, Ronke Ojo, and others.
In 2021, Toyin released The Ghost and The Tout too featuring Superstars such as Ini Edo, Mercy Johnson, Odunlade Adekola, Deyemi Okanlawon, Lateef Adedimeji, Destiny Etiko, Ruggedman, Ali Nuhu, and other amazing acts.
Ordinarily, one would have expected Toyin Abraham to stop there and take a breather but she did the opposite by upping the ante in the box office hit The Prophetess. The Prophetess is a 2021 Nigerian Sports Comedy movie directed by Niyi Akinmolayan. The film stars Toyin Abraham, Uzor Arukwe, Stan Nze ad Tina Mba as headline acts. Prophetess would be the second collaboration between Toyin Abraham and Ace Director Niyi Akinmolayan since the movie’ Elevator Baby’. Prophetess went on to rake in over N131m at the cinema.
2022 is here already and Toyin Abraham is already making headlines again as she was recently ranked among the top 100 women in Lagos State.
