How Femi Adebayo’s King of Thieves Changed Nollywood’s Epic Storytelling

By   Oladosu Michael

The Nollywood movie industry has experienced great changes in its structure and creative processes. These significant changes are a result of the unrelenting efforts of filmmakers, directors, and actors. Their collaborations have influenced the Nollywood purview. One of these great changemakers who has put Nollywood, in fact, the African movie industry on the world map is Femi Adebayo, the son of the legendary Nollywood actor, Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello.

 His hard work and resilience in the movie industry changed the game. One of his epic movie projects, which wowed the world, is the award-winning ‘King of Thieves’ (Agẹṣinkólé). A project that left fellow creatives in the industry, stakeholders, and audiences marvelling.

Femi Adebayo, through his Euphoria360 Media in collaboration with Niyi Akinmolayan’s Anthill Studios, produced the acclaimed Yoruba epic ‘King of Thieves,’ which premiered on April 4, 2022. The movie was directed by his brother, Tope Adebayo, and eminent director, Adebayo Tijani. The film excelled not only in its story and plot, but also in its cinematic visuals and stunts, which gave it a professional edge.

King of Thieves arrived at a pivotal moment for Nollywood storytelling. Femi Adebayo used this film to pioneer a niche of legendary and mythical epic action, set in a pre-colonial era of kings and warriors. Through his work, he redefined the industry’s approach to depicting power struggles, war, chaos, and societal issues, as seen in the character, Agẹṣinkólé, who terrorizes the people of Ajeromi. Femi Adebayo’s portrayal not only explores abuses of power but also connects with the foundational elements of African societies, establishing his defining impact on Nollywood’s direction.

Despite the consistent terror created by Agẹṣinkólé and his bandit warriors, the filmmaker introduced us to the background of what led to his act. The movie served as an awareness to the world about the consequences of societal ills that influence vengeance. After the movie left the Nollywood and African movie industry amazed, several creatives of Nigerian roots started shifting their attentions to making epic movies, which are a vivid influence of what Femi Adebayo did on King of Thieves. His influence was massive in such a way that many filmmakers have embarked on similar thematic techniques.

King of Thieves by Femi Adebayo didn’t just make waves in the film industry for a moment, it went deeper to bag prominent movie awards and nominations such as during the AMVCA 2023 nominations, it bagged eight nominations for various categories including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Art Director, Best Writer, Best Picture Editor, Best Makeup, Best Sound Track, and Best Overall Movie. This was a great achievement for the actor and filmmaker, Femi Adebayo.

The lasting success of ‘King of Thieves’ has driven Femi Adebayo to new artistic heights and inspired others within the industry. His work has influenced the production of subsequent films, with many creatives emulating his thematic and professional approach. Despite his established family background, Femi Adebayo’s achievements demonstrate that his personal vision and storytelling skills have been central to his impact, setting a benchmark for professionalism and artistry in Nollywood’s evolution.