She runs a criminal empire, funds politicians and smiles at state dinners. Alhaja Eniola Salami, the central character of King of Boys, is one of the most memorable figures in modern Nigerian cinema. Kemi Adetiba’s 2018 film made Sola Sobowale, already a veteran actress, a new kind of star.
The story
Eniola Salami is a businesswoman and philanthropist in Lagos who also controls an underworld network. When she seeks political office, her rivals and allies turn against her. The film follows her fight to hold on to power, with betrayal, violence and family tragedy along the way.
Kemi Adetiba
Kemi Adetiba began her career as a music video director and television presenter before moving into film. Her first feature, The Wedding Party, released in 2016, was a huge box office hit in Nigeria. King of Boys was a sharp change of genre: a long, dark political thriller.
Sola Sobowale
Sola Sobowale had been a familiar face in Nigerian television and Yoruba films for decades, known for roles such as Toyin Tomato in the classic series Super Story. As Eniola Salami, she gave a commanding performance that critics and audiences praised.
Politics and crime
The film explores the links between politics, money and crime in Lagos. Its portrayal of “godfathers” and political patronage struck a chord with Nigerian viewers who recognised the patterns from real life.
Box office
The film performed strongly in Nigerian cinemas and later found a wider audience on streaming. Its length, close to three hours in its original version, was unusual for a Nollywood release.
The Return of the King
In 2021, Netflix released King of Boys: The Return of the King, a seven-episode series continuing Eniola Salami’s story. It reached the platform’s charts in several countries.
Influence
King of Boys showed that Nigerian audiences would embrace serious, complex genre films. It inspired more crime and political dramas in Nollywood.
The Wedding Party
Adetiba’s earlier hit, The Wedding Party, released in 2016, became one of the highest-grossing Nollywood films of its time. It was a romantic comedy about a lavish Lagos wedding, full of family drama and humour. The contrast between that film and the darkness of King of Boys showed her range as a director. Few Nigerian filmmakers have moved so successfully between genres.
The cast
Alongside Sobowale, the film featured Adesua Etomi, Reminisce, Toni Tones and others, mixing established actors with musicians and newcomers.
Many films about power cast men as the kings. Kemi Adetiba gave the crown to a woman in her fifties and made her the most frightening person in Lagos.
