Four rich, good-looking bachelors in Abuja spend their days at parties and their nights charming women. But behind the glamour, they run a secret operation: taking money from corrupt politicians and businessmen and using it for good causes. That is the premise of Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons, a 2018 Nollywood action comedy. With a cast led by Ramsey Nouah, AY Makun, Jim Iyke and Falz, the film was built for the cinema crowd, and it became one of the most successful Nigerian films of its year.
The premise and the cast
The film borrows from the Robin Hood legend, reimagining it among Abuja’s elite. Ramsey Nouah, AY Makun, Jim Iyke and Falz play the four bachelors, each with a distinct personality. Several well-known actresses played the women drawn into the men’s schemes, adding romance and rivalry to the plot. The film was directed by Toka McBaror.
AY Makun, a comedian and producer, was a driving force behind the project. Merry Men was released in Nigerian cinemas in 2018. It performed strongly at the box office and was among the highest-grossing Nigerian films of the year.
Reviews, the sequel and Abuja
Critics were divided. Some enjoyed the glamour and humour. Others found the story thin. Merry Men 2 followed in 2019, bringing back the main cast. The films later reached new audiences on streaming platforms. The film brought together actors from different generations of Nollywood and music. Merry Men showed Abuja’s luxury homes, cars and hotels, a contrast to the Lagos settings of many films.
Its mix of action, comedy and romance appealed to a wide audience looking for entertainment.
AY Makun and Ramsey Nouah
AY Makun is best known as a stand-up comedian, but he had already produced the hit 30 Days in Atlanta and its follow-ups before Merry Men. He built a reputation for big casts, comedy and glossy settings designed for the holiday cinema season. Ramsey Nouah, a romantic lead since the 1990s, brought star power and drew older fans to the cinema alongside younger viewers who came for Falz.
The bachelors in Merry Men steal from corrupt politicians. The film was set in Abuja, where many of the real ones live.
