After a three-year wait, Tunde Kelani’s highly anticipated film, “Cordelia,” is set to premiere in cinemas nationwide on July 18, 2025. The renowned filmmaker, also known as TK, announced the release at a press conference on July 7, expressing his excitement for audiences to finally experience the powerful story.
“After three years of hard work, resilience, and faith, ‘Cordelia’ is finally ready for cinema audiences,” stated Kelani. “This is not just the release of a film—it is the celebration of a journey. A journey that began with a powerful story on the page and comes alive on nationwide cinema distribution by FilmOne from July 18, 2025.”
Adapted from Femi Osofisan’s novella of the same title, “Cordelia” was brought to the screen by screenwriter Bunmi Ajiboye and directed and produced by Kelani. Tayo Oladimeji and Kunle Adebiyi are the executive producers.
Kelani described “Cordelia” as a film about “silence, about the unspoken damage of power, and the quiet suffering of those who live in the shadows of history. It is a political story, yes — but it is also deeply personal. It holds a mirror to the fractures in our society and the fragility within the family when truth is suppressed.”
The film features a stellar cast of Nigerian actors, including Omowunmi Dada as Cordelia, William Benson as Adekunle, Yvonne Jegede as Remi, Keppy Ekpeyong as Colonel Nwanze, and Kelechi Udegbe as Major Kawale. The crew includes Adekunle Adejuyigbe (Director of Photography), and Bola Belo (Head of Production).
Set in the early 90s during Nigeria’s military rule, “Cordelia” is a period drama centred on Professor Adekunle Benson, a disillusioned university professor. Amidst a violent campus uprising and a deceptive military coup, Adekunle shelters Cordelia Nwanze-Peters, a wounded student who is unknowingly the daughter of a wrongly accused coup leader. As dangers escalate, personal and national truths unravel, forcing Adekunle to confront his conscience and choose between safety and justice.
The film’s synopsis details how Cordelia, daughter of Colonel Nwanze-Peters (believed to have led the coup), is attacked by students. She finds refuge with Adekunle, unaware that the real coup was orchestrated by Major Kawale, who used Cordelia’s father as a puppet. The climax sees Cordelia bravely facing her persecutor, leading to the restoration of justice.
Kelani emphasised the film’s foundation in African literature, stating, “At the heart of ‘Cordelia’ is a literary work by one of our greatest writers, Professor Femi Osofisan. His novel provided the foundation—a layered, compelling narrative that we were honoured to adapt for cinema. This is a reminder of the critical bond between African literature and African film.”
He highlighted the importance of adapting written stories to film: “When we adapt them to film, we are not just entertaining — we are preserving, interpreting, and passing on culture. This is what makes our cinema deeply authentic, and what sets African storytelling apart.”
The film’s musical score is another unique aspect. Composed by Michael Ogunlade, the score was further developed through a “Cultural Fusion” project with the Music Department of the University of Delaware in the USA, under Professor Anderson’s leadership. Kelani sees this collaboration as a testament to “Cordelia”’s core message: “a creative dialogue, a meeting point between African stories and global craftsmanship.”
For Kelani, who has a long list of acclaimed films including Saworoide, Thunderbolt, and Maami, “Cordelia” signifies “not the end, but a new beginning—marking the start of a fresh chapter filled with entertaining, thought-provoking, and culturally grounded films that will continue to complement my decades-long journey in African cinema.”
