by Wilfred Okiche

Only films that were released within the calendar year (January to December 2016) on the big screen were considered eligible for this list.

10. Surul’ere
Director Mildred Okwo’s anticipated follow up to the terrific The Meeting was disappointing on some levels but even Okwo’s lesser efforts easily trump the bulk of what is out there in terms of engaging content. Seun Ajayi’s brilliant performance is the heart and soul of this tale that preaches the rewards of patience and adds a love story to boot. Rounding out the supporting cast are Lala Akindoju, Enyinna Nwigwe, Tope Tedela and Beverly Naya.

9. Ghana Must Go
The plot of Ghana Must Go does not make much sense at some spots but the ridiculousness is saved by extremely funny situational gags that leave audiences clutching their sides with laughter. Ghana Must Go succeeds in becoming the rare comedy that is actually really funny, making comic gold out of ugly history and leaving room to wonder sometimes just how far the cast is willing to go to elicit a laugh or two. Hint: They go far enough.

8. Oloibiri
Oloibiri isn’t a perfect film. Some of the writing needs an editor’s competent eye, the acting could have been better captured and extras could have used some more training. The ending is rushed and events fail to occur naturally as much as they are hustled along just for the sake of arriving at a logical conclusion. Oloibiri isn’t the definitive film that tells the Niger Delta story in a deeply effective and engaging manner, but it is a bloody decent start.

7. It’s her day
It’s Her Day looks and feels like a budget challenged effort. The production design is basic at best but the film works mostly because of the terrific cast. Bovi as the leading man carries the film with a certain level of confidence and charm. The laughs do not come fast and hard; maybe a chuckle here and there but the cast and crew, shepherded by Aniedi Anwah acquit themselves quite credibly. A bigger budget may have guaranteed a neater film but at the scale Bovi and crew are working on, they do okay.

6. The CEO
The CEO is a pretty picture. Beautifully shot and expertly rendered, the film is once again, less the expression of an inspired auteur, and more the product of Afolayan’s strategic collaborations with various masters of their craft, in departments like production design, cinematography and sound. Kunle Afolayan outdoes himself in terms of the scale and ambition of his vision but all the good in the world cannot quite cover up the film’s messy ending.