Femi Adebayo leads epic retelling of forgotten war as “King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos” premieres

Teqsus Studios today announced that King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos, a sweeping Yoruba-language historical epic directed by acclaimed filmmaker Adebayo Tijani, will hold its grand premiere on Saturday, August 23, 2026 at IMAX Lekki, Lagos, ahead of a nationwide theatrical release on Friday, August 28 through FilmOne Distribution.

Starring Femi Adebayo as the fierce and strategic Oba Kosoko, the film chronicles one of the most consequential yet least-told chapters in Nigerian history: the reign of the 12th Oba of Lagos and his resistance to British imperial power, culminating in the 1851 bombardment of Lagos — remembered in Yoruba history as the “Salt Water War” (Ogun Olomiro).

Set between 1833 and 1852, the film blends political intrigue, familial betrayal, and large-scale battle sequences as Kosoko rises to the throne amid bitter succession disputes, clashes with his rival Oba Akintoye, and confronts the mounting threat of the British Consul and Royal Navy — a struggle that would reshape Lagos’s destiny and set the stage for Britain’s annexation of the city in 1861.

“Nigerians know Jagun Jagun, they know King of Thieves — but this story is different, because every frame of it really happened,” said director Adebayo Tijani, ranked among Nollywood’s highest-earning directors. “Kosoko was a king who looked at the might of the British Empire and refused to bow. That is a story Lagos deserves to see on the biggest screen possible.”

The production carries a remarkable personal dimension: producer Segun Olojo-Kosoko is a Lagos prince and 7th-generation direct descendant of King Kosoko. “This is my family’s history — the story I was raised on,” said Olojo-Kosoko. 

“For 175 years the world has told the story of Lagos from the outside. This time, the king’s own bloodline is telling it.”

“Playing Oba Kosoko is the honour of my career,” said lead actor Femi Adebayo. 

“He was a warrior, a strategist, and a man betrayed by those closest to him. Audiences who love the Yoruba epic genre have never seen it at this scale.”

Speaking about the inspiration behind the film, Producer Ayo Ajayi said, “Lagos did not begin with skyscrapers, bridges and traffic. Before the modern city, there was a kingdom, and there were powerful men and women whose decisions helped shape its destiny. With King Kòsókó, we are bringing one of those extraordinary stories to the big screen — not as a history lesson, but as an epic, emotional and entertaining Nigerian story that deserves to be seen by the world.”

The film features an ensemble cast of over 70, including Odunlade Adekola, Jide Kosoko, Fathia Williams, Gabriel Afolayan, Femi Branch, Aisha Lawal, Kola Ajeyemi, Tina Ubaand Sola Kosoko. It was shot on location in Epe and Ijebu using ARRI Alexa Mini LF cameras, with sound mastered for Dolby Atmos and a final 4K HDR finish. The film is produced by Ayo Ajayi and Segun Olojo-Kosoko for Teqsus Studios.

King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos opens in cinemas nationwide on August 28, 2026. It is presented in Yoruba with English subtitles.

PREMIERE DETAILS

• Grand Premiere: Saturday, August 23, 2026 — IMAX Lekki, Lagos (red carpet from 6PM)

• Nationwide Release: Friday, August 28, 2026 — all major cinemas via FilmOne

• Trailer: https://youtu.be/t-5EsFiUkr8?si=Sj1kqoafF95xsiY9