Koleoso, directed and produced by Ibrahim Yekini (popularly known as Itele), is a Yoruba-language film that tells a story about family, power, and tradition.
At the center of the story is Osogbemi, a father who is feared for his strict and commanding ways.
Unlike ordinary parents, Osogbemi raises his three children Koleoso, Oshobola, and Efun, through the use of mystical powers connected to Yoruba deities, especially Sango, the god of thunder.
From childhood, he teaches them how to use these powers to control people and situations. His main goal is to make them strong and untouchable, but this plan later creates tension, rivalry, and painful lessons for the family.
The film begins by introducing Osogbemi as a man obsessed with strength and dominance. He believes that the only way his children can survive in a harsh world is by mastering spiritual powers that others fear.
This upbringing shapes the children in different ways. Koleoso, the first son, becomes the face of his father’s legacy, carrying both the courage and the pride that come from power.
Oshobola, his sister, responds to the training in her own way, while Efun, the youngest, struggles to balance his father’s teachings with his own understanding of life.
This difference in character creates cracks within the family, even before outsiders come into the picture.
As the children grow older, the story takes on a deeper conflict. Instead of using their gifts for protection or community service, the siblings start using them to gain influence, respect, and control.
In their quest for power, they soon come up against Jaweshoro, a strong rival who is just as determined to dominate.
The clash between the Koleoso family and Jaweshoro sets the stage for battles that test their loyalty to one another and their ability to handle the powers they inherited.
What makes Koleoso stand out is the way it mixes family drama with Yoruba culture. The film is rich with scenes of traditional worship, chants, rituals, and community life.
These spiritual elements are not just for show they explain how power is understood in the Yoruba worldview and how it can either build or destroy a person. The village setting also makes the story feel authentic.
You see the values of communal living, respect for tradition, and the fear of mystical forces that shape people’s decisions. At the same time, the issues raised ambition, greed, loyalty, and betrayal are problems that still affect society today.
The movie follows a clear flow. In the introduction, we see the father’s teachings and the children’s early training. The rising action comes when the siblings, now adults, begin to use their powers in society.
This leads to the climax, where their decisions cause major confrontations with enemies and even among themselves.
The falling action shows the damage their choices have created relationships broken, lives at risk, and powers turning against their owners.
The resolution is not a happy ending but rather a reflection on what has been lost in the process. The audience is left to think about whether the search for power is ever worth the cost.
Several themes run through the film. One is the danger of ambition, especially when it is pursued without balance or wisdom.
Another is family loyalty how far should a child obey a parent’s command, and what happens when siblings are forced to choose between blood ties and personal survival? There is also the theme of tradition versus modern life.
While the story is set in a village, it raises questions that apply even in today’s world: do we hold on to practices handed down from the past, or do we find new ways to live? Finally, there is the spiritual question of morality. Power itself is not evil, but using it without care can bring destruction.
The characters are carefully shaped to carry these themes. Osogbemi is the root of the story. His obsession with control makes him both respected and feared.
Koleoso, the main character, shows the result of that upbringing: he is strong, but his strength is also his weakness. Oshobola and Efun represent different paths children can take under the same parent one trying to live up to expectations, the other struggling with doubt.
Jaweshoro, as the rival, represents the outside world that will always challenge any family that tries to rule alone.
The strength of Koleoso lies in the conflict. The arguments between father and children, the tension among siblings, and the battles with outsiders all keep the story alive. These conflicts are not only physical but also emotional.
They show how power can pull people apart, even those who share the same blood. As the story unfolds, the audience gets to see how the characters change. Some grow stronger, some weaker, but all of them pay a price for the choices they make.
In the end, Koleoso is not just a film about witchcraft or Yoruba deities. It is a story about human nature. It asks: what happens when the hunger for power is greater than the need for peace? What do parents pass on to their children strength, or a burden? And when power destroys relationships, can anything truly be gained?
