Ramsey Nouah makes bold directing in Tòkunbó 

If you’re a lover of Nollywood films, you will not be a stranger to the name ‘Ramsey Nouah’. With decades of memorable characters under his belt, Nouah has garnered numerous accolades and fans.

This acclaimed actor has decided not once, but thrice, to go behind the scenes to create magic and leave the stage for other actors, with his latest film Tòkunbọ̀, as his attempt at a directorial hat-trick.

What makes Tòkunbọ̀ distinct from his previous films is that it is not a remake of a Nollywood classic. In 2019, Nouah made his directorial debut with Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, a remake of the 1992 classic Living in Bondage.

After the film’s release, the positive reviews rushed in and then came awards and nominations.

Nouah was not through, so, in 2020, he did it yet again with Rattlesnake: The Ahanna story, a remake of the 1995 Nigerian classic action thriller Rattlesnake. Like the previous film, this one garnered many awards and nominations including an African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) for best actor for the lead, Stan Nze. To date, it is regarded as one of the best Nigerian films of 2020.

This time, however, Nouah is veering away from the classics that earned him a reputation as a stellar director and telling an original story created by Story Story Hub.

Released on global streaming service, Netflix on August 23, Tòkunbọ̀ tells the story of an ex-car smuggler who is given three hours to deliver a government official’s daughter to her captor or else his family will suffer the consequences.

Nouah is also working with a stellar cast led by Gideon Okeke, who plays the titular protagonist. Other prolific actors including Chidi Mokeme, Funlola Aofiyebi – Raimi, Nobert Young, Majid Michel, Adunni Ade, Ivie Okujaye, Tosin Adeyemi, Stanley ‘funnybone’ Chibunna, Darasimi Nadi and Aaron Sunday also star in the film.

The journey from acting to directing is not a typical path, but Nouah’s transition has clearly been marked by meticulous preparation, observation of other directors while on set and collaboration. Ultimately, Nouah’s journey from a renowned actor to a creative director is evidence of his adaptability and love for storytelling.