A documentary on Yoruba music is on the horizon. Titled The Odyssey, the project is directed by Abba T. Makama and co-produced by popstar Adekunle Gold. Author Bobo Omotayo gets an executive producer credit. Although, the team hasn’t said too much about the project, we do know that Burna Boy’s grandfather Benson Idonije will be onscreen at some point.
There are a few other things we know about the upcoming take on a century of traditional Yoruba music, from its indigenous roots to its impact on contemporary sounds, especially its link to Afrobeats.
Here are five things we know about The Odyssey so far.
1. The documentary will take a deep dive Into the roots of Afrobeats music
According to a recent interview with Rolling Stone, The Odyssey is a deep dive into the roots of Yoruba music—from sakara, apala, and fuji to juju and highlife—showcasing how these genres shaped contemporary Nigerian pop and the Afrobeats movement.
Executive producer Bobo Omotayo describes fuji as “the only existing indigenous Nigerian music that is still relevant today”, connecting the genre to modern Afrobeats. From King Sunny Adé’s pioneering highlife to Wizkid’s international dominance of Afrobeats and Asake’s modern fuji-infused hits, the documentary aims to make a case for Yoruba music’s lasting global impact.
2. Adekunle Gold is personally connected to the story
Adekunle Gold is personally connected to the story, having grown up immersed in Yoruba music, and listening to legends like Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Adé, as they helped shaped his artistic identity.
“I grew up on Yoruba music,” he told Rolling Stone. “I listened to a lot of highlife, fuji. I listened to King Sunny Adé a lot, Ebenezer Obey, all these people. I had no choice, I just had to listen, because my dad played them every time. Being a part of this helps me tell a story of the sound that formed everything that I am today.”
3. The Odyssey features Burna Boy’s grandfather and other important figures in Nigerian music
The documentary features iconic music legends, including Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, Seun Kuti, and music historian Benson Idonije (Burna Boy’s grandfather).
The filmmakers of the documentary have secured interviews with some of the most influential figures in Nigerian music history. Confirmed appearances include:
- Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey – The juju music legend, who reportedly has over 100 albums to his name, shares his journey and the stigmas he faced as a young performer.
- Seun Kuti – Son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, continuing the legacy of Afrobeat.
- General Ayinla Kollington – One of the most iconic fuji musicians, who recalls the golden era of the genre.
- Odion Iruoje – The legendary record producer who worked closely with Fela and played a crucial role in shaping the Afrobeats sound.
- Benson Idonije – Celebrated music historian and Burna Boy’s grandfather, who was once Fela’s manager.
4. Abba Makama might include non-traditional elements in the final film
The Odyssey might blend traditional filmmaking with experimental elements, mixing interviews with behind-the-scenes footage, animation, and mockumentary-style elements.
Director Abba T. Makama, known for avant-garde storytelling style in films like Green White Green and The Lost Okoroshi, says, “My format is, there is no format.”
5. The Odyssey will (likely) premiere in the last quarter of 2025
The Odyssey will get a spin on the festival circuit before release in 2025. “We’ve been filming for the last year,” Omotayo said. “We’re hoping to stop filming soon, because we have a ridiculous amount of footage we need to go through.”
In a conversation about a tentative release date, Makama told Film Efiko there’s no official release date at the moment. “Hopefully end of the year,” he said. “Last quarter.”
