A few days ago, I watched Christmas in Lagos by Jade Osiberu, and I couldn’t help but reflect on these three powerful moments that stood out to me:
Ajani’s Insight
Ajani, (Ladipo Eso, Ladipoe), is the quintessential Lagos hustler – guitar boy by night, delivery guy by day. When he met Ivie (Rayxia Ojo), a writer struggling with self-doubt, he asked her:
"Do you want to break your own heart before the world has a chance to?"
This line hit hard. It’s a reminder to stop self-sabotaging. The world already comes with its share of challenges; why add to them by being overly critical, doubtful, or unwilling to give ourselves a fair shot?
Fiyin’s Grandmother’s Wisdom
When Ivie complained to Fiyin (Teniola Aladese @theteniola) about her mom’s skepticism regarding her writing career, Fiyin shared something her grandmother always said:
"May we not let what we will eat stop us from becoming who we will be"
This profound statement is a call to resist letting immediate needs or short-term comforts derail long-term dreams or purpose. It reminds us to prioritize our vision and personal growth over momentary satisfaction.
Gbemi’s Realization
In a conversation with Zach (Richard Mofe-Damijo) her ex, who’s been divorced 3 times, and who once broke her heart), Gbemi (Shaffy Bello) expressed a poignant truth:
"The need to stop rehashing a relationship that could have been but never was. The idea of it is actually much better than the reality it could ever be"
This is a reminder to let go of the past – whether it’s relationships, missed opportunities, or unfulfilled dreams. Holding on to an illusion of “what could have been” can keep us stuck. Accepting reality and moving forward allows us to find true happiness and freedom.
I enjoyed the tracks from Adekunle Gold, Ayra Starr, Waje, and Esua’s (@esuamusic) soulful rendition of D’banj’s classic Fall in Love, beautifully produced by Cobhams Asuquo. The display of affluence, culture, food, and the enchanting Lagos Christmas scenery – especially the magical Ajose Adeogun – were beautiful additions. The choice of characters brought a unique charm and definitely added cheer to the festive season. That said, I would have loved to see a bit more intrigue and unexpected twists in the Christmas in Lagos storyline to make it even more captivating.
As an aside, watching Adekunle Gold’s stage performance in the movie brought back memories of King Sunny Ade’s (KSA) performances. Now, I’m not saying they’re on the same level (yet!), but it feels like Adekunle Gold’s trajectory might mirror the kind of cultural and emotional impact KSA had on us while growing up.
Have you seen Christmas in Lagos? What moments stood out to you?
