Rebecca Akinsola

We often like to believe that every love story results in a happy ending, but the reverse is the case in Christmas in Lagos produced by Jade Osiberu. Undoubtedly, movies that infuse the intricacies of African culture, especially Nigerian festivity in its true colour and life, with love stories of both wins and losses are scarcely within reach. However, Christmas in Lagos combines the uniqueness of Christmas and New Year  celebrations, family reunion and bond, ups and downs of love and friendship with Lagos party life, and of course, a ‘detty December’. While there is nothing perfect, this movie will get a 10/10 or nothing for its storyline, amazing plot and colourful graphics.

Love, Hurt and Healing 

The movie particularly revolves around Fiyinfoluwa Odetunde (Teniola Aladese), the only child of a single mother; and Gbemisola Odetunde (Shaffy Bello), a thriving fashion enthusiast and fabrics dealer who succeeds her mum. It also includes the love story of two best friends, cousin and mother. Not only does Fiyin nurse the hurt of the abrupt end of a 5-year relationship with Nasir, but also seeks to make love go away again by choosing to settle down with her best friend and childhood friend. Elo just returns from London to celebrate Christmas in Lagos with his family and also proposes to Yagazie, his girlfriend. He is bent on making his intentions known to her on Christmas Day. Realizing that Elo, her best friend, is in a relationship, Fiyin vows to fight for her love and earn her best friend’s affection, who she believes is her perfect match.

The plot continues to unfold when it points out that Gbemisola is in a love triangle. Having lost her husband about 20 years ago, she gets into a relationship with Toyo; however, she refuses his marriage proposal because of the fear of settling down and being hurt again. On the other hand, Gbemisola stumbled on her ex, Zachariah, in Cross-River, whose proposals she rejected after her husband’s demise. Having reunited, Toyo and Zachariah had a subtle competition for Gbemi’s love. In every contest, there is always a winner. Thus, Gbemi chooses Toyo, having realized that Zacch only wants another achievement and not love. The duo have a happy ever-after love story as they tie the knot on Christmas Day.

Still on the jolly love affairs in the movie, Evie, Fiyin’s Londoner cousin, initially declares giving up on love but eventually likes Ajani and hangs out with him all through her stay in Lagos. Through their relationship, Evie believes in love and gain, and she revives her abandoned talent of writing poetry. Without leaving anyone behind in the love story, Lani, Gbemisola’s help, also finds love in Chisom, a delivery man.

While Christmas is tagged the season of love, it can also be a season of healing from hurts and enjoying life’s sweetness without dwelling in the pain and despair of the past. Christmas in Lagos highlights the need for the significance of family bonds. Likewise, it explores how every human is instrumental in helping other humans heal from their hurts. Elo’s family dreads celebrating Christmas since the death of his younger sister. His mother believes that it is unpardonable to forget the deceased through the celebration of Christmas. Elo, however, returns from London with the intention of bringing back the Christmas celebration to the house and helping the family move on. Unfortunately, the mother objects to it immediately when she sees the Christmas tree and breaks down in tears. 

To manage her grief, she goes to the church to see the Vigar and is encouraged to count it all joy even though it is difficult to do. With the advice and the support of the father, the family heals from their pain and embraces the Christmas celebration. Both Elo and Yagazie help each other to heal from the death of their loved ones and become even more united. The movie brings light to the grief of both parties and the process of Elo’s healing and Yagazie’s life after her parents’ death. This helps to strengthen the cord of relationship and address forbidden discussion so that the joy of Christmas can be truly felt. 

Back to Fiyin’s crazy love story

Fiyin professes her feelings to Elo and since Elo’s relationship is at the verge of crumbling, he speaks rudely to Fiyin and her mistakes dawn on her. Nonetheless, Fiyin is bent on rewriting her wrong. Having apologized to her friend, she goes on with planning for the proposal and also apologizes to Yagazie. Although love did not go Fiyin’s way, she ends the year on a happy note with her mother’s marriage, her emotional healing, her best friend’s engagement, her cousin’s recuperation, and the colourful Christmas and New Year  celebrations. 

The movie further gives life to the setting by fully representing the hustling and bustling of Lagos State, especially during Christmas and New Year  celebrations. One who has once resided in Lagos will experience a feeling of nostalgia as the movie reveals several aspects of festivity in Lagos State. This ambience ranges from the roadside hawking to the street decoration, as well as street carnivals for the low-class people; to late night parties with mirades of stars performing to their die-hard fans; to the days dedicated to preparing for Christmas and the New Year. Bringing this review to a close without commending the fireworks will do no justice to this work. Lagos is one of the havens of fireworks in Nigeria. Different fireworks popularly known as “banger” are restocked to ensure that the sky is not left out of the celebration. The fireworks used in the movie, from the birthday of Zacch Dolor to the New Year eve further embellish the movie and suggest that a Christmas/New Year celebration without fireworks is just another holiday. 

In conclusion, Christmas in Lagos is an educative and entertaining movie that immortalizes the reality of Christmas in Nigeria and the importance of family and friends in enjoying life and healing from hurts. Some of the cast include Teniola Aladese, Shaffy Bello, Richard Mofe–Damijo, Angel Anosike, Rayxia Ojo, Shalom C. Obiago, Waje, Wale Ojo, Ladipoe, Tris Udeh, and Obinna Okenwa.