Before someone picks up koboko to remind me that Nigeria is already hell and nothing concerns us with Halloween, I get it. But, I still think we can enjoy things without being too deep or critical of them.
That’s why I have this list of scary Nigerian movies to watch here while they trick-and-treat abroad. Are you sat? Let’s dig.
Koto Aiye (1989)
This movie by late film producer Yekini Ajileye was released in 1989, and it’s hands down one of the scariest occult titles in Nigeria. Evil witches terrorised a village so much that there was little the good witches could do.
When a prophecy came about a saviour coming in the form of a baby, the evil witches — including the king’s first wife— devised plans to scatter everything. Even the king, Oba Adedapo, wasn’t spared — man carried a protruding stomach for a long time because the witches housed their birds inside him. Mad.
The movie is in two parts. You have a long, thrilling night ahead of you.
Ologbo Iya Agba
This title in English translates to “grandma’s cat.” This film was once the hottest thing on the street, and it was hard to find a copy at film rentals because people had rented it out. I remember how we all became scared of older women who kept cats as pets.
You should see this.
Nneka the Pretty Serpent (1994)
This film came out when VHS was still the reigning champ. Although the title called Nneka a serpent, she could also turn into a cat. Nneka is a spirit-possessed lady who goes around town tormenting promiscuous married men and their families— total menace; even prayers hardly worked against her.
I recommend that the relationship people watch this with their partner to subtly let them know the consequences of cheating on the loves of their lives.
Living in Bondage (1992)
Before you press play on this film, its title makes you whisper that bondage isn’t your portion. Living In Bondage, the OG version, follows the story of a money-ritual cult that demands the loved ones of its members as sacrifices to keep their wealth flowing. Andy, the main character, was even told to blind and castrate himself to appease his wife’s ghost that’s haunting him up and down.
Did this man receive help or partially kill himself to escape his ghost-wife? Find out in this and part 2.
Hex (2015)
This Clarence Peters’ film, divided into four episodes, follows the story of five young Nigerians who accidentally hit a drunken man on the road, finished him off with a car jack and dumped him in the lagoon.
None of these guys had rest of mind since the incident, but that was nothing compared to the fright their victim’s ghost gave them before finally killing them gruesomely. Play Hex and watch it pull your wig back, leaving you on the edge of your seat.
Eran Iya Oshogbo (1999)
I don’t know why Nollywood makes humans possess animals and vice versa in its horror flicks. Still, this movie, Eran Iya Osogbo (the goat of the woman from Osogbo), isn’t an exception. In it, you’ll see how a woman loved her goat more than her neighbours and everyone else.
This goat of hers was a riot in the whole town. It was so powerful you could take a bite of your shawarma, and it’d land in the goat’s mouth. Eran Iya Oshogbo is also in two parts and will leave your mouth wide open after you’ve exclaimed “omo” like 100 times.
Karishika (1996)
Before I heard that people could turn into an orange or a Health 5 football, I saw a woman give birth to a yam tuber in Karishika. Straight out of the household of Lucifer, Karishika and her demonic colleagues went on a rampage to cause people to sin and lead them to the kingdom of hell. This film has the right amount of Nigerian spookiness.
Karishika was so powerful that Falz made a song and remix, begging God to protect him from her.
After Halloween, come hang out at the biggest meat and grill festival in Lagos on November 11th. Cop your ticket asap.
