Sema Fonkem 21 Feb 2026
Screen goddess Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde goes behind the lens after three decades in the Nollywood film industry. In her directorial debut, Mother’s Love, she explores how love, family, resilience, identity and ambivalence contribute to present African social structures.
Slated to have its first world premier at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and selected for the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) 2026, ‘Mother’s Love’ tells the story of Adebisi, a young adult who longs to be freed from her wealthy father’s authority. Adebisi finally gets a chance to live life on her terms after she joins the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme and befriends Obaro, whose upbringing is marked by poverty and adversity.
Adebisi and Obaro develop a special bond despite their differences. Their relationship also creates a family strife, causing her father to unleash his wrath and her submissive mother to muster the courage and bravery to stand up for their pride.
The film exposes family dynamics, mother and daughter relationships, the dangers of unresolved pain, anger and the quest for recognition.
Mother’s love will be available at all Cinemas on March 06, 2026.
CAST
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde as Labake (Adebisi’s mother)
Ifeanyi Kalu as Rotimi Rhodes (Adebisi’s father)
Olumide Oworu as Obaro
Noray Nehita as Adebisi
Lilian Afegbai as Rose
Nosa Rex as James
Official trailer link
Critique Africa 