Abanisete: The Ancestor, has managed to stay afloat at the Nigerian box office despite competition from strong Hollywood releases such as Weapons, Nobody 2, and Red Sonja, and local flicks like The Serpent’s Gift.
For three weeks, the Ibrahim Yekini( “Itele”) Yoruba epic has and continues to hold its second position strongly, bowing to none other than The Fantastic Four: The First Steps.
Now entering its fourth weekend, the film has grossed a total of ₦111 million, holding firm in the second spot behind The Fantastic Four: The First Steps—a rare but increasingly-common feat for a local title competing against big-budget international releases.
After opening with ₦30.9 million, Abanisete: The Ancestor dropped a -14% in its second weekend (₦26.5 million), and a further -30% the following week (₦18.6 million).
Released on August 15, Abanisete: The Ancestor follows a gripping tale rooted in Yoruba mythology. Set in a community where ancestral spirits and tradition play a crucial role, the story centers on a people’s struggle to protect their land from an emerging threat.
The ensemble cast features notable Nollywood names including Olarotimi Fakunle, Omowunmi Dada, Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, and Broda Shaggi. Yekini not only directed the film but also stars in it, delivering a performance that complements the film’s cultural depth and dramatic tension.
As the box office numbers from the September 5–7 weekend loom, industry watchers are keen to see whether Abanisete: The Ancestor can maintain its momentum and potentially push toward the ₦150 million mark.