Nollywood actor and filmmaker Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele, has recorded a major milestone after his Yoruba-language film, Koleoso, surpassed 141.6 million views on YouTube.
The achievement has reportedly made Koleoso the most-viewed African film on YouTube, while also making it the first Nollywood and African film title to surpass the 100 million-view mark on the platform as a single movie.
Itele celebrated the milestone on social media, describing the performance of the film as a significant moment for himself, his production team and the wider Nigerian film industry.
“History. Record. Legacy. Koleoso hits 100 million+ views in total. Officially, the first Nollywood title and the first African movie title to hit this milestone on YouTube as one title. Yes, one title, one story, one movement.”
The filmmaker attributed the movie’s success to hard work, consistency and creativity, while thanking the cast, crew and viewers who supported the production.
“Hard work. Consistency. Creativity. From day zero, we won this.”
Koleoso is a Yoruba-language fantasy thriller built around a family caught in a supernatural conflict rooted in Yoruba traditional beliefs.
The movie features several Nigerian actors, including Fatai Odua, Oluwakemi Apesin, Afeez Abiodun and Yetunde Barnabas, among others.
Itele also reflected on the journey behind the film’s performance, highlighting the importance of maintaining discipline and consistency despite early challenges.
“From overlooked to overwhelming. That boy from the hood they once ignored chose discipline over distraction and consistency over excuses.”
The milestone highlights the increasing importance of YouTube as a distribution channel for Nollywood films, particularly productions released directly to digital audiences.
For filmmakers, the platform offers access to viewers in Nigeria and across the global African diaspora without the geographical limitations associated with traditional cinema releases.
The success of Koleoso also demonstrates the continued appetite for Yoruba-language storytelling, with locally rooted stories attracting audiences well beyond Nigeria.
With its reported 141.6 million YouTube views, Koleoso has emerged as one of the biggest Nigerian film successes on the platform and further underlines the expanding global audience for Nollywood productions.
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