In a time when there is much discussion about how Nigerian movies compare to foreign films, only a few Nollywood movies have touched audiences as much as Omoni Oboli’s ‘Love In Every Word’.
The movie has become a hot topic on social media among Nigerians, breaking viewership records and raising questions about whether it accurately showed the love of an Igbo man or if Uzor Arukwe went too far with his portrayal of the Odogwu character.
The film was uploaded to YouTube on March 7, 2025, and it quickly got an amazing six million views in just 72 hours. But beyond the numbers, what makes this film so compelling?
Themes:
The movie explores multiple themes that resonate deeply with audiences.
* Love and sacrifice: The movie showcased the struggles of maintaining a relationship amidst personal and societal struggles and expectations. Chioma has a ‘spec’, but then she falls in love with ‘Odogwu’ who, though she says is an intentional man, is clearly off her radar.
On the other hand, her mother did not have the whole ‘spec’ drama. She believed that ‘he is a rich man, and society expects that you do not let the opportunity slip through your fingers.’
* Courage: The theme of courage is seen in Odogwu’s persistent effort to win Chioma and Chioma’s decision to be in a relationship and eventually marry a man who is different from the kind she had envisioned all her life.
* Trauma: Chioma had a father who spoke and acted just like Odogwu, the more reason why she had declined to pour out her heart to him or even accept him because of the treatment meted out to herself and her mother.
* Cultural Identity: Odogwu was unapologetic about his accent, attire, status as a titled Igbo man, and extravagant romanticism despite chasing after a classy and career-driven woman like Chioma, who apparently preferred someone more ‘tush’. Odogwu’s cultural love provenance is one of the main reasons the movie is being discussed.
The Cast:
Omoni Oboli did quite a good job in carefully selecting a few cast members that bring depth and authenticity to the story; in a movie where there are at most, 20 actors, the most remarkable characters are Uzor and Bam Bam
Big Brother Naija Reality Show Star Bamike ‘Bam Bam’ Olawunmi-Adenibuyan led the film and delivered a career-defining performance as Chioma Gift Okojie, who incidentally finds love when she travels to Anambra.
The ever-talented Uzor Arukwe stands opposite her, whose on-screen presence and emotional depth complement Bam Bam’s portrayal.
The Setting:
The show was set in Lagos’s bustling cityscape and the ‘Igbotic’, Cultural East side of Anambra State.
The Plot:
‘Love In Every Word’ is a love story intertwined with sacrifices and persistence. It follows the journey of a young, ambitious woman, Chioma (Bam Bam), who unexpectedly falls in love with Odogwu Obiora (Uzor Arukwe) when she travels to Anambra for her Cousin’s wedding.
Despite having good experiences with him after one date, she refuses to date or accept him, especially because he is an Igbo man with an accent that reminded her of her father.
Eventually, Chioma succumbs to Odogwu’s intentionality and extravagant show of love. She lets go of her fears and agrees to marry him.
Why Everyone is Talking About It!
This is officially Bam Bam’s first lead role in the industry after her appearance on the BBNaija show. She did not act like a novice; however, she performed sensationally and made her character relatable, which made her effortlessly loved by fans.
Uzor, on the other hand, had performed the ‘rich Igbo man role’ countlessly but with a different twist every time. Most fans think his role as Odogwu in the movie was unrealistic as it was so extravagant. Some fans have argued that it is impossible for a man to buy an entire building and hire a music group just to get a woman’s phone number; others argue that it is possible because ‘money stops nonsense.’
No film in recent times has trended as much as Love In Every Word. Within hours of its release, it became the number-one trending topic across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Fans have not stopped discussing key scenes, characters, and romance. Even celebrities joined the conversation, with several actors and influencers posting their reactions online. This is one Nollywood film that caught people’s hearts.
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