Ori Rebirth: Muyiwa Ademola’s Reinvention of Legacy

by 'Joba Ojelabi

Every artist is often remembered for one defining work. While this might seem reductive, it reflects a recurring truth in the world of artistry. One single piece can crystalise an entire career. This defining piece goes by several names: chef d’oeuvre, the masterpiece, magum opus. For the discerning artist, the challenge becomes the pursuit of constant evolution, ensuring that each new work surpasses the last. Yet the magnum opus often defies logic. Its selection is rarely based solely on metrics like popularity, cultural impact, or commercial success. For veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Muyiwa Ademola, his legacy rests on a powerful trifecta: Ogo Osupa, Ori, and Alapadupe. With the recent release of Ori Rebirth, a modern reimagining of his classic film, it may be time to settle the debate over which of these is his true masterpiece.

Released in 2004, Ori marked a significant turning point in Ademola’s career. Although he began acting in 1991 and made a noteworthy debut as a producer with Asise in 1995, it was Ori that introduced him to a wider audience and cemented his place in the pantheon of Nollywood greats. The film quickly became a commercial success, resonating deeply with viewers for its exploration of Yoruba spirituality and moral complexity.

In Ori, the titular concept, translated loosely as “fate,” follows the life of Bisade, a university graduate navigating friendship, love, and betrayal. Yet “fate” scarcely captures the depth of the Yoruba concept of Ori. A more accurate translation of fate in Yoruba is Ayanmo. Ori, on the other hand, literally means “head” but spiritually signifies much more. It is the seat of destiny and the cradle of the soul. As Professor Lisa Brennan puts it in Taiwo Egunjobi’s The Fire and the Moth, “the head is the seat of the soul, the home of destiny and to tamper with the Ori is to tamper with destiny itself.”

In Yoruba metaphysics, Ori is not merely symbolic. It is a living, spiritual entity. It is a personal guardian spirit that guides, protects, and advocates for its bearer. It is similar to the Chi in Igbo cosmology, which is often misinterpreted as “God.” Ori is a personalised divine force, distinct from the supreme being. No single English word captures its essence. “Personal guardian spirit” comes close, but even that falls short of its deeply spiritual and philosophical weight.

In 2024, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Ori, Ademola released the original film on YouTube. This reignited waves of nostalgia among fans who had cherished it for two decades. But he recognised a gap. How would a new generation connect with a story shaped by a different era?

Ori Rebirth follows the story of Bisade, played once again by Ademola, now married into the family of flamboyant socialite Yeye Fernandez, portrayed by Sola Sobowale. Though Fernandez appears supportive, her motives are not as noble. On one of his visits to answer her call, Bisade is involved in a plane crash. He survives but loses his memory and assumes a new identity in a remote village. He is safe for a while from Fernandez’s manipulations, but danger still lurks. As the story unfolds, we witness how Bisade’s Ori continues to guide and protect him, even in the face of uncertainty and deceit.

What makes Ori Rebirth compelling is not just its storyline but its conscious mirroring of the original film’s core structure. In both stories, Bisade faces intense personal challenges that test his faith, relationships, and destiny. While the 2004 Ori introduced audiences to a younger Bisade navigating betrayal, Ori Rebirth presents a matured version of the character. He is still grappling with the invisible workings of destiny, though now within more layered, high-stakes environments. This growth reflects not only Bisade’s character arc but also the evolution of Nollywood storytelling itself.

The motif of spiritual advocacy remains central in both versions. In Ori, Bisade’s destiny is threatened by envy and false friendships, yet his Ori persistently shields him from ruin. In Ori Rebirth, that same spiritual agency is reignited, protecting him from Yeye Fernandez’s sinister ploys and guiding him toward rediscovery. These parallels reinforce the Yoruba belief that a person’s Ori is timeless. It is unbounded by age, memory, or physical location. It is a constant, even when one forgets who they are.

While Ori Rebirth introduces a more contemporary aesthetic, with crisper cinematography, richer sound design, and a layered use of suspense and modern settings, its polish is also part of its problem. The heart of the story remains unchanged, which is both a strength and a flaw. The original Ori was undeniably ambitious. Although it was constrained by the technology of its time, it managed to draw audiences into its expansive narrative. Ambition in storytelling is not a weakness, but it becomes one when execution fails to match intent. In this regard, Ori Rebirth struggles to maintain the same level of cohesion and engagement.

The film throws the viewer straight into the deep end. Key elements of the plot remain unclear until well into the second half, which leaves the earlier scenes feeling disjointed and underdeveloped. The CGI falls short of convincing. A cameo by Yinka Ayefele, though nostalgic, adds little to the film’s overall arc. Rather than enriching the experience, these touches sometimes feel like missed opportunities to ground the film more firmly within its own universe.

The casting and acting are generally solid. However, the effort to directly connect this new narrative to the original Ori introduces new plot holes. This raises an important question. Is Ori Rebirth a sequel, or is it a reimagining? Is it a story of Bisade unfolding in an alternate universe? Ibrahim Chatta reprises his role from the original film. Unlike in the past, when actors often doubled as crew members, this time he appears strictly in front of the camera. His presence is a forced connection to the original film and an important testimony to the growth of the industry.

One area where Ori Rebirth truly shines is in its music. The original score, performed by Beriola, is skillfully composed and emotionally resonant. The music does not merely accompany the narrative. It enhances it. With carefully timed transitions and deeply soulful melodies, the score elevates key moments and reinforces the spiritual depth that defines the story of Ori. In many ways, it is the music that best captures the soul of the film and what Ori Rebirth aims to be; a continuation of a legacy, even if imperfectly realised.

With Ori Rebirth, Muyiwa Ademola does not simply revisit a classic. He reclaims it and reinterprets it for a new era. In doing so, he offers a gentle reminder to the world, awakening nostalgia in long-time fans and introducing a new generation to the storytelling depth that earned him the nickname "Authentic."