The Party is a Nollywood murder-mystery three-part series that premiered on Netflix on May 30, 2025. Produced by Ope Ajayi’s Captain of The Sea Productions and directed by Yemi Morafa, it tells the gripping story of a young, newly married man whose sudden death at his birthday party celebration turns every guest into a potential suspect.
With strong performances from Kunle Remi, Kehinde Bankole, Shaffy Bello, and Femi Branch, the series pulls you into a world where secrets simmer beneath smiles. As the night unfolds, layers of truth begin to peel back, and no one is above suspicion. Rated 18+, The Party delivers sharp drama, emotional tension, and that classic whodunit thrill, with a Nigerian flair.
The Premise
It’s the birthday night of Akinbobola Balogun—known to many as Bobo—and what should have been a joyous celebration quickly turns tragic. The poolside party at the lavish Balogun residence is in full swing, with friends and guests gathered. But just as everyone raises their glasses for a toast, Bobo is nowhere to be seen, everyone begins to wonder: where’s Bobo?
Moments later, in a shocking twist, Bobo’s body drops from the balcony, over three stories high, straight into the pool. Chaos erupts. Guests rush to pull him out, but it’s too late. He’s dead.
Chief Akintunde Balogun, Bobo’s father, wastes no time. He locks down the premises, bars anyone from leaving, and calls in the police. Three detectives, Mr. Moshood, Mr. Etim, and Mrs. Habiba, arrive to investigate. They inform the stunned guests that they’re all witnesses and must be interviewed before they can leave.
As the detectives search the house, collect evidence, and piece together the events leading up to the fall, tensions begin to rise. It doesn’t take long before suspicion turns toward Bobo’s wife, Motunrayo. The Baloguns, especially Bobo’s parents and even some of his friends, seem eager to pin the blame on her. Even Mr. Moshood, one of the detectives, appears complicit, subtly steering the investigation in that direction.
But Motunrayo holds her own. She knows more about the Balogun family than she lets on, and the secrets they all reveal shake the household. As interviews unfold, motives multiply. Friends, neighbours, and even family members become persons of interest. Everyone has something to hide.
Even Bobo’s mother receives a cryptic revelation from her spiritual father, pointing to the real killer. But nothing is as it seems, and as the investigation unravels, it becomes clear: in this house, almost everyone had a reason to want Bobo gone.
Casts and Performances
The Party brings together a robust ensemble, with Kunle Remi leading as Akinbobola “Bobo” Balogun, and Kehinde Bankole playing his wife, Motunrayo. Bimbo Manuel and Shaffy Bello appear as Bobo’s parents, Chief Akintunde and Chief Mrs. Mojoyin Balogun. Yomi Fash-Lanso takes on the role of Olaiya Moshood, the seasoned detective, with Kelechi Udegbe and Eva Ibiam as fellow investigators Etim Caleb and Habiba.
Supporting roles feature a mix of Nollywood names, including Femi Branch, James Gardiner, Mide Martins, Segun Arinze, Ray Adeka, Ben Touitou, and Tope Olowoniyan.
For me, the standouts were Femi Branch and Shaffy Bello. Femi’s delivery was magnetic; he felt like a whole different character archetype entirely, bringing layers and presence to the screen. His performance was so strong, I could easily see a spinoff film built around his character. Shaffy Bello, as always, delivered. Her portrayal of a betrayed wife and grieving mother felt raw and believable, especially in her quiet, emotional moments.
Kunle Remi was another high point. He was a natural playing Bobo, making you pity him until the layers began to peel, revealing he wasn’t innocent either. Kehinde Bankole, though compelling in every frame, felt underused. With her talent, I had hoped to see her more embedded in the core twists of the story. She held her own, but the script didn’t give her enough weight.
As is common with whodunits, the cast list was long. But in this case, I felt some characters were simply there for numbers. Bobo’s circle could have been trimmed to two close friends, and even the investigative team could have functioned with just the lead detective and one supporting officer. The story wouldn’t have lost impact, and might have gained focus.
What I Liked
The movie thrived in its chaos. Beneath all the noise was a steady pulse of secrets: infidelity, betrayal, and tension that gave the story its spark. It was messy, but that messiness felt intentional, helping the twists land with impact.
The cinematography stood out too. From the sharp angles in the more intimate scenes to the subtle focus shifts capturing nervous glances and body language during interviews, the camera told its own story.
Casting was strong overall. Every actor fit their role, even if I wished they had been given more depth or material to truly shine. There was a subtle attempt to build dimension into some characters, but unfortunately, that approach didn’t extend to all the ones that mattered. And that, for me, was a flaw. Maybe the series needed more episodes to achieve that level of depth, I guess we’ll never know.
What I Didn’t Like
There was real promise in the party, but it just didn’t deliver the vibe it clearly aimed for. Like many Nollywood productions, it focused heavily on the main plot while sidelining the depth and realism of its subplots. It felt rushed, as though the need to push the story forward outweighed the need to make it believable.
Take Motunrayo, for instance. She stood on the balcony at the exact moment Bobo fell into the pool—a detail the detectives should have prioritised. Yet, instead of starting with the most obvious lead, they seemed to dodge around it in the name of building suspense. It’s not to say she did it, but realism demands that such a glaring clue be taken seriously. Even the possibility of suicide was never raised, despite the lack of early test results. It’s moments like these that weaken the investigative core of a whodunit.
Technically, the film also stumbled. There were awkward lighting choices, especially in a scene meant to signal a shift from memory to present; it simply didn’t land. Then, there was the issue of echo effects. They were intended for flashbacks but ended up spilling into real-time scenes, making things feel unpolished rather than stylistic.
And then came the misplaced comedy, a subtle but unwelcome addition. The male detectives, during a witness interview, appeared visibly turned on by the testimony, which was not only inappropriate for the moment but frankly distasteful. It’s that all-too-familiar Nollywood habit of forcing humour into stories that don’t need it. Not every serious plot needs comedic relief, and if you’re going to make us laugh, at least let it be with a genuinely solid joke. Otherwise, we’ll be just fine without it.
Then there was the forced infusion of ethnicity. Habiba, speaking Hausa, didn’t feel organic. It came off more as a distraction than a meaningful layer to her character.
Lastly, the ending needed room to breathe. It wrapped things up, sure, but left too many possibilities open—not in a satisfying, ambiguous way, but more in a “this could’ve used one more episode” kind of way.
Final Thoughts
It’s exciting to see Nollywood step into the murder-mystery, whodunit genre—a space that demands bold storytelling, sharp details, and layered characters. The Party, much like Katangari Goes to Town, carried all the promise to be exceptional and clearly aimed high. But while it had the setup and ambition, it fell short of the depth and finesse that make a true classic in this genre. Whodunits require patience, precision, and a commitment to fully-realised storytelling. The Party gave us the drama but missed the lasting impression. Still, it’s a step in an encouraging direction.
Rating
I rate The Party 3 out of 5 stars.
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