Lagos – A new Nigerian romantic comedy is making waves across Africa after its cinema release, with “Call of My Life” drawing strong reviews for its emotional depth, cinematic quality and authentic portrayal of modern love in Lagos.
Written by Uzoamaka Power, who also plays the lead role, and directed by Dammy Twitch, the film follows Soluchi, a call centre agent recovering from a painful breakup who finds an unexpected connection with Eli, a Ghanaian newcomer to Nigeria, through a routine customer service call.
Soluchi’s former boyfriend Kalu, portrayed by Zubby Michael, is not painted as a villain but as a man emotionally limited by the pressures of business and survival in Lagos. What she sees as devotion, he sees as too much, and their relationship eventually collapses under the weight of that misunderstanding. 
The connection between Soluchi and Eli, played by Ghanaian actor Andrew Yaw Bunting, grows from professional banter into something deeper, forcing Soluchi to face her fears of vulnerability, the pull of her past and questions about second chances.
At the film’s red carpet premiere, Power and Bunting spoke about their on-screen chemistry. “It felt good. It felt natural. I enjoyed doing it, especially with him. Yeah, I had a good time,” Power said.
Bunting described what drew Eli to Soluchi. “I guess it was an honest connection. That’s what led to everything else. Yeah. Divine connections, some could say,” he said.
Director Dammy Twitch, widely known for his music video work, said the film’s visual quality came from thorough preparation. “It’s just planning pre-production and I already have a kind of taste, so everything just came together. It’s not really about the colour grading, it’s more about how everything comes together,” he said.
The film’s supporting cast includes Nkem Owoh, Patience Ozokwor, Beverly Osu, Justin UG and Broda Shaggi, who plays Soluchi’s supervisor McFloy and provides comic relief without tipping the film into slapstick territory.
The soundtrack features contributions from Johnny Drille and Cobhams Asuquo, with a song also contributed by a popular Nigerian artist who is a close collaborator of the director.
Critics have praised the film for its warm cinematography, use of the Igbo language and cultural expressions, and its honest portrayal of love languages, family pressure and workplace realities. The film has been given a score of 7 out of 10 by reviewers, with praise for its performances and visual polish, though some noted that the middle section takes slightly too long to build momentum and that viewers familiar with romantic comedy formulas may find parts of the plot predictable.
Actor Elu, who attended the premiere, said the film represents a step forward for the entire Nollywood industry. “When you put a lot of love into the right project and you collaborate with the right people, you can bring so much joy to people,” he said, adding that people who had not been excited about Nollywood in a long time were asking how they could watch it.
“Call of My Life is a step in the right direction for the entire industry,” he said.
Filmmaker and media personality Miriam Cole, also at the premiere, said she was drawn in by the marketing and the trailer. “I knew I was going to see a very pretty film and not just a film that was visually stunning, but one that was going to be very, very cozy. And I think we haven’t seen that in a while, so I feel like we all need it,” she said.
The film is currently showing in cinemas across Nigeria. It has not yet been confirmed whether “Call of My Life” will reach cinemas in Eswatini, but given the growing appetite among Emaswati for quality African content, the film’s arrival on streaming platforms would likely find a ready audience in the Kingdom.
Watch “Call of My Life Trailer”
