Tosin Adeyemi’s Cultural Homecoming in James Omokwe’s “Osamede”

For over a decade, Tosin Adeyemi has gracefully juggled stage and screen  as an actor and theatre director. With recent appearances in critically acclaimed Nollywood films like House of Ga’a (2024) and Tokunbo (2024), the actress solidified her presence in the mainstream cinema, drawing significant attention to her talent and charm. Part of her burgeoning filmography is a major appearance in Osamede, an epic fantasy drama directed by James Omokwe, executive produced by Lilian Olubi, and based on events of the 1897 Benin Empire, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Osamede follows the story of the eponymous protagonist, a young girl who unexpectedly discovers her superhuman abilities with which she must embark on a journey of identity discovery to reconnect with  her roots and save an empire threatened by British invasion. Through the eyes of the protagonist portrayed by Ivie Okujaye Egboh, the film explores themes of fate, power, resilience and cultural identity. In the historical drama, Adeyemi plays the role of Adaze, Osamede’s mother, alongside a cast that includes actors like William Benson, Etinosa idemudia, Paul Obazele and iconic director Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen.

Earning the role of Adaze in Osamede was a milestone for Adeyemi. It was her first time performing in her mother tongue, which was a homage to her roots as an Edo indigene. The casting process posed a challenge: she had no strong command of the Benin language required for her part. Yet Omokwe, the director and supervising producer, with whom she had a previous work relationship, encouraged her to audition regardless of the linguistic shortcoming. As such, Adeyemi initially approached the character in English before revisiting the script in Benin language, receiving help from her mother, relatives and friends who guided her through translations. Weeks after audition, she got notified that she was selected for the role, a decision that defined her place as a contributor to one of Nigeria’s culturally ambitious projects in recent times.

Beyond language learning, Adeyemi underwent intensive combat training with the rest of the cast. Throughout these sessions, they mastered the use of spades, swords and daggers, which were instrumental to the action dynamic of the production. Adeyemi also learnt horse riding, a particularly strenuous activity for her pregnant character. Exhaustive as these training sessions were for the actor, they helped her connect better with her character and bolstered her sense of cultural pride.

Principal photography lasted roughly two weeks, with Adeyemi extending her initial schedule of a few days to stay throughout the entire period. Whenever she was not in character, she opted to observe the filming process and bonded with the cast and crew. This quality time spent off camera fostered chemistry and a sense of camaraderie that enriched the story on screen. Omokwe’s directorial approach further elevated the atmosphere, with his hands-on technique and meticulous attention to detail, both in quiet dialogue exchanges and high-stakes action sequences, reinforcing his reputation as a director deeply committed to the craft and the welfare of his cast and crew.

Not only was Adeyemi’s representation of Adaze a professional challenge, but also the character also intersected with her personal ideals. Adaze’s protective and motherly instincts resonated with Adeyemi’s own personality, making for a relatable and transformative experience. For her, the role in Osamede, a production rooted in the radiance of Benin culture, required strength and vulnerability.

The momentum of Osamede coincided with Adeyemi’s appearance in  My Father’s Shadow, a film directed by Akinola Davies Jr, which had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival where it won Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or—an unprecedented feat for a Nigerian film. Her journey to the project began with a call from producer and actress Kemi Lala Akindoju to audition, through which she secured the role. Despite her relatively modest role in the film, its international recognition enhanced her growing visibility in film. Both projects presented her the opportunity to attend Cannes, offering international exposure laced with industry connections, insights and an expansive understanding of the possibilities for African cinema on the global stage.

With a Theatre Arts degree from University of Lagos and an acting certificate from La Cinéfabrique film school in Lyon, France, Adeyemi boasts a reputation as a versatile and trustworthy creative capable of moving seamlessly and maintaining excellence across different platforms. Her interests also cover voice over and personal creative projects such as Love Letters by TA, an initiative through which she strives to revive the dying culture of heartfelt, expressive communication in an age dictated by the emotionlessness of fast-paced digital media.

Adeyemi does not seem to be resting on her laurels, her creative faith sturdy and a willingness to evolve discernible in her gritty track record. “As an actor,” she says, “I look forward to challenging scripts, scripts that would challenge me in terms of the craft and also inspire  people to do better.” Her contributions to Osamede is the icing on the cake, casting her in an interesting light as a cultural ambassador.