The Figurine (Araromire)

Production Details
Director	Kunle Afolayan
Producer(s)	Kunle Afolayan
Language(s)	English, Yoruba
Release & Performance
Release Date	2009-10-02
Box Office	₦30 Million

The Figurine (Araromire) is a 2009 Nigerian supernatural suspense thriller film directed by Kunle Afolayan and written by Kemi Adesoye. The film is universally celebrated as a revolutionary catalyst in the history of Nigerian cinema. Arriving during an era dominated by low-budget, straight-to-video releases, The Figurine set an entirely new standard for visual storytelling, cinematography, and narrative depth, significantly accelerating the transition into the "New Nollywood" era.

Starring Ramsey Nouah, Kunle Afolayan, and Omoni Oboli, the film explores complex themes of destiny, greed, and the psychological impact of superstition. It dominated the 2010 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and shattered domestic box office records upon its theatrical release.

Plot Summary

The narrative is driven by an ancient, terrifying Yoruba legend regarding a mystical sculpture from the abandoned village of Araromire. According to the myth, the goddess Araromire bestows seven years of extraordinary wealth, luck, and prosperity upon whoever discovers her shrine, but this blessing is inevitably followed by seven years of catastrophic bad luck, disease, and total destruction.

While serving their mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year in a remote village camp, two best friends—the pragmatic, highly ambitious Femi (Ramsey Nouah) and the easygoing, chronically unlucky Sola (Kunle Afolayan)—accidentally stumble upon the mystical figurine hidden deep in a decaying forest shrine. Ignoring local warnings, they secretly take the artifact back to Lagos.

Almost immediately, their lives transform drastically. Sola's luck reverses entirely; he unexpectedly acquires massive wealth, launches a highly successful business empire, and marries Mona (Omoni Oboli), the beautiful woman that Femi has secretly been in love with for years. Femi, meanwhile, achieves professional success but struggles with intense, silent jealousy and resentment as he is forced to watch from the sidelines.

Exactly seven years later, the blessing expires. The narrative shifts from a dramatic tale of success into a terrifying psychological thriller. Sola's empire begins to inexplicably crumble, his health rapidly deteriorates, and paranoia consumes the household. Femi, whose hidden desires and sinister motives slowly rise to the surface, manipulates the chaos to his advantage. The film masterfully blurs the line between supernatural intervention and human malice, leading to a shocking, bloody climax that leaves the audience questioning whether the destruction was caused by the curse of Araromire, or simply the devastating consequences of human greed and betrayal.

Cast and Characters

Actor	Character	Notes
Ramsey Nouah	Femi	A calculating, deeply resentful man whose jealousy slowly consumes him over a seven-year period.
Kunle Afolayan	Sola	Femi's charismatic best friend whose sudden rise to wealth blinds him to the impending tragedy.
Omoni Oboli	Mona	Sola's loving wife, caught in the terrifying crossfire of the curse and Femi's obsession.
Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi	Linda	Femi's perceptive girlfriend who begins to unravel the mystery of the figurine.
Jide Kosoko	Chairman	Sola's powerful business associate.

Production

Development and Directing

Following the critical success of his directorial debut, Irapada (2006), Kunle Afolayan sought to create a film that would fundamentally alter the global perception of Nollywood. He collaborated closely with writer Kemi Adesoye to craft a script that treated traditional African mythology with the narrative gravity of a Hollywood psychological thriller.

Cinematography and Visual Style

A defining aspect of The Figurine was its unprecedented visual quality. Cinematographer Yinka Edward utilized 35mm-equivalent depth of field and meticulous color grading techniques—a stark departure from the flat, brightly lit aesthetic of traditional Nollywood home videos. The film's moody lighting, sweeping camera movements, and deliberate pacing were instrumental in creating its tense, claustrophobic atmosphere.

Themes and Social Commentary

Fate vs. Free Will: The film's central psychological question is whether the disastrous events of the second act are genuinely caused by the supernatural curse of Araromire, or if the myth simply provided a convenient scapegoat for Femi's sociopathic jealousy and Sola's eventual recklessness.
The Corrupting Power of Greed: The narrative explores how sudden, unearned wealth destroys moral boundaries and corrupts deep-rooted friendships.
Superstition in Modern Nigeria: The film contrasts the characters' modern, educated, corporate lifestyles in Lagos with the inescapable, deeply ingrained cultural superstitions of their heritage.

Release and Reception

Box Office

The Figurine premiered at the Silverbird Cinemas in Lagos in October 2009. It achieved massive critical and commercial success, grossing ₦30 million—a phenomenal achievement for a domestic film during an era where Nigerians rarely visited cinemas to watch local productions.

Critical Response and Legacy

The film received universal acclaim for its complex narrative structure, Ramsey Nouah’s chilling performance, and Afolayan’s visionary direction. It is widely credited with kickstarting the "New Nollywood" cinema renaissance, proving to filmmakers and investors that high-budget, technically proficient Nigerian films could be highly profitable.

Awards and Nominations

The film dominated the 2010 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), securing its legacy as a modern masterpiece:

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2010	AMAA	Best Picture	Kunle Afolayan	Won
2010	AMAA	Best Director	Kunle Afolayan	Won
2010	AMAA	Best Actor in a Leading Role	Ramsey Nouah	Won
2010	AMAA	Best Cinematography	Yinka Edward	Won
2010	AMAA	Best Visual Effects	The Figurine	Won
2010	AMAA	Best Actress in a Leading Role	Omoni Oboli	Nominated