King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos

Logline

Defend the crown. Defend the people.

As the 19th-century Kingdom of Lagos is torn between rival claimants to the throne, the fierce and strategic Oba Kosoko must defend his crown and his people's sovereignty against betrayal from within — and the mounting threat of British imperial power from without.

The film chronicles Kosoko's rise amid deep-rooted succession disputes, his rivalry with the deposed Oba Akitoye, and the escalating conflict that draws in the British Consul and Royal Navy — culminating in the 1851 bombardment of Lagos, remembered as the "Salt Water War" (Ogun Olomiro). More than a war story, it is a portrait of identity, honour and sacrifice: a celebration of Yoruba heritage and the resilience of a people determined to defend who they are.