From Seven Doors to amvcas: how Femi's Adebayo's period drama found its moment

When Seven Doors premiered on Netflix in December 2024, it arrived with a haunting visual of seven women plunging silently from a cliff—a daring, jarring start that promised mystery, cultural richness, and a gripping tale of legacy. At the time, it felt like another attempt to blend ancient myth with modern drama, but few expected that six months later, this very series would sweep categories at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs).

But sweep, it did.

Winning Best Music Score, Best Lead Actress (Chioma Akpotha), and Best Lead Actor (Femi Adebayo), Seven Doors proved that even flawed storytelling can resonate deeply when sincerity, cultural nuance, and standout performances shine through.

A Story Rooted in Ancestors, Told for the Present

Seven Doors is a six-part Yoruba-language series created by Femi Adebayo—who also starred as Adedunjoye, a civil servant turned reluctant monarch. Co-directed by Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani, the series wades into the murky waters of ancestral guilt, the burden of kingship, and cultural expectations, weaving a supernatural thread that spans generations.

At its heart, the story follows Adedunjoye as he is chosen by the oracle to become king of his chaotic hometown, Ilara. His idyllic life in Lagos, with his loving Igbo wife Amaka (Chioma Akpotha) and two children, is soon interrupted by tradition’s call. What unfolds is a slow-burning drama that dances between past and present, myth and memory, royalty and responsibility.

And yet, while the story aimed high, the journey there was not always smooth.

Not Without Its Cracks

Critically, the show received a mix of praise and frustration. The cinematography, helmed by Idowu Adedapo, tried to present sweeping landscapes and rich cultural backdrops, but often fell short of the visual grandeur fans of Nigerian epics have come to expect. The narrative structure struggled with coherence—especially with jarring time jumps, underdeveloped side characters, and a key symbol (“the seven doors”) that didn’t earn its metaphorical weight until too late in the series.

However, within these imperfections lay brilliant glimmers of storytelling.

Chioma Akpotha: The Unlikely Soul of the Series

It’s impossible to talk about Seven Doors without celebrating Chioma Akpotha’s performance. As Amaka, the Igbo woman married into Yoruba royalty, her character brought warmth, balance, and emotional complexity to an otherwise stoic world. Her easy chemistry with Femi Adebayo was infectious; their family scenes lit up the screen with joy and sincerity.

Akpotha’s command of the Yoruba language was especially notable—fluid, respectful, and powerful. Her performance earned her the Best Actress in a Drama Series award at the AMVCAs, and rightly so. She was not just supporting cast—she was the emotional spine of the show.

A Culture-Forward Production

The series' AMVCA nomination for Best Costume Design reflects its attention to detail in wardrobe and cultural representation. From ceremonial attire to everyday wear in pre- and postcolonial Nigeria, the fashion in Seven Doors did much of the storytelling the script sometimes failed to. The show also broke ground by integrating cultural nuances from both Yoruba and Igbo traditions—a move that, in today's climate of tribal tensions online, felt like an intentional olive branch.

King Adejuwon (Kolawole Ajeyemi) and Esusu (Aliu Gafar) offered contrasting models of power—one doomed by defiance, the other shrouded in mystery. And while Esusu’s character could’ve benefitted from a deeper backstory, his looming presence left an undeniable mark.

A Win For Genre Storytelling

Despite its narrative flaws, Seven Doors has done something remarkable: it reminded audiences and critics alike that African folklore is still fertile ground for great television. Its themes—bloodline curses, duty over desire, community vs individuality—resonated across generations, especially in a year when African storytelling is stepping deeper into the global limelight.

The AMVCAs 2025 proved that viewers and industry peers are hungry for indigenous-language epics that dare to blend modern relatability with ancestral tales. Femi Adebayo’s win is not just personal—it signals a wider acceptance and celebration of genre filmmaking in Nigeria.

Final Thoughts

Seven Doors is far from perfect. But it is bold. And in a landscape full of imitations and safe scripts, boldness—flawed or not—is a gift.

From Netflix to the AMVCAs stage, Seven Doors may have taken the long route, but it walked through every figurative door it opened—with purpose, culture, and just enough charm to win our hearts.