When images from Rise With Me first began circulating in December 2025, they immediately sparked debate across social media. In one striking photo, veteran Nollywood actor Jide Awobona appears fully transformed as a woman, cradling a baby.
The caption he shared celebrated “the unbreakable spirit of women who rise above adversity, shatter glass ceilings, and inspire generations to come,” but reactions were mixed, with many Nigerians loudly questioning his choice to play a female character himself.
The Creative Decision Behind the Role
In a January 18, 2026 interview with Potpourri, Awobona opened up about why he took on the female part in Rise With Me. He said that he always tries to push his work beyond the familiar and comfortable. In his words:
“To start with, for every movie I produce, I always aim to do something I have not done before.
“Aside from having a fantastic story, I love to include a wow factor in every project. There has to be something memorable to hold on to. There has to be a strong message. Beyond the message, the movie must carry weight, boldness, and audacity…something daring.”
Awobona explained that this push toward creative boldness has shaped his career for years, pointing to earlier films where he chose unconventional paths. His goal with Rise With Me was not novelty for its own sake, but to make a film that lingers in people’s minds and sparks thought.
Preparing for the Transformation
To physically embody a female character, Awobona said he had to prepare his body for months before filming even began. He deliberately stopped going to the gym three months before shooting to reduce his muscle and make his body more “flexible.” He said:
“I shed a lot to slim down, making my body flexible, like a canvas we could paint on.”
On top of that, he underwent extensive grooming, removing all body hair except the hair on his head. “Any part of my body that had hair that made me look like a man, I had to remove,” he explained.
The effort was more than a wardrobe change. Awobona wanted his appearance in the film to visually reflect his character’s struggle and emotional journey, not just a costume worn for effect.
A Film With a Purpose
Rise With Me follows the journey of a young woman navigating the pressures of modern life while dealing with personal struggles, including societal expectations and the emotional challenges of starting a family.
Awobona’s character, Zainab, experiences moments of joy, heartbreak, and resilience, highlighting the highs and lows of womanhood in contemporary Nigeria.
The story also explores the importance of support networks, showing how women can uplift each other in times of difficulty.
Awobona has said the film was conceived as more than entertainment. “One of the messages is that women should learn to support one another rather than pull each other down,” he said. The narrative also addresses the emotional strain that comes with trying to conceive, showing that even public figures hide their personal battles behind carefully curated images of perfection. “Amidst their pain, they often hide it to make everyone feel like they are fine,” he added.
The Backlash and Online Debate
Despite Awobona’s intentions to weave real-life experiences into messages, reactions online were fierce and at times personal.
When the first promotional images dropped in mid‑December 2025, some Nigerians took to X and Instagram to question why a man would play a woman when there are many talented actresses available. Critics argued that true women’s experiences couldn’t be authentically portrayed by a man, no matter how much preparation went into the role.
Some netizens framed the decision as symbolic, comparing it to the Hollywood tradition of actors like Tyler Perry or Eddie Murphy taking on exaggerated female roles in comedies, but others saw it as out of step with contemporary conversations about representation.
Some others wondered if it was a marketing strategy or simply a bid for attention. Others tried to make sense of his decision to take on a cross-gender role.
Amid the pushback, Awobona himself seemed to respond with surprise, reposting some of the online reactions and asking playfully what would happen once audiences actually saw the film.
What Rise With Me Means for Nollywood
Cross‑gender performances are not entirely new in Nigerian cinema, but they have typically been used for humour or satire. What makes Rise With Me different is that the choice is placed squarely within a serious narrative framework focused on women’s strength and struggles.
Some argue that challenging norms can open new creative possibilities. Others caution that authenticity, especially in stories about gendered experiences, matters deeply to audiences and that filmmakers must balance bold artistic choices with respect for lived experience.
As the film reached its planned release on December 26, 2025 on Awobona’s YouTube channel, viewers were left to decide for themselves whether his portrayal was bold, questionable, or something else entirely. Regardless of where people land, Rise With Me has undeniably stirred conversation about gender, creativity, and advocacy in Nigerian cinema, making it one of the most talked‑about films of the season.
