For years, Ibrahim Yekini has built his name around stories that speak directly to the audience he grew up entertaining. From acting to producing and directing, the filmmaker has steadily moved from being a familiar face in Yoruba cinema to becoming one of the names shaping its new generation.
But every now and then, a project comes along that changes the scale of an entertainer’s career. For Itele d’Icon, that project is Koleoso.
The Record That Changed Everything
On September 9, 2026, Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele d’Icon, announced another major milestone for his 13-part YouTube movie series, Koleoso.
The Yoruba-language fantasy thriller had accumulated 141.6 million combined views across its 13 parts, making it the most-viewed African film title on YouTube, according to figures announced by the filmmaker and reported by several media outlets
The achievement did not happen through one viral episode alone. Instead, each part contributed millions of views to a growing audience that kept returning for the next chapter.
The figures tell the story. Part One has 9.8 million views, Part Two 9.9 million, Part Three 8.9 million, Part Four 10 million and Part Five 10 million. Parts Six, Seven and Eight each reached about 12 million, while Part Nine recorded 13 million.
Part Ten is currently the biggest individual instalment, with 16 million views. Parts 11, 12 and 13 have recorded 9.9 million, 9.4 million and 8.7 million respectively.
Together, they pushed Koleoso beyond 141 million views. For Itele, however, this was not the first time the movie had broken new ground.
How ‘Koleoso’ Started Its Record-Breaking Journey
The first instalment of Koleoso was released on May 8, 2025. At the time, there was no way to know that the project would eventually become one of the biggest African film successes on YouTube. But the numbers began to build with every new instalment.
The first three parts alone were already attracting millions of viewers. By the time the series expanded, the audience had become increasingly invested in the story and the characters.
One of the clearest signs of the movie’s growing popularity came in July 2025. When Koleoso Part 5was released on July 31, Itele announced that it had crossed one million views in just eight hours. He also celebrated more than 6,700 positive comments and over 32,000 likes at the time.
That was more than a good opening. It showed that viewers were no longer simply discovering Koleoso; many had begun waiting for each new release.
From 100 Million To 141.6 Million
The biggest turning point came on January 29, 2026. Itele announced that Koleoso had crossed 100 million cumulative views on YouTube, describing it as the first Nollywood title and first African movie title to reach the milestone as one title.
His celebration was filled with the confidence of someone who understood the significance of what had happened. He credited the achievement to hard work, consistency and creativity, while also thanking the cast, crew and the fans who had followed the project.
“History. Record. Legacy,” he wrote while announcing the 100 million milestone.
At that point, Koleoso had already become a major digital success. But the story did not stop at 100 million. Months later, the series had added more than 40 million views to its cumulative figure, taking it to 141.6 million across 13 parts and giving Itele another reason to celebrate.
What Made Viewers Stay With ‘Koleoso’?
At the centre of Koleoso is a Yoruba story built around family, supernatural forces and traditional beliefs.
The production brings together familiar faces from Nollywood, including Fatai Odua, Oluwakemi Apesin, Afeez Abiodun and Yetunde Barnabas, among others. But beyond the cast, Itele believes the relationship viewers developed with the story was important to its success.
In January 2026, shortly after the 100 million milestone, he explained that what surprised him most was the emotional connection audiences formed with the series.
According to him, viewers did not simply watch the movie. They debated its events, developed theories and returned with a level of loyalty that made him realise the production had become more than a series. He described it as a community.
That connection may help explain why the numbers remained strong across different instalments rather than depending on one particularly successful episode.
The Man Behind The Numbers
The Koleoso record is also a reflection of how far Itele has come. Ibrahim Yekini’s career stretches beyond acting. He is an actor, producer, screenwriter and filmmaker who has worked across several areas of Yoruba cinema.
His formal theatre journey began in the late 1990s, before he made his first film appearance in Dapo Tori Ti E in 2000. In 2004, he produced the film Itele, the project that gave him the name by which he would later become widely known.
His career continued to grow through projects including Kesari, Lucifer, King of Thieves, JBO, Jagun Jagun, A Tribe Called Judah and Dolapo Douglas. His acting work also earned him major recognition.
In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Lead Role award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Lucifer.
By the time Koleoso arrived, Itele was therefore not a newcomer trying to find his place in Nollywood. He was already a filmmaker with years of experience who had gradually built an audience of his own.
From Difficult Moments To A Defining Success
Itele’s rise has not been completely smooth. In July 2022, he faced intense public criticism after videos concerning the living conditions of some of his children circulated online. He initially reacted angrily to the accusations but later apologised publicly and said he had been dealing with an undisclosed health problem and had spent time in and out of hospital. He promised to do better as a father.
The controversy became one of the most difficult public moments of his career.
Two years later, in July 2024, the actor was also invited by the Lagos State Police Command following a petition by his landlord, Idowu Akintobi, who made allegations including harassment, assault and threat to life. The matter was reported as a dispute involving Itele and his wife.
‘From Overlooked To Overwhelming’
After Koleoso crossed the 100 million mark, Itele looked beyond the numbers and reflected on the road that brought him there.
“From overlooked to overwhelming,” he wrote, describing himself as “that boy from the hood they once ignored” who chose discipline over distraction and consistency over excuses.
That statement captures an important part of the Koleoso story. The record was not created overnight. It followed years of acting, producing, writing, directing and building an audience. The YouTube numbers simply provided a very visible measurement of that journey.
His response to the 100 million milestone also showed that he was not afraid to celebrate his own contribution. He praised his team, family, cast and crew, but also insisted that he deserved to receive his flowers for the achievement.
Now, with the figure standing at 141.6 million, those flowers have become considerably bigger.
What The Record Means For Nollywood
The success of Koleoso also points to a larger change in the way Nigerian films reach audiences.
YouTube has increasingly become an important distribution platform for Nollywood filmmakers, particularly for productions that can attract audiences without the traditional barriers associated with cinema releases.
Koleoso shows what can happen when a local-language production finds an audience at scale. The movie is rooted in Yoruba culture and storytelling, yet its audience extends beyond Nigeria. Its performance demonstrates that viewers do not necessarily need a film to abandon its cultural identity before they connect with it.
In fact, the opposite can happen. A distinctly Yoruba story can become a major digital success when the storytelling creates enough curiosity and emotional investment to keep viewers returning.
That is perhaps one of the most significant parts of the Koleoso achievement.
Conclusion
When Itele celebrated 100 million views in January, the milestone already looked extraordinary. By September 2026, Koleoso had moved well beyond that figure.
With 13 parts collectively recording 141.6 million views, the project has now become a landmark in Nollywood’s YouTube era and the most-viewed African film title on the platform, but perhaps the most striking part is that the number is still rising.
