Onyinye Odokoro as Nazo experiencing emotional strain in the bedroom in Before We Fall Asleep, directed by Kaelo Iyizoba
The Zikoko Life universe is back, and this time, it is taking on one of the most relatable tensions in Nigerian homes: what does it mean to be the man of the house?
In Before We Fall Asleep, the second film in Zikoko Life 2, showrunner Blessing Uzzi wears multiple hats as writer, working alongside Kaelo Iyizoba, who directed the film. Starring Tobi Bakre and Onyinye Odokoro, the story follows Tola, a young father whose life suddenly changes which leads to a redefinition of a financial commitment in the home he shares with his partner (Odokoro) and their child. What begins as an ordinary domestic arrangement quickly becomes a pressure cooker of ego, expectation, and emotional strain.
Tola and Nazo sharing a quiet parenting moment with their child in the Zikoko Life production Before We Fall Asleep.
For Blessing, the film challenges one of the most common phrases in Nigerian relationships, which is men “helping” at home. “Why is the man ‘helping?’ We are partners. You’re not helping me; I’m not helping you. We are doing what we’re supposed to do,” she says. That idea sits at the centre of the film’s emotional core, which pushes back against the assumption that caregiving and domestic labour are naturally women’s work.
Kaelo says the film was designed to inspire reflection. “This is a story about a couple who have expectations about what society expects their relationship to be,” he says. “But they are also learning that what society expects won’t always work for them.” For him, the appeal was in making a film where the right answer is not obvious. “I wanted to make the kind of film where the right choice isn’t clear,” he adds.
Nazo comforting Tola as they confront relationship pressures and changing financial dynamics in Before We Fall Asleep.
That refusal to pick sides is exactly what makes Before We Fall Asleep work. Blessing says she was intentional about writing both characters as human beings first. “You need to understand these two people,” she says. “Whoever you feel for is left to you, but understand them. See them as humans.”
Onyinye Odokoro, who plays Nazo, says the role drew her because of its nuance. “I naturally lean towards stories that explore complexity,” she says. “It’s not necessarily about right or wrong. It’s open-ended, and it leaves room for the audience to talk.”
Tobi Bakre portraying Tola, a young father reflecting on masculinity and provider expectations in Zikoko’s Before We Fall Asleep.
Tobi Bakre, meanwhile, describes Tola as “your average Nigerian good guy” — loving, hardworking, and trying to figure life out. He says the film helped him rethink masculinity and the pressure placed on men to define themselves only through money. “The modern man should not centre his masculinity around his finances,” he says. “Self-worth should come from the quality of your person.”
With its intimate domestic setting, emotionally layered performances, and provocative central question, Before We Fall Asleep is shaping up to be one of those films audiences will definitely argue about but take time to reflect on.
Watch Before We Fall Asleep on Zikoko’s YouTube.
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