Mount Zion Unveils Agbara Nla Movie Return, Announce Premiere

More than three decades after Agbara Nla became one of the defining titles in Nigerian Christian filmmaking, the iconic story is returning in a new cinematic production, Agbara Nla: The Return.

The highly anticipated film is a contemporary remake of the 1993 Mount Zion classic, and is being led by a new generation of the Bamiloye family, with Evangelist Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Joshua “JayMikee” Mike-Bamiloye taking on key creative roles.

The official trailer was released on September 2, 2026, by Joshua Mike-Bamiloye, announcing that the movie will arrive in cinemas nationwide on October 1, 2026.

The return marks a significant moment for Nigerian Christian cinema, connecting a story that began in the late 1980s with a new generation of filmmakers, actors and audiences.

The Story Behind Agbara Nla

The history of Agbara Nla stretches back further than its well-known 1993 release.

According to the account shared by Mount Zion’s leadership, the journey began in 1987 during the National Festival of Christian Drama, HARVEST ’87, organised by Mount Zion Faith Ministries at GOFAMINT International Gospel Centre, Ojoo, Ibadan.

At the festival, drama leaders and coordinators gathered to discuss the vision of producing what would become one of Nigeria’s earliest Christian movie projects.

The original script was titled “Agbara To Ju Agbara Lo”, meaning a power greater than power.

Following the meeting, rehearsals and casting began at Orita-Mefa Baptist Church, Total Garden, Ibadan. Drama ministers from churches, campuses and Christian drama groups across different cities participated in the project, with contributors coming from institutions including the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Ogun State University and the College of Education, Ilesa.

Filming eventually began at Apete Village.

However, the first attempt at bringing the story to film ended in disappointment. After production was completed, the cameraman reportedly disappeared with the tapes containing the footage. Attempts to locate him were unsuccessful, and the project was eventually abandoned. (The New Man⁠)

Agbara Nla Returns in 1993

Several years later, the vision was revived.

By 1993, Mount Zion had successfully produced several other films and had become more established in its ministry work. The script was revisited and rewritten, this time with the intention of producing Agbara Nla as a television serial.

Drama ministers and other collaborators gathered once again, with filming taking place around Badeku Village in Ibadan.

A Foursquare Gospel Church pastor reportedly provided ₦5,000 towards the purchase of a camera, while Rev. Idowu Animashawun of World Hope Mission hosted the production team for the village scenes.

Bro. Kayode Oyebode Oju Oluwa-Kay served as cameraman and technical director for the 1993 television serial.

The completed production was subsequently broadcast across television channels available in Western Nigeria at the time. (The New Man⁠)

The original Agbara Nla became particularly remembered for its powerful treatment of spiritual warfare, the conflict between darkness and light, and the supremacy of God’s power.

Mount Zion’s film history records Agbara Nla Parts 1–4 as productions made in 1993. (The New Man⁠)

From Agbara Nla to Ultimate Power

The story did not stop with the Yoruba production.

In 1994, the ministry returned to the story following what Evangelist Mike Bamiloye described as divine instruction to produce an English-language version.

That production became Ultimate Power, helping the story reach audiences beyond Western Nigeria, particularly across Eastern and Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country. (The New Man⁠)

Over the years, Agbara Nla and Ultimate Power became part of the heritage of Mount Zion’s Christian filmmaking ministry.

For many viewers who encountered Mount Zion films in the 1990s, the production represented more than entertainment. Its themes of spiritual warfare, divine authority and the consequences of choices became deeply associated with the era of Nigerian Christian home-video filmmaking.

A New Generation Revives the Classic

Decades later, the Bamiloye family is returning to the story.

In September and October 2025, production commenced on a new remake of the iconic film.

The remake was rewritten and directed by Damilola Mike-Bamiloye, with Chris Odeh serving as producer. The production was jointly sponsored by Mount Zion Films, Sozo Films and Circuits TV. (The New Man⁠)

The project represents a generational continuation of the Bamiloye family’s contribution to Christian filmmaking.

While the original production was created in an era dominated by television broadcasts and physical video distribution, the new Agbara Nla is being developed for the contemporary cinematic landscape.

The production brings together the heritage of Mount Zion with modern filmmaking and theatrical distribution.

Mike Bamiloye Returns as Isawuru

One of the most notable aspects of the new production is the involvement of veteran Christian filmmaker Evangelist Mike Bamiloye, whose original work helped establish Agbara Nla as a landmark title in Nigerian Christian cinema.

Mike Bamiloye reprises his iconic role as Isawuru, linking the new production directly to the legacy of the original story.

The new film is directed by his sons, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Joshua “JayMikee” Mike-Bamiloye. (The New Man⁠)

The arrangement gives Agbara Nla: The Return a distinct generational character: the filmmaker who helped establish the story decades ago returns to it, while his sons take responsibility for bringing it into a new cinematic era.

The Return Is Coming to Cinemas

The revival officially entered a new phase in June 2026, when Damilola Mike-Bamiloye announced the return of Agbara Nla, generating excitement among Christian movie audiences.

The production is a collaboration involving Mount Zion Film Productions, Sozo Films and Circuits, with theatrical distribution across Nigeria. (The New Man⁠)

The announcement sparked renewed interest in the original story, particularly among viewers who grew up watching Mount Zion productions during the 1990s.

But the biggest update arrived in September.

Official Trailer Released

On September 2, 2026, Joshua “JayMikee” Mike-Bamiloye released the official trailer for Agbara Nla: The Return.

The trailer offers audiences their first major look at the new cinematic interpretation of the legendary story and has renewed anticipation ahead of its theatrical release.

The film is scheduled to open in Nigerian cinemas nationwide on October 1, 2026.

According to the report, the nationwide cinema release has also been reported by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). (The New Man⁠)

The October 1 release date gives the production an opportunity to introduce the story to both longtime fans and younger audiences who may be encountering Agbara Nla for the first time.

A Story for Two Generations

Perhaps what makes Agbara Nla: The Return particularly significant is the bridge it creates between two eras of Christian filmmaking.

The original story emerged from the early years of Mount Zion’s filmmaking ministry, when Christian drama groups, churches and volunteers came together to experiment with film as a tool for communicating the gospel.

Now, more than 30 years later, the same story is being reimagined using contemporary cinematic production and theatrical distribution. For older audiences, the film represents a return to a familiar story while for younger viewers, it offers an opportunity to encounter one of the foundational stories of Nigerian Christian cinema through a modern production.

The themes remain rooted in the spiritual conflict that defined the original Agbara Nla: the battle between the forces of darkness and the power of God. The new production, however, promises to present that world through a contemporary cinematic lens.

From 1987 to 2026

The journey of Agbara Nla is ultimately a story of persistence. What began with a vision discussed at a Christian drama festival in Ibadan in 1987 survived the loss of its first film footage, was revived several years later, became a television serial in 1993, expanded through the English-language Ultimate Power in 1994 and eventually became one of the recognisable titles in Nigerian Christian filmmaking.

Now, after more than three decades, the story is entering another chapter with Evangelist Mike Bamiloye returning as Isawuru and Damilola and Joshua Mike-Bamiloye leading the new generation of filmmakers. Today, Agbara Nla: The Return represents both a revival of a classic and a continuation of the Bamiloye family’s longstanding contribution to faith-based storytelling.

The official trailer is already out, and the wait is almost over.