Tokunbo on Netflix: Is the African Drama Worth Watching?

Netflix’s Tokunbo is a Nigerian action-drama starring the likes of Gideon Okeke and Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi. Directed by Ramsey Nouah, the movie revolves around the life of a former criminal who used to work with a notorious gangster named Gaza.

Tokunbo, played by Okeke, used to deliver illegal cars to the gangsters but decided to leave the life of crime when he saw firsthand the violent nature of his employer.

Instead, Tokunbo decides to focus on his family and his newborn son, Chris. The movie has the following official synopsis, according to IMDB:

“An ex-car smuggler is given three hours to deliver a government official's daughter to her captor - or else his family will suffer the consequences.”

Tokunbo is forced to ask for help from Gaza when his son, Chris, needs medical treatment. However, he then gets a unique opportunity due to his work as a cab driver and enters the world of crime once again.

Is Netflix’s Tokunbo worth watching?

The movie presents a promising plot. Tokunbo is thrust into a difficult situation when he decides to stop working for Gaza. He is forced to earn a living as a cab driver and attempts to live an honest life, desperate to ensure the best for his wife Lisa, played by Tosin Adeyemi, and his son Chris. However, things take a disastrous turn when his son needs urgent medical attention.

Tokunbo returns to his previous boss, Gaza, who refuses to help, after which he discovers a cell phone belonging to an illegal transporter. The phone had been left in his cab by one of his customers, providing him with a unique chance. Tokunbo assumes the identity of the transporter and starts to smuggle and deliver things in order to pay for his son's treatment.

While initially things work out, Tokunbo again finds himself in a difficult situation due to a concerning assignment. He is employed to transport a young girl named Nike, played by Darasimi Nadi, to the Seme border.

Things take a turn for the worse when Tokunbo realizes that he is being hunted by the authorities. This is because Nike is the daughter of Folashade (Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi), who is the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

This brings about a desperate situation, as Tokunbo needs to decide whether he should make the delivery to the captors or do the right thing and bring her home.

Folashade is also seen ensuring that all of her resources are engaged in looking for her daughter, who in the first place has been kidnapped at the behest of the deputy governor of the bank, Raymond (portrayed by Majid Michel).

As one would expect, now a father, Tokunbo realizes the veracity of his actions and invites the wrath of his employers when he attempts to save Nike. Further, he also realizes that he was caught in a web of deceit orchestrated by Gaza in the first place, as the cell phone had been planted in his cab by his former employer.

While the story itself presents a stellar adventure, the movie suffers due to poor pacing, dialogue, and direction. The plot sometimes tends to go haywire and could have been presented in a crisper fashion, as it effectively revolves around a deceitful world of criminals.

Tokunbo’s love for his family in the end plays a major role as he delivers Nike to her mother and exposes the criminals who orchestrated the kidnapping in the first place.

While an ideal one-time-watch for viewers, especially fans of mystery, Tokunbo’s failure to present a streamlined narrative appears to be the biggest problem that the Ramsey Nouah-directedorial suffers from.