When Nigerian director Kemi Adetiba enters the frame, expectations soar. And why not? From the glitzy chaos of The Wedding Party to the ruthless power play in King of Boys, Adetiba has proven herself as a filmmaker who doesn’t just tell stories—she sets them ablaze.
Now, after nearly four years out of the spotlight, Kemi Adetiba returns with a starkly different offering: To Kill A Monkey, a gritty 8-part crime drama premiering July 18 on Netflix.
But if you’re looking for flamboyant matriarchs or carnival-coloured politics, think again. This is Adetiba like you’ve never seen her—minimalist, male-led, and emotionally raw.
Rewriting the Rules: From Power Thrones to Gritty Pavements
At first glance, To Kill A Monkey is a world away from the signature KOB universe. Gone are the political cabals and fiery queens. In their place, a story that strips ambition down to desperation, trading grandeur for greyscale realism.
The show centers on Efemini (played by William Benson), a principled everyman with a fractured moral compass, pushed to the edge by poverty and personal failure. A chance reunion with an old friend—portrayed by the ever-intense Bucci Franklin—ushers Efemini into the shimmering yet treacherous world of cybercrime.
But Adetiba doesn’t paint in binaries. There are no clean villains here. Only men trying to survive in a system that doesn’t see them. In that sense, To Kill A Monkey is less about crime, and more about quiet collapse—the erosion of identity when dignity becomes too expensive to afford.
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Brotherhood, Betrayal, and the Currency of Choices
At its core, the series is an emotional tug-of-war between two men: one trying to stay afloat, the other already thriving in the storm. What begins as a lifeline morphs into a moral tug that drags both characters into murky waters.
Efemini’s choices are never easy, but always human. With each episode, the viewer is forced to ask: how many small compromises does it take before you no longer recognize yourself?
The show’s title, To Kill A Monkey, isn’t just a metaphor. It’s a haunting allegory about shedding innocence, navigating survival, and the invisible cost of fast money in a hyperconnected world. The “monkey” may be the past, pride, or even the self.
New Kind of Cast Chemistry
Adetiba’s past works have thrived on powerhouse performances, and To Kill A Monkey is no exception. However, in a surprising shift, Sola Sobowale, her long-time muse, is absent.
Instead, we’re introduced to a refreshing lineup that blends seasoned veterans and rising stars. William Benson (Crime and Justice Lagos) delivers a nuanced portrayal of fragility wrapped in resilience. Bucci Franklin is electric, balancing charm with menace. Supporting roles from Stella Damasus, Bimbo Akintola, Ireti Doyle, Chidi Mokeme, and Lilian Afegbai enrich the series with emotional and generational texture.
It’s a cast without stunt casting. Every face matters, every line lands.
Behind the Camera: A Controlled Explosion
This is not Adetiba in her high-octane mode. This is a filmmaker entirely in control of tone, tension, and pace. Gone are the long monologues and indulgent spectacle. Instead, every frame is deliberate. Every silence speaks.
Co-produced with Remi Adetiba under the Kemi Adetiba Visuals brand, the series also features an original score by Oscar Heman–Ackah, whose compositions thread tension and empathy through every scene.
Principal photography wrapped in late 2023, with most scenes shot in Lagos and lesser-known urban corridors—locations chosen for their narrative authenticity, not aesthetic appeal.
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Crime, Code, and Consequences in the Digital Age
Though set in Nigeria, To Kill A Monkey speaks to a universal moment, where survival is increasingly tethered to moral flexibility. The show doesn’t glamorize “yahoo” culture or cybercrime, but it doesn’t preach either. Instead, it holds up a mirror to a society that often celebrates wealth but ignores the wounds behind it.
In a world where young people are navigating economies stacked against them, the show asks hard questions. Not just “What would you do to survive?” but “What parts of yourself would you lose along the way?”
What to Expect on July 18
As the countdown to its release begins, To Kill A Monkey is already generating buzz—not just as entertainment, but as a conversation starter. Expect suspense, yes. But also expect moments of quiet grief. Expect sharp dialogue. Expect emotional slow burns. And most of all, expect a Kemi Adetiba who isn’t here to repeat success, but to redefine it.