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Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman

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Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman
Directed byBiyi Bandele
Screenplay byBiyi Bandele (translated into Yoruba by Kola Tubosun)
Based onDeath and the King's Horseman
by Wole Soyinka
Produced by
Starring
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
Running time
96 minutes
CountryNigeria
Languages
  • Yoruba
  • English

Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman is a 2022 Yoruba-language Nigerian historical drama film directed by Biyi Bandele and distributed by Netflix, based on Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman, a stage play he wrote while in Cambridge, where he was a fellow at Churchill College during his political exile from Nigeria,[1] and it is based on a real incident that took place in Yorubaland during British Colonial rule.[2][3] The film stars Odunlade Adekola as the titular character, with Shaffy Bello, Brymo, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, Jide Kosoko, Langley Kirkwood, Joke Silva amongst others in supporting roles.

Plot

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The film is based on a true story and is set in the 1940s Oyo Town, southwestern Nigeria. The king has just died, and as tradition demands Elesin Oba must perform ritual suicide in order to join his dead king in the afterlife so that the king may gain free passage into the land of the gods, thus blocking disaster from befalling the community.[4] Elesin Oba's sexual appetites cause him to shirk, which leads to a mortal confrontation with the British and with devastating consequences. When the horseman is unable to fulfill his final responsibility, it is believed that the King's ghost wanders the earth, spelling calamity for the land and its people.[5] Also, due to his inability to fulfil his duty, his son, Olunde, takes his place in the ritual.[6]

Cast

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Production

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The film is co-produced by Ebonylife TV Studio and Netflix and is adapted for screen and directed by Biyi Bandele.[9][10][11] The screenplay was translated into Yorùbá, and the film subsequently subtitled into English, by Nigerian linguist Kola Tubosun, a decision described as "one of [the film's] more ticklish conceits" [12] and “the only way to make the film immediately accessible to a global audience.”[13] The movie premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on 9 September 2022 [14][15] and was released in Nigerian cinemas on 28 October 2022 followed by a Netflix release on 4 November.[16]

It is Soyinka's first work to be made into a motion picture since the 1970 film Kongi's Harvest by Ossie Davies and the first Yoruba-language film to premiere at TIFF.[5][17] The director, Biyi Bandele, passed away shortly before the movie's premiere, in August 2022.[18]

Reception

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There have been several feedback to the film since its release. The film has been described as colourful and enjoyable[19][20] The film was also lauded for highlighting the importance of tradition.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Gumbel, Andrew (7 April 2009). "Wole Soyinka on how he came to write Death and the King's Horseman". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  2. ^ Agency Report (12 June 2018). "Film adaptation of Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman underway". Premium Times. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  3. ^ "The King's Horseman, Nigeria's Most Famous Play, Now On Netflix: What Makes It A Classic". Independent Newspapers. 9 September 2022.
  4. ^ ""Death And The Kings Horseman" Has Been Adapted Into A Film". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b Aromolaran, Michael (30 July 2022). "Netflix Releases Teaser for Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Afolayan's 'Death' and Bandele's 'The King's Horseman'". The Lagos Review. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. ^ Chikelu, Chinelo (20 August 2022). "Netizens Excited For Brymo In Netflix's The King's Horseman Trailer Release". Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  8. ^ Oyero, Ezekiel (27 August 2022). "My challenge playing Elesin Oba's bride - Omowunmi Dada". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  9. ^ Nwogu, Precious 'Mamazeus' (26 October 2021). "Biyi Bandele to direct Ebonylife & Netflix's Death and the King's Horseman". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  10. ^ Bamidele, Michael (12 June 2020). "Netflix, Mo Abudu Partner For Adaptation Of Soyinka And Shoneyin's Books". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  11. ^ Anderson, John. "'Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman' Review: Tradition Interrupted". WSJ. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  12. ^ Anderson, John. "'Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman' Review: Tradition Interrupted". WSJ. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  13. ^ Vourlias, Christopher (10 September 2022). "EbonyLife's Mo Abudu on Toronto Premiere 'The King's Horseman' and Legacy of Late Director Biyi Bandele". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  14. ^ "The King's Horseman". TIFF. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Wole Soyinka's Film Adaptation Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman Premiered at TIFF 2022". brittlepaper.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Biyi Bandele's Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman set for October 28 release The Nation Newspaper". 21 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  17. ^ Ahmed, Abdulateef (28 July 2022). "'Elesin Oba Becomes First Movie in Yoruba to Premiere at TIFF". News Central TV. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  18. ^ Busari, Stephanie (9 August 2022). "'A monumental loss to Nigeria's film industry,' director Biyi Bandele passes away at 54". CNN. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  19. ^ Aromolaran, Micheal (24 December 2022). "In 'Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman', a Literary Classic Is Brought to Life". okayafrica. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Afolayan's 'Death' and Bandele's 'The King Horseman': A Tale of Two Tributes". The Lagos Review. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  21. ^ Ogunniyi, Oluwatomiwa (14 November 2022). "DEATH AND ALL THAT COMES WITH IT: A REVIEW OF BIYI BANDELE'S ELESIN OBA". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
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