The Herbert Macaulay Affair
| The Herbert Macaulay Affair | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Imoh Umoren |
| Written by | Bisi Jamgbadi |
| Starring | William Benson Saidi Balogun |
Production company | Rucksack Productionz |
| Distributed by | TRACE Content Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Language | English |
The Herbert Macaulay Affair is a 2019 Nigerian film based on the life of Herbert Macaulay, a Nigerian nationalist and proponent of Nigerian independence. It was directed by Imoh Umoren and featured William Benson in the lead role alongside Saidi Balogun, Kelechi Udegbe and Martha Ehinome Orhiere. The film also features Herbert Macaulay's grandson, Wale Macaulay.[1] Other historical figures portrayed in the film include Alimotu Pelewura, leader of the Lagos Market Women's Association, Oba Eshugbayi Eleko, the Eleko of Eko at the time, Amodu Tijani, the Chief Oluwa of Lagos and Henry Carr, educator and administrator.[2]
Plot
The Herbert Macaulay Affair was set in 1920s Lagos during the Bubonic plague. It portrays Herbert Macaulay trying to call Nigerians to action in order to confront their oppressors. He led protests and wrote anti colonial articles in newspapers.[1] The film starts by depicting Macaulay's 1893 return from studying Plymouth.He takes up a surveying job in service of the colonial administration. The workings of the colonial administration frustrate Macaulay leading him to a life of rebellion.[3]
Cast
- William Benson as Herbert Macaulay
- Saidi Balogun as Eleko
- Kelechi Udegbe
- Martha Ehinome Orhiere
- Tubosun Ayedun
- Sunday Afolabi
- Mary Kowo as Alimotu Pelewura
- Phillip Jarman
- Stanley Matthews
- Obiora Maduegbuna
- Lolo Eremie
- Wale Macaulay
Themes
The Herbert Macaulay Affair expires the themes of love, loss and tragedy depicted by Macaulay's activism.[3]
Production and release
The film explores about 3 decades of Herbert Macaulay's life where he continually rebels against the colonial government. Imo Umoren was inspired to make The Herbert Macaulay Affair while working on a documentary chronicling the 100 year history of Nigerian national figures.[3]
Some scenes in the film were shot in Jaekel House and Mapo Hall.[4]
Reception
A writer for Pulse Nigeria noted that films like The Herbert Macaulay Affair can help bridge a gap in teaching history to Nigerians[3] as there was a preexisting misconception that Herbert Macaulay was a white man.[4] A reviewer for YNaija however commented that the film was one of the most memorable flops of the year 2019 due to "tepid technical details matched with a half-baked screenplay and wooden actors."[5]
References
- ^ a b Olowoyo, Ganiyah (2020-10-01). "NigeriaAt60: Seven movies that tell Nigeria's history". Retrieved 2021-10-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Toromade, Samson (2019-10-29). "The Herbert Macaulay Affair: 5 historical figures who featured". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d Toromade, Samson (2019-10-28). "The Herbert Macaulay Affair movie review". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Ibiyemi, Ayodele (2020-01-19). "The Herbert Macaulay Affair: A Sign of Things that Should come –Ayodele Ibiyemi". The Lagos Review. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Okiche, Wilfred (2019-12-13). "#YNaija2019Review: 1929, Herbert Macaulay Affair, Makate Must Sell…disappointing films of the year » YNaija". YNaija. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)