By Anote Ajeluorou
The culture community turned out in large numbers last
Thursday at the special premiere of the film adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s Ake: The Years of Childhood at MUSON
Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Directed by Dapo Adeniyi, Ake is the first film on a literary personage in the country, obvious
reason many writers and other culture workers were in attendance.
The list was
impressive: Mr. Odia Ofeimun, Profs. Femi Osofisan, Adenike Osofisan and Remi
Raji-Oyelade, Mr. Chike Ofili, Mr. Kunle Ajibade, Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Ms
Yinka Davies, Information Commissioner, Lagos State, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Mr.
Segun Oyekunle and Mr. Mahmoud Ali-Balogun among others. Dr. Olaokun Soyinka
represented the family in the absence of the hero of the film.
According to Dr.
Soyinka, “I’m excited to be here. I particularly thank Adeniyi who has pursued
his dream of making this film doggedly. I’m very impressed by what he did; it’s
a labour of love, a film that should be made. I thank Adeniyi for realising his
dream”.
The director,
Adeniyi said he was seeing the film for the first time on the big screen having
only worked on it on a small screen during pre-production. So, “I was a bit
nervous. I’m looking forward to seeing the film. It’s a delight”.
Although a
transposition of the childhood memoir unto film format and lacking the expected
gripping, cinematic thrill, its realisation among the rocky, rugged Abeokuta
terrain turns out a delight of some sort. Particularly, viewers will find the
precocious and daring young Soyinka a thrilling character that animates the
film.
What is more,
memorable characters like the famous, history-making Ransome-Kutis of Abeokuta
resonate in the film. But some things seem out of sorts, particularly the
costume. Some of it is too modern. Soyinka’s mother Eniola (Wild Christian) is
so Anglicised in the film that she doesn’t wear iro and buba except
during the protest period. Besides, viewers don’t get to know why her son nicknames
her Wild Christian.
Nevertheless,
viewers will generally enjoy the laidback style and some hilarious aspects of
the film, particularly Rev. Ransome-Kuti’s school court session and how one of
his students outwitted him in a case in his own court.
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