Kunle Afolayan

hey ekpo fam, join us as we dive into the the original Anikulapo movie review ! (“original” being that this is the first plot/script for the anikulapo movie storyline, as opposed to the sequel released later on). Anikulapo the movie” is a mystical folklore drama that is set among the Yoruba people of the erstwhile Oyo Empire. The Oyo Empire, a powerful and domineering kingdom during its apogee (1650–1750), was situated in what is today Southwestern Nigeria. ‘Anikulapo’: The one who has death in his pouch tells the story of an enthusiastic young man, “Saro.” who ventures to the Oyo Kingdom with almost nothing but sheer will and determination in search of better opportunities.  Saro would eventually rise to prominence despite numerous challenges, including death. The movie, shot entirely in Yoruba, is directed by Kunle Afolayan who has partnered with global streaming platform Netflix in a multi-title agreement. The Plot For “Anikulapo movie” Anikulapo, the movie opens with an apologue to ‘Akala’, a mystical bird which personifies death with the power to harvest souls or resurrect a person if it deemed fit especially in cases of untimely deaths. The movie then introduces “Saro” (played by Kunle Remi) a weaver who embarks on a quest for better opportunities in the Oyo Kingdom. In Oyo, Saro meets “Awarun” (Played by Sola Sobowale) an older lady, previously married and rumored to be a’man eater’ by the village folk. Awarun offers Saro a home and convinces him to work in her ceramics workshop while he sorts out the modalities of his ideal trade as a weaver. In the palace, Queen Arolake (played by Bimbo Ademoye) The king’s youngest and ‘favourite’ wife, famed for her ravishing beauty and splendor, is taunted and bullied by her co-wives. She is particularly bullied by the King’s first wife, Queen Wojuola, who continuously badgers her because of her ‘vane’ beauty and barrenness. Meanwhile, Saro soon finds favour in the eyes of his host and benefactor, Awarun they fall in love and the relationship soon spirals into an intimate affair, with Awarun openly showering and lavishing Saro with special treatment and gifts. With massive assistance from Awarun, Saro would eventually have enough to set up his fabric weaving business in Oyo. At the palace, life continued to be intolerable and full of anguish for Queen Arolake as well as Queen Wojuola and her co-wife would continue to make life insufferable and unbearable for Queen Arolake. They even go as far as poisoning her. The king’s favoritism for Queen Arolake did not make it any easier. Kunle Afolayan makes a cameo appearance as Akano Erin, a rich and admirable merchant and one of Awarun’s lovers. A jealous Saro confronts Awarun, only to be sternly warned and rebuked about involving himself in her affairs. She would, however, give her blessings when he met his ideal partner. As recompense, Awarun lands Saro an astounding and aspirational opportunity to weave clothes for the palace. On Saro’s visit to the palace, he is instantly smitten and enthralled by Queen Arolake’s beauty. In a shocking twist, Queen Arolake is also enamored by Saro’s charms and she ambushes Saro on his return from the palace, and they ‘take a roll in the hay’. Saro’s visits to the palace also arouse passion from Princess Omowunmi (played by Eyiyemi Afolayan). The ‘illicit’ tryst between Saro and Queen Arolake quickly intensifies and becomes very intimate and they soon profess affection for each other and exchange chronicles from their lives. Both eventually devise a plan to elope but are discovered by a heartbroken Princess Omowunmi. While Queen Arolake manages to escape the palace, Saro is not as fortunate, and he is soon arrested and condemned to death. Arolake watches in hiding as her lover is beaten and tortured to his death. After the guards leave, she weeps over his body through the night. Arolake is awoken by the flight and screeching of the mythical ‘Akala’ bird, and she runs to cover. Akala adjudges Saro as unworthy, but before it reaps his soul, Arolake comes out of hiding and strikes Akala, and it takes flight, leaving behind a black gourd. Arakole picks up the gourd and harnesses its power to revive Saro without even realizing it. She would then hide the gourd and keep its existence a secret. The two would journey through the forest until they encountered a hunter from a nearby village, Ilu Ojumo, who would offer them shelter and guide them back to the village. The hunter returns to the news of his son’s death. Arolake then realizes the power of the gourd and, revealing it to Saro, offers him the gourd to harness its powers and make himself famous and powerful. Although hesitant at first, Saro would eventually heed and revive the dead boy, much to the bewilderment of all present. Word soon spread about Saro’s ability, and he would come to be known as Anikulapo, the one who has death in his pouch. News of Saro’s power to raise the dead would come to the attention of Oba Aderoju, the king of Ilu Ojumo, who would indorse and formally receive him into his kingdom. Interesting fact: the role of King of Ojumo is played by Hakeem Kae-Kazim, a British-Nigerian. To conceal his accent, Kunle Afolayan casts him in a non-speaking role. Saro settles in the village of Ilu Ojumo and is exalted and revered as the possessor and manipulator of death, attaining the status of a god. This ‘godlike’ status would, however, be attended with pride, arrogance, greed, and lust. Saro would take advantage of his position to acquire riches and even more wives, including Omowon (played by Ariyike Owolagba), his housekeeper, whom he impregnated. The passion between Saro and Arolake would eventually grow cold, and he would take a liking to his later wives, who would make jest of Arolake, calling her barren and the fugitive wife of a king. The Prince of Ojumo, heir to the throne, dies, and the king sends for Saro