Elesin Oba Set To Hit The Theatre In October

The theatrical release of the Nigerian film “Elesin Oba” (The King’s Horsemen) will take place from October 28 to November 4, 2022.

The films, which is based on actual events that happened in Nigeria in 1943, will be shown in a number of cinemas, including EbonyLife, Filmhouse, Genesis, and VIVA, in places including Lagos, Ibadan, and Abuja, according to media reports.

Elesin Oba, the king’s horseman, is forced to perform ceremonial suicide in order to follow his slain lord into the afterlife in this historical drama set in the old Oyo Empire.

His sexual urges, however, cause his best intentions to be disrupted, which has disastrous effects and culminates in a violent confrontation with the British overlords of the day.

The horseman’s inability to keep his ultimate promise to the monarch results in his ghost wandering the earth and portending calamity for the region and its inhabitants.

Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka originally wrote the stage play “Death and the King’s Horseman“. One of Soyinka’s works has never before been adapted into a feature film. Additionally, it was the final endeavour of the late Biyi Bandele.

Starring in the movie are singer Brymo, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowumi Dada, Jide Kosoko, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Odunlade Adekola as Elesin Oba, Shaffy Bello as Iyaloja, and Omowumi Dada.

The co-founders of FilmOne Entertainment, Kene Okwuosa and Moses Babatope, expressed delight for the movie’s release.
“There is a new wave of indigenous epic dramas steering the course of African storytelling on to the global stage, and we believe that ‘Elesin Oba’ will make a massive, positive impact on our continent. We are excited to partner with Ebonylife Films in bringing this masterpiece to the big screen.”

Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife Group and executive producer of the movie, said that while developing this picture, they wanted to stay loyal to the original work, which is already well-known throughout the world as a fantastic example of African drama.

She also notes it to be an honour witnessing the engaging exploration of African tradition and thinking on screen.