Classy evening with Elesin Oba

The recent premiere of Elesin Oba (The King’s Horseman) at the EbonyLife Place, Lagos, saw one of the best cultural displays and re-echoed the importance of culture, especially among Yoruba people.

Although palm wine was conspicuously missing at the well-attended premiere, the event showed the best of culture and array display of beauty, elegance and deep interpretation of history.

Elesin Oba is a screen adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s acclaimed tragic play Death And The King’s Horseman. Based on real-life events in Nigeria in 1943, Elesin Oba is the first of Soyinka’s works to be made into a feature-length film.

Set in the Oyo Empire, between sunset and sunrise, the king’s horseman, Elesin Oba, must commit ritual suicide to follow his deceased master into the afterlife. His best intentions are derailed by his sexual desires, which lead to catastrophic consequences and end in a deadly clash with the British rulers of the day. The horseman is unable to fulfill his ultimate commitment to the king, leaving his spirit to roam the earth, spelling doom for the land and its people.

The original Death and the King’s Horseman was a stage play, written by Prof. Wole Soyinka, who won Africa’s first Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. The screen adaptation was written and directed by the late Biyi Bandele.

The film stars Odunlade Adekola as Elesin Oba, Shaffy Bello as Iyaloja, and acclaimed musician Olawale ‘Brymo’ Olofooro, making his screen debut as the Praise Singer. It also stars award-winning actress, Omowunmi Dada who plays the bride, a symbolic character. Deyemi Okanlawon, and veteran actors such as Jide Kosoko and Kevin Ushi join them. Also featured are Jenny Stead and Mark Elderkin as Jane and Simon Pilkings, Langley Kirkwood, and a special appearance by Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Joke Silva.

Speaking during the premiere, Adekola, said: “We have a lot of great actors who could have played the role of Elesin Oba, so, I was happy when I was invited to take up the role. It was amazing to be part of the project. It’s very good to work with professionals on set. I enjoyed myself on the set; it was made easy, and seamless for me.”

On his part, Deyemi said: “People really understand the intricacies of the story, the response from the audience, the sarcasm, the understanding of everything gives me a great feeling. I am proud to be part of the project.”

On the challenges faced, Dada said: “It was more interesting than challenging. The character takes me through a bit of a roller-coaster; being a happy girl to being a girl stuck to tradition and having to get married to Elesin Oba.

“The story further made me understand that the work of art is forever. This is a piece that was written years ago and we had a cinematic adaptation of it in 2021. So, the truth is that no matter the medium of communication, art is forever. My time on set was amazing. Being with all the actors, directors, and producers was fun. This is one film I enjoyed being part of. A lot should be expected from me.”