Spotlight on stars of Soyinka’s biopic ‘The Man Died’ | The Guardian Nigeria News

The Man Died, a feature film inspired by the “Prison Notes” of Africa’s first Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, will have its “Special Premiere Screening” on Friday, July 12, in Lagos. The “Strictly by Invitation” event, is designed as a flagship of the global celebration of the 90th birthday anniversary of Soyinka (who is 90 on July 13). Shot entirely in Nigeria – Lagos and Ibadan – late 2023, the 110 -minute fictionalized adaptation of the stories narrated in the prison memoirs is directed by the cineaste, culture scholar, academic, former student and long-standing associate of Soyinka, Awam Amkpa and produced by the ace storyteller and media content producer, Femi Odugbemi for the renowned film company, Zuri 24 Media, the screen player Bode Asiyanbi had hinted that the feature is “not a bio-pic of the prison life of Soyinka, but an expanded narrative on his prison experiences. Over 100 film workers of varying specialties and industry experiences according to Producer Odugbemi featured in the project with notable performers including Wale Ojo, Sam Dede, Nobert Young, Francis Onwochei, Edmund Enaibe, Segilola Ogidan and Ropo Ewenla. The follow spot light is on the cast and crew of ‘The Man Died’. They put in their all to make the movie adaptation tick.

Awam Amkpa (Director)
A FORMER student and long-standing associate of Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Awam Amkpa, Dean of Arts and Humanities, & Vice Provost at the New York University, NYUAD, and Global Network Professor of Drama, Social and Cultural Analysis, NYU New York is the director of the movie and the force behind the films which as he hinted includes stories that will be found in his subsequent memoirs; Ibadan Penkelemes Years; and You Must Set Forth at Dawn. A trained theatre artist, filmmaker and culture scholar, Amkpa is currently Professor of Drama, Film and Social and Cultural Analysis, at New York University Abu Dhabi. Amkpa hinted that the film that was produced by ZuriMedia24, with generous financial support from the New York University, Abu Dhabi, was shot by an entire Nigeria crew with no input from any foreigner, except in the post-production. Amkpa explained that the decision to rely entirely on an entire local production resource to realize the film was a deliberate and intentional choice. He said in making such a film based on the “colourful and fascinating life of enigma who is also an eminent global citizen, authenticity is very important. We need to stress on the input of people intimately familiar with the cultural and political environment that shaped the Nobel laureate and his narratives, irrespective of their skill sets.”. Author of Theatre and Postcolonial Desires (Routledge, 2003), Amkpa is director of film documentaries and curator of photographic exhibitions and film festivals. Amkpa has written several articles on representations in Africa and its diasporas, representations, and modernisms in theater, postcolonial theater, and Black Atlantic films.

Femi Odugbemi (Producer)
AN accomplished and well decorated motion picture practitioner, Odugbemi, renowned for his indelible signature on many successful movies and TV series projects, including Maroko, Gidi Blues, Eve, Code Wilo (movies) and Tinsel, Battleground, Movement JAPA, The Covenant (TV), signs ‘The man Died’ as producer. A voting member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar Awards) and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards), among other film service roles, the producer’s hat for a movie of this magnitude fits Odugbemi who has helmed and produced a number of projects that not inspire but has sparked and continues to spark meaningful dialogue to inspire positive change in Nigeria. Chair of the jury of several editions of the African Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) described the film by Awam Amkpa as not just a memoir, but a testatment to the resilience and courage of the human spirit in the face of oppression. continues: “It vividly chronicles Soyinka’s experiences during the Nigerian Civil War, highlighting the brutal reality of political imprisonment and the relentless struggle for justice and freedom’’ Odugbemi remarked adding that through the film, the producers aim to inspire young people to embrace their role in demanding humanistic ideals from our nation’s political leadership.

Nobert Young (Prison Supritended)
ACCOMPLISHED actor and dramatist Nobert Young brings his A-game to bear in ‘The Man Died’. The Delta native and University of Benin graduate of theatre arts featured as Prison supritended. Young is not new to stage and screen acting. He has appeared in several productions such as ‘Checkmate’, Third Eye, Tinsel, and Family Circle. In addition to his work in television and films, Young who is married to the multi-talented artiste and broadcaster Gloria Young has also appeared in several plays and stage productions. His filmography include The Black Book, Choke, Lugard, Day of Destiny, Gold Statue, and King of Boys

Wale Ojo (Soyinka)
A well-decorated actor that has earned several nominations and a couple of wins as an actor including a nomination at the AMAA and a winning as leading actor at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards in 2024, Ojo plays Soyinka in Amkpa’s ‘The Man Died’ and those who have been privileged to see he film said the ‘Breathe of Life’ star was believably in character. Described mostly as a UK-Nigerian born actor, Ojo’s acting career in the United Kingdom began in 1986 where he played a very young OTHELLO in the east end of London. He has gone on to appear in most of the theaters in the United Kingdom and in a couple of movie productions in Nigeria including ‘Phone Swap’ which won him the award for best actor at the Nigeria Lite Entertainment awards, ‘CEO’, ‘Render To Caesar’ ‘Blood Sisters’ and ‘A Place Called Forward’.

Segilola Ogidan (Morenike)
SEGILOLA Ogidan is Morenike in ‘The Man Died’. An actress, writer, director and filmmaker, Segilola star of Kunle Afolayan’s ‘A Naija Christmas’ studied Media Arts at Royal Holloway, University of London. A cinema major at Masters degree level from University of Bristol, Segilola delightfully interpreted her role in ‘The Man Died’ and she contributed in giving the movie its credit I acting. Ogidan started acting professionally after her studies in school when she landed a role in Peter Pan at The Kings Head Theater, a film directed by Stephanie Sinclaire. She appeared in RedTV series ‘The Men’s Club’ and also appeared in some other movies including ‘Fault Lines’, ‘Pay Day’ and Mona’.

Sam Dede (Yisa, Soyinka’s interrogator and torturer)
ACTOR, dramatist, theatre scholar Sam Dede is in ‘The Man Died’ as Yisa, Soyinka’s interrogator and torturer. Popular as Sam Dede, the University of Port Harcourt trained theatre practitioner is one actor to look out for in the film. Star of a number of Nollywood critically acclaimed movies including ‘The Mayors’, ‘In My Country’ and ‘Issakaba’, Dede’s oher movie credits include ‘The Last Burial, ‘Kamsi’, ‘Igodo’, ‘Blood Money’, ‘Blood and Oil’, and ‘5 Apostles’.