Oluwatosin Enesi
In a post via his Instagram page, Awam Amkpa, the film’s director, said ‘The Man Died’ was inspired by Soyinka’s prison memoir.
During Nigeria’s Civil War in the late 1960s, Soyinka’s outspoken criticisms of the military government’s action during the war landed him in prison for 22 months.
Two years after the war ended in 1972, the Nobel laureate published the memoir, a chronicle of his experiences in prison.
The memoir explored themes like survival, perseverance and resilience.
The film adaptation of ‘The Man Died’ features Nollywood stars such as Wale Ojo (who played the role of Soyinka), Chidi Mokeme, Sam Dede, Norbert Young, Francis Onwochei, and Edmond Enabe.
Others are Segilola Ogidan, Simileoluwa Hassan, Christiana Oshunniyi, and Abraham Amkpa.
The film was written by Bode Asiyanbi and produced by Femi Odugbemi. It is expected to premiere in July, coinciding with Soyinka’s 90th birthday.
In 2022, Soyinka’s ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’ — published in 1975 — was adapted into ‘Elesin Oba’, the Netflix film.
His other notable works include ‘The Lion and the Jewel’ (1959); ‘The Trials of Brother Jero’ (1960); ‘Aké: The Years of Childhood’ (1981); and ‘You Must Set Forth at Dawn’ (2006).
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