Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti: An engrossing Nollywood biography

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti is one of the well-made biopic films in the Nollywood movie industry that means to so many that it tells a legendary story and is very perspective in detail.

Thus, every time one sets his or her sights on a movie that is based on real-life incidents, there are expectations. Audiences expect themselves to be taken to the precise era of those occurrences and be enveloped by the numerous factors of the film. “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” by Bolanle Austen-Peters, living up to these expectations of the viewer and more, explores and re-introduces African icon, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. There is an outstanding cast in the film, such as Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankole, Iyimide Ayo-Olumoko, and Ibrahim Suleiman.

Of all the methods the one that stands out best with Nigerian citizens is Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who is better known as the mother of Fela Kuti, the genius behind the Afro-Beat musical genre and the first woman ever to drive a car in black man’s Nigeria. However, the movie goes a little further to show other unknown features of her life that many individuals of this present generation may perhaps be unaware of.

Thus, the narrative of Funmilayo’s transformation is depicted in the film in detail. Starting with her early school years when she was the first female student of the grammar school in Abeokuta as a result of her zeal for learning, to the time when she found her life partner in Abeokuta, and Awe’s description of the culture of the United Kingdom during her further education, every moment is depicted. Her primary goal of educating people in her community resulted in the mid-1950s Abeokuta historical event.

It captures one of the most historic Nigerian women’s demonstrations in the then Egbaland Abeokuta in 1947. One of the reasons behind the protest was to present grievances that market women were being subjected to high taxes and oppression. The director effectively shows the performance of the protest scene, the struggle reflected on women’s faces and their Yoruba liberation songs. The part where they use leaves, Yoruba incantation, and the native wears also enhanced the movie’s ability to symbolise unity in their fight against oppression.

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The makers could not afford to forgo every single opportunity that the movie offered them and this aspect was well captured. The post-production session of the film editing and colour grading is superbly done. A nostalgia for the 1990s, the use of newspapers, bikes, dresses, and tapes from that era with historical places also capture the scene. However, the context of the arrival port in Abeokuta depicts simplicity amid activities and also offers a sneak peek of how overseas ports looked when people emigrated as seen in books including In Dependance by Sarah Ladipo Manyika.

Thus, the aspect of narrative achieves an optimal proportion between the adherence to factual details and the capacity to provide rich descriptions of the setting. One interesting aspect is that the director does not overcrowd the frames and single-mindedly shows Funmilayo’s leadership during the strike. Indeed, it is worth noting the most trivial points — the purchase of currency, as well as the specifics of architectural design.

 In portraying the youthful Funmilayo, a young lady named Ayo Olumoko did justice by depicting a young prodigy of Funmilayo and her father who provided for her the basis for boundary crossing, while Kehinde Bankole was relatively perfect in playing the grown-up Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. This well-finished sound and spirited narration from Joke Silva who portrayed the elder Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti helped the audience through this fairly interesting historical drive without missing any hole in the road.

“Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” is not only an endeavour dedicated to a unique performer but a valuable lesson that people’s actions can effectively influence changes for the better if they want to protect justice and improve the systems of education regardless of the challenges in their ways.

Post Credit: 49thStreet