On July 13, 2013, which was also the 79th birthday of the world famous writer, the film crew started rolling the camera in what is set to be a ground- breaking movie production.
The cast is already expressive of the seriousness and the epic dimension of the project. Initial scenes, relating to the formation of the Egba women’s movement, led by the late Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was also the mother of the deceased musical icon, Fela Kuti, was taken.
On the set at the first phase of the production’s schedule was Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, starring as Madam Amelia, also nicknamed as “Kemberi”, a prominent Egba women’s leader. Amelia is also a fire-brand public speaker, who took the stage in her captivating rendition during the historical encounter with the Alake, at the wake of the Egba women’s riots.
The riot which temporarily deposed the powerful monarch took place in 1945 and ultimately earned Nigeria the abolition of the poll tax on women and the institution of The Universal Adult Suffrage (meaning that women could also vote at local and federal elections), laws still in force today.
The film is scheduled for an international premier in 2014. That will be in time for two outstanding events: the centenary celebration of the Nigeria amalgamation of 1914 and the 80th birthday of Prof. Soyinka.
Also on ground at the early stages of the shoot were theatre and movie icons such as Ben Tomoloju, (who is playing the role of Essay, Soyinka’s father), Yinka Davies (playing Mrs. Kuti) and Akin Sofoluwe (Soyinka’s grandfather)
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