''Saworoide'' is a 1999 Nigerian

political Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with decision-making, making decisions in social group, groups, or other forms of power (social and political), power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of Social sta ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

, produced and directed by

Tunde Kelani Tunde Kelani (born February 26,1946), popularly known as TK, is a Nigerian filmmaker. In a career spanning more than four decades, TK specialises in producing movies that promote Nigeria's cultural heritage, particularly that of the Yoruba. He ...

. It stars

Kola Oyewo Kola Oyewo (born 27 March 1946) is a Nigerian veteran actor, dramatist, and scholar. Early life He was born on 27 March 1946 at Oba Ile, a town in Osun State, Southwest (Nigeria). Education He attended Obafemi Awolowo University where he obtai ...

Bukky Wright Oluwabukola Sekinat Ajoke Wright (born 31 March 1965), known professionally as Bukky Wright, is a Nigerian actress, businesswoman, and politician. She runs the fashion house ''B Collections'' and the beauty spa ''B Wright''. Biography Bukky was ...

Lere Paimo Lere Paimo , (born 19 November 1939) is a Nigerian film actor, film maker, producer and director. Early life Chief Lere Paimo, MFR was born on November 19, 1939, in Ile Ikoyi Odan, Osupa, Ogbomosho, a city in Oyo State southwestern Nigeria. Hi ...

, Larinde Akinleye, Peter Fatomilola,

Kunle Bamtefa Kunle Bamtefa is a Nigerian actor known for playing the role of "Uncle Pablo" in ''The Johnsons'' family sitcom and Chief Fuji in '' Fuji House of Commotion''. Filmography *''Ose Sango (1991)'' *''Checkmate'' (1991-1994) as Chief Tajudeen *''M ...

, Adebayo Faleti, Kayode Olaiya and Doyin Hassan. ''Saworoide'' depicts the setting of an old Yoruba norm in the town of Jogbo where a person can not be crowned king without a ritual which involves the playing of saworoide (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

: brass bell talking drum). It was listed as one of the 10 best-selling Yoruba movies.

Plot

In an ancient time in the town of Jogbo. The priest tells the king that there will be a pact between the citizens of Jogbo and their kings, using a brass bell in the ritual process, and that the ritual process would also be carried out of succeeding Kings. A new king, Lapite has just been elected in Jogbo; there's been a long-standing saying that kings of Jogbo don't get to be influential and wealthy as kings of other territories. Lapite finds out from his friend and Chief, Balogun that it is due to the old tradition of rituals made to kings, and as a result Lapite cheats the process. Balogun however later learns from the same elderly man who told him, that anyone who cheats the process faces the consequences of sharing his kingship with someone else, and that if he ever listens to the Saworoide (brass bell) being played, he would die of headache. Lapite as a result sends assassins to kill the family of Adebomi, whom he considers to be threat (but they however didn't kill their kid), and also orders the capture of the custodian of Saworoide, Ayangalu, along with his drum. Ayangalu is however tipped off by one of the chiefs and he escapes together with Adeboro's son, leaving behind Saworoide to be captured. The new king takes another wife, Tinuola, who's already pregnant for her lover, but has been advised to keep it a secret so as not to lose the life changing opportunity of being a queen. Lapite connives with modern investors to start mass exploration of the town's resources, particularly

logging Logging is the process of cutting, processing, and moving trees to a location for transport. It may include skidder, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or trunk (botany), logs onto logging truck, truckstyrant A tyrant (), in the modern English usage of the word, is an absolute ruler who is unrestrained by law, or one who has usurped a legitimate ruler's sovereignty. Often portrayed as cruel, tyrants may defend their positions by resorting to ...

. Some members of the farm owners' association consult the town priest, Amawomaro and they are told that the only way out is to make sure the Adé idẹ (Brass Crown) is absent from the palace for 15 days. The militants seek external help; one of the logging firms gives funds, but secretly to use them naively for their own interest. They stage several attacks such as hijacking a ceremony to steal the king's crown, which is later recovered with the help of the logging firms after being given a bribe. Aresejabata starts to make friends with Araparegangan the supposed daughter of Lapite. He opens up to her that while tipsy, that he is the son of Adebomi that was killed. Lapite finds out and orders the assassination of Aresejabata, not minding Arapa being killed in the process. Tinuola overhears and tells her daughter to run away along with Arese from the gathering and the village. The military stages a successful coup, killing Lapite; Officer Lagata takes over the government of Jogbo. Balogun and Seriki again liaise with the new government. The former militants plan to kill the new king by making Ayangalu, who has been in exile to play the Saworoide in Jogbo. One of the militants betray them and Ayangalu is arrested. Ayangalu has however used his drum to call on his son just before he is arrested. His son, Ayanniyi returns and plays the Saworoide just after Lagata is crowned, and he subsequently dies of

migraine Migraine (, ) is a complex neurological disorder characterized by episodes of moderate-to-severe headache, most often unilateral and generally associated with nausea, and light and sound sensitivity. Other characterizing symptoms may includ ...

. The soldiers are hypnotized to be on the side of the people; Aresejabata receives the initiation to become king.

Cast

as Oba Lapite *

as Olori Tinuola *

as Balogun *Larinde Akinleye as Seriki *Ayantunji Amoo as Ayangalu * Peter Fatomilola as Amawomaro *

as Ogagun Lagata * Adebayo Faleti as Baba Opalaba *Kayode Olaiya as Bada *Laide Adewale as Otun * Jab Adu as Lagbayi *Tunde Salisu as Kujenra *Moji Bamtefa as Agbegilodo *Doyin Hassan as Olojowon *Lai Karounwi as Fadiya *

Kunle Afolayan Kunle Afolayan (born 30 September 1975) is a Nigerians, Nigerian actor, producer, and director. He is credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in Movie theater, cinemas, and impro ...

as Aresejabata * Kabirat Kafidipe as Araparegangan *Biodun Aleja as Kangidi *Bose Adewoyin as Asabi * Akinwunmi Isola as Ifa Priest *Tunde Ojeyemi as Inspector of Police *Goroso as Adebomi *Segun Oni as Ayanniyi

Sequel

The sequel to ''Saworoide'' is titled '' Agogo Eewo'' and was released in 2002. Kelani announced that he was working on a prequel titled ''Iyan Esuru'' via his

Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...

handle on 10 April 2021.

References

External links

* *{{Rotten Tomatoes, id=saworoide_1999, title=Saworoide 1999 films Yoruba-language films Films directed by Tunde Kelani Nigerian supernatural films 1990s supernatural films Nigerian drama films 1999 drama films 1990s political films Nigerian political satire films 1990s English-language films

Plot

Cast

Sequel

References

Further reading

External links