Augustina OkpechiKING of Boys is a 2018 Nigerian crime political thriller film written, co-produced and directed by Kemi Adetiba.
The sequel – King of Boys: The Return, which aired this year as a limited series on Netflix, like it’s prequel, made great impact on Nollywood; but it’s by no means flawless.
The movie portrays how the Nigerian society is controlled amidst violence, crime and ethnic cohesion, and the consequences they have on culture and values. Consequently, King of Boys sets the table for conversations and arguments.
In this episode of The Argument Series, Prime Business Africa brings on board authors/journalists — Uri Ngozichukwuka and Tomide Olukuade — to the table in conversation around the themes and issues treated in the ‘King of Boys: The Return’.
Read also: King of Boys: Great Movie, Too High On Ethnic Angst
URI NGOZICHUKWUKA is a Banker-turned Brand Communication/Media Consultant. She is also a United Nations women trainer on financial inclusion and holds certifications in several areas. A writer and a published author, Ngozichukwuka has written several human interest articles, especially on gender inclusion. As an inclusion advocate, she is the convener of Empathy Driven Women International Initiative (EDWIN).
TOMIDE OLUKUADE is an accomplished broadcast journalist and media entrepreneur. A writer and author of several books, Olukuade is a repository of a tribe of knowledge that edifies. He sits on the board of a number of not-for-profits, both locally and internationally. He is the founder of SPILL Africa.
Great Movie, But High On Ethnic Angst
I finally watched Kemi Adetiba’s raving movie on Netflix, “King of Boys.” Fantastic. Great script. Great delivery! Good blend of Igbo speaking and Yoruba speaking. It’s all ours. Very Nigerian.
However, that is the LOUDEST and MOST TRIBAL MOVIE I ever watched. Practically a story about the underworld and gangsterism drugs and violence. Guess what ?? All the Igbo barons were murdered in cold blood by their Yoruba counterparts from the other side. Charly boy didn’t see it was an ethnic statement. He was too happy to be relevant again in entertainment in ‘King of Boys’. He was outsmarted by the Yoruba Outgoing king and replaced by a young Korede known as Makanaki. He was shot to smithereens. Same for the only other Igbo drug war Lord whose entire family was erased alongside.
Kemi Adetiba should have tried harder not to let this Igbo angst be so blatant. Anyone who didn’t see that is blind. But hey, why not? It’s really a pity that no matter the exposure and education, this anti-Igbo angst sits solidly in the bedrock of the souls of many. Tribalism, they have not come to understand, takes away. The message was not subtle at all. No difference between the loud messages from the bandits and Boko Haram et al.
If the Arts cannot eschew these, then who will?
We thought the Arts was the last hope. Even, I think it was Pompei that told Julius Caesar to do anything to the people and Rome but don’t touch the Arts.It appears there is no respite for Nigeria with the likes of Kemi Adetiba .
Who finances her? Do we finance our entertainment industry? Do we understand the war is on all fronts and fours? Gosh!!!!!
I still marvel at the unbridled show of “kill them all,” we are the owners of the land. Did no one really see this? Am I the only one that saw this?
I wonder what the response would be if there were going to be one. The tribe that was cast in bad light here has good writers. Good movie producers. Good actors, very very good actors. Imagine if this had become a tribal war. Sometimes it’s not just about business, it’s about good national conscience and values. A war for equity!
At this time good conscience should be driving the narrative.We all know how to tell good subtle ethnic stories. King of Boys to me was a violent tribal movie; Netflix or not.
I Rise In Kemi Adetiba’s Defence
THE brilliance of this piece is indeed gripping; an intellectual rod on the back of artistic deviance.
Truth be told, I never saw this and my mind was not lent to that shade of thought in the euphoria of the serial superlatives the film evoked. The riveting tale of the dark underbelly of society and its intercourse with the uppity political class was a masterfully told story of a reality that’s obscure to the generality of the the viewing population. And therein lies the genius of the movie and its faithfulness to the artistic tenet of mirroring reality. The technical and aesthetic astuteness as well as the class acting all hold light to this overarching brilliance.
I believe what your observation has thrown up is the need for vigilance; for total quality management to extend beyond the traditional quantitative and qualitative elements; its tentacles must reach into our nuanced socio-historic realities to ensure that there are no scalded sensibilities.
Whilst commending your depth of thought and mature emotions, I wish to rise in Kemi Adetiba’s defence. I am reasonably persuaded that she neither wallows in the gutters of ethnic bigotry nor gobbles the putrid liquids of hate and pride. To do so would be tantamount to taking flights down the abysmal grounds of souless existence. Kemi is of a finer breed and the heart that beats under her chest is not that of a jingoist. Her friendships and allegiances advertise a collage of tribes and tongues in Nigeria. And that includes Igbos, Yorubas, ijaws, Edos and northerners.
Methinks the plot of the movie was more concerned about faithfulness to delivering moments of gasps and sighs than executing a subtle tribalistic agenda. If we push the latter narrative which, to all intents and purposes, was never a consideration, we would have succeeded in voiding this production of its artistic genuineness and authority.
Giving Kemi Adetiba the benefit of the doubt in this matter may be more beneficial to all. Kemi is of that generation that is not mired in the inanities of tribaI dichotomies. Alis Propriis Volat
She flies with her own wings.In conclusion, the words of this scripture has always moderated my thoughts and I believe it is apt at this time: “To the pure, all things are pure
We Need To Appreciate Ethnic Sensibilities In Arts
GREAT defence! I am glad the writeup got the traction required for a better appreciation of our various ethnic sensibilities in the Arts.
Art mirrors the society and I can say the tribal slant does mirror our reality. The crime and the plot does too. The betrayals and loyalty just as well. So we are telling great story promoting lots of positives and negatives.
If I take the movie in its entirety I would say I am really gobsmacked the way people raved about it. The glorification of crime and gangsterism in our society . The characters were so appealing which in its own was quite an art . However we can’t gloss over the way the movie assuaged very depraved cravings of the society. Lots of people even have their favourite criminals including yours truly who had an ethnic side of the criminals.
We are a society sickened by criminality from top to bottom. Ridden by rape banditry and kidnappings. Armed robbery is so old school now even. It’s comes at the bottom on the crime table.
Do we need a movie that promotes crime pays? To be at the the top we only need to be more deviously criminal than the opponent? No character was pristine or admirable yet it’s a movie we are all celebrating.
Like I told someone I didn’t want to do the whole movie.
Chadwick Boseman the late hero of wakanda movie tells of how he refused a role in Hollywood role that would have portrayed the Blackman in all his inglorious ways. The young actor had just $50 in his pocket but wouldn’t opt for a quick trip to hollyland.Anyway let’s let it rest. You have done a great defence for Kemi Adetiba. I’m sure more people would do same.
I still stand by my observations and like I said happy about the traction. We would learn and make better movies and not in any slight or subtle ways malign any ethnicity.
We can’t go on that way. Like Sakadelli asks, So when is it okay to really stop this?
Thanks For Bursting My Bubble
Okay, I really doff my hat now because, yet again, you strike at the heart of the matter. I had been hoodwinked by bright colours, camera angles and masterful role interpretations to the neglect of the message. Come to think of it, I never interrogated it once. I’ve been trapped in the bubble of excitement for a super production. Hmmm. That’s how we shut down some vital parts of our intellect and turn on the cosmetic parts. Thanks for bursting my bubble. True, it mirrors the society but it offers no redemptive cues.
You think wide and deep!
Powerful criticisms. I haven’t seen the movie and I think it’s high time I saw the movie.
Though from the lens of various reviewers, I think Ms Uli Ngozichukwuka has a good point.
Very interesting.