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Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Nigerian culture battles British disdain; suicide, sex.
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Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman
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Based on 1 parent review
Film shows devotion to duty and HONOUR. Too bad my country has none of these. So I'm sad
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What's the Story?
In ELESIN OBA: THE KING'S HORSEMAN, Elesin (Adunlade Adekola) is an important Nigerian chief whose duty it is to kill himself now that his king has died. This act will shepherd the king into a peaceful afterlife and keep him from wandering the earth and bringing evil to his people. For these reasons, the entire village enthusiastically celebrates this rite. The ceremony seems joyful and Elesin seems eager to do what he must, but the suicide is postponed when a beautiful girl catches his eye and he requests a last moment of sexual pleasure before he goes. Iyaloja (Shaffy Bello), a leader revered for her wisdom, persuades the village to support a wedding and a deflowering of the virgin directly before the death ritual. British authorities sneer at but tolerate many Nigerian practices and the view of the scheduled suicide is that it's barbaric and illegal. British police arrest Elesin after his wedding but before he can kill himself, bringing him shame and the contempt of his people. His son Olunde, sent to England to attend medical school, arrives wearing a Western suit and tie on the dramatic night to pay last respects to his duty-bound father, only to find that he has been prevented from fulfilling his responsibility to this people. The mix of angry son, shamed Elesin, and the sneering Brits results in a tragically unnecessary outcome.
Is It Any Good?
The trouble with Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman is that its trajectory is clear from the start and lots of repetitive filler doesn't make that any less of a fatal flaw. Perhaps the subtitles aren't well translated but there is every indication that the villagers are happy about Elesin enjoying a virgin before taking his leave, so it's inexplicable when they suddenly all blame the man for not committing suicide after he's been taken into British custody. No one warned earlier in the day, "Are you sure you'll have time to kill yourself? Maybe skip the virgin part of the evening and go straight to the death part?" Apart from that major oopsie, the movie is a tedious explain-a-thon, a litany of long and repetitive political and cultural arguments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ancient notion that when a ruler dies his or her servants and underlings must also die. How do you think that came to be?
Why does the village allow the chief to have a last sexual fling before his ritual suicide?
Why are the villagers angry at the chief? Do you believe he shirked his duty? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 4, 2022
- Cast: Odunlade Adekola , Shaffy Bello , Deyemi Okanlawon
- Director: Biyi Bandele
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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