Actor Deyemi Okanlawon has defended Saro, the character played by his colleague Kunle Remi in Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo.
Set in the 17th century Oyo kingdom and directed by Kunle Afolayan, Anikulapo is the story of Saro, a travelling cloth weaver, who was beaten to death for having an affair with the Alaafin’s youngest wife Queen Arolake played by Bimbo Ademoye.
A bird brought him back to life, leaving behind a gourd with the power to raise the dead. Arolake who attacked the bird after it had saved Saro, picked the gourd and nursed Saro back to health.
Saro and Arolake were greeted with fortune after it was discovered that the former could raise the dead with the gourd which Arolake gave to him.
Greed and lust, however, caught up with the cloth weaver who raped Arolake’s maidservant and have children with her. He also allowed himself to be corrupted by the power of the gourd.
Defending Saro during an argument about which character deserves support, Deyemi picked Saro.
“Saro, we Yoruba men stand together, the Omo Ghetto star wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Anikulapo also addresses issues surrounding polygamy as well as exploring different perspectives of African culture.
The movie also stars Sola Sobowale, Taiwo Hassan, Adebayo Salami, Dele Odule, Yinka Quadri, Faithia Williams, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Mr Macaroni, Sunday Omobolanle, Toyin Afolayan, Kareem Adepoju and Hakeem Kae-Kazim.