Actor Odunlade Adekola has explained why playing the role of Elesin Oba in the late Biyi Bandele’s Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman was easy for him.
The film is based on the stage play Death and the King’s Horseman, which was written by Wole Soyinka, who won Africa’s first Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. The screen adaptation was written and directed by Biyi Bandele.
Produced by Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Films, Elesin Oba is based on real-life events in Nigeria in 1943 and set in the Oyo Empire in which the King’s horseman Elesin Oba must commit ritual suicide to follow his deceased king into the afterlife.
However, his best intentions are derailed by his sexual desires which leads to catastrophic consequences and ends in a deadly clash with the British rulers of the day. The horseman is unable to fulfill his ultimate commitment to the king, leaving his spirit to roam the earth, spelling doom for the land and its people.
Odunlade who spoke about his role in the movie at the private screening in Lagos said he had no difficulty portraying the role as members of the cast and crew were professional.
He said: “I feel so great especially from the comments of people after seeing Elesin Oba. This is what I do every day and it’s so easy for me. It was so great for me on Elesin Oba set because I worked with professionals so it was very easy for me to get into that character. Most especially because of our late director, a great director that knows how to handle actors.”
Elesin Oba will start streaming on Netflix on November 4.
The movie also stars Shaffy Bello and singer Olawale Olofooro popularly known as Brymo, making his screen debut. They are joined by Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, and veteran actors, Jide Kosoko and Kevin Ushi. Also featured are Jenny Stead and Mark Elderkin, Langley Kirkwood, and a special appearance by movie legends Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Joke Silva.
