Elesin Oba - the movie lessons

Over the last few days, I watched Elesin Oba.

In Elesin Oba, we saw a man who knew his duty yet decided marrying a girl promised to another was the priority, then once he had his wedding night seemed to be delaying carrying out that duty. This gave Pickings the English colonial officer time to intervene in matters that were nothing to do with him.  In the end Elesin Oba lost more than he could have imagined. 

Lesson1, the central role played by the leadership of women in Yoruba culture and society as illustrated by Iyaloja.

Lesson2, the Yoruba believe that iwa (character) is very important, Elesin Oba could not or chose not to overcome his selfishness and control his appetites. 

Lesson 3, the Colonial bandits as represented by Pickings did a great deal of damage with their interference in what they did not understand. 

Lesson 4, we can do what we like but there are always consequences for our actions, in fact Iyaloja in one of her questions warned him. 

There's a market for these authentic Yoruba films and hopefully the reception this film and others have received will encourage Bisi Bandele and other Yoruba directors, actors like Odunlade Akekola to make more.