KUNLE AFOLAYAN UNITES ANTP AND TAMPAN IN ANIKULAPO

By the time the much awaited cinematic effort of Kunle Afolayan finally hits the screen, many firsts would definitely be recorded in its favour.

Anikulapo, the real definition of epic film dated 17th century and set in the old Oyo empire would come as the first core Yoruba native language film on Netflix; first film to be 100% shot in a film Village, Studio and Resort sitting on 40 acres of land and owned by a film Director in the recent times and it would surely be the first epic film in the league of game of thrones to have assembled all the big names from the Yoruba filmmaking groups in one film location- Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners, ANTP and Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN).

It will be recalled that, the leadership tussle that started during the inconclusive elections into the leadership of ANTP between Comrade Ashaolu and Dele Odule on 10th February, 2010 held at Ace Hall, Yemetu, Ibadan, Oyo state, subsequently presented Ashaolu as a winner of the re-run election that was held in Ilorin on 22nd, September, 2010, but boycotted by Dele Odule and his supporters.

Ashaolu’s victory did not go unchallenged until the rulings of Justice Bolaji Yusuf of the Federal High Court 3, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State declared Comrade Ashaolu as the authentic and duly elected President of the association on Thursday, 30th January, 2014. While the almost four years power tussle for the heart of ANTP lasted, Prince Jide Kosoko whose tenure had expired as at the time of the election was asked by a court to extend his reign pending judgement.

On Sunday, 2nd February,2014 Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello)- erstwhile President of ANTP , Jide Kosoko- Immediate past President of ANTP and others stakeholders met at the Ikorodu residence of Oga Bello, behold, Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), a breakaway group was formed. Dele Odule became the first National President at an election of 20th December, 2014.

As it stands today, Adewale Elesho remains the national President of ANTP while Bolaji Amusan is the national President of TAMPAN and the issue remains unresolved despite all entreaties for peace.

February 2010, there was a game of the throne amongst the great actors. February 2014, a breakaway faction was created from the once closely knitted family of theatre and film. Fast forward to February, 2022 one man with extreme knack for professionalism is bringing almost all the actors that were involved in the drama of separation together in one epic film, one language, and one location to achieve one goal. It can only be the face of new-Nollywood, Kunle Afolayan on the set of Anikulapo filming on the site of KAP Film Village Studio and Resort, Igbojaye, Komu in Itesiwaju Local Government, Oyo state.

Earlier in the month of February, Tunde Kelani, the Ace Cinematographer and most researched African film Auteur had given a hint, “Encounters on Kunle Afolayan’s film location of epic proportions at Igbo Jaye continues. On Kunle’s new creation, the old Guard will meet the new Guard and together we shall take the world by storm. Mark my words!”

Check out the line up of the Yoruba finest thespians on the set of Anikulapo: Araba of Osogbo, Baba Ifayemi Ebuibon, Alhaji Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande), Sola Sobowale (Oba), Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), Chief Basiru Ishola (Oloye Ajere), Prince Jide Kososko, Dele Odule, Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo), Sunday Omobolanle (PappyLuwe), Ayodotun Emmanuel (Ayoka Ologede), Tunde Bamgbode (Fokoko), Adewale Eleso (Enunjawaya),Fathia Balogun, Bimbo Ademoye, Aisha Lawal, Moji Afolayan, Yetunde Ogunsola, Kunle Remi, Debo Adebayo (Mr Macaroni), and a host of others.

In the words of Babatunde Onikoyi, an erudite scholar in African cinema on the film Anikulapo, “The cinematic idiosyncrasies and tendencies of Kunle Afolayan are well known. Beneath everything comes something exciting, something new….We will anticipate this cultural offering.”

While the world await the history making film as put together by Afolayan and his team, we hope that the warring parties can for once seize this opportunity to realign for the betterment of the industry and generations thereafter.

Photograph credits- Peter Okosun for Golden Effects Pictures