Frontline activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti aka Lioness of Lishabi, who died in April 1978 following the invasion of Kalakuta Republic by unknown soldiers, is being honoured with a biopic by Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (BAP). The film, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was screened last week to a select audience at Terra Kulture Arena, Lagos, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.
For over an hour, guests at the 400-sitter Terra Kulture Arena on Victoria Island, Lagos last Tuesday night were treated to another cinematic masterpiece Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a biographical film that pays tribute to one of the most influential figures in African history. Directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters, Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (BAP), as follow up to her films such as The Bling Lagosians, Collision Course and Man of God, the film takes the viewers on an epic journey through the life and times of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a woman who defied the odds and challenged the status quo in her quest for freedom, equality, and dignity.
Funmilayo, who was nicknamed Lioness of Lisabi for her outstanding role in leading the 1948 tax revolt by the Egba women against the burden of income tax, was not only an activist, but also an educator, a philanthropist, and a mother, whose legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren, especially the renowned Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. In fact, the film is a stunning portrayal of Funmilayo’s courage, vision, and impact that will captivate and inspire everyone who watches the film.
The film follows the story of Fela’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, from her pioneering days as the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School to her marriage to Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti. Together with her husband, they challenged oppression and created the Abeokuta Women’s Union, igniting a fierce battle against colonial and traditional rulers who stood in the way if fairness and justice.
As a throwback, the film opens with a scene showing the ignoble unknown soldiers invading Fela’s home at Kalakuta Republic resulting in his 77-year-old mother, Funmilayo being thrown from a two-storey building. From that moment, the attention of the audience got captured, especially the Gen Zs, a refreshing opportunity for them. The narrative of the life and times of Funmilayo were now being told by Joke Silva who acted Funmilayo, while fielding questions from Reuters News reporter, Isabelle. Indeed, the narrative artfully contrasts Funmilayo’s tireless activism with her delicate balancing act as a wife and mother, revealing the indomitable spirit of a woman who changed the course of history.”I was known as Frances Thomas, but changed to my Yoruba name Olufunmilayo instead as a protest against colonialism. I learnt to soak up the oil, not just the stew,’ she admitted of her doggedness.
From her encounter with the District Officer (DO) over the tax imposed on market women, to physical challenges she had with the Parakoyi, the Alake Palace security or dogs, and the mobilization of the women into pressure group like Abeokuta Ladies Club, which later transformed into Abeokuta Women Union, in order to connect the market women, Funmilayo demonstrates rare commitment to the course of women in Abeokuta.
She charges the women to be resolute in the protest against the income tax imposed by Oba Oladapo Ademola (Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), the Alake of Egba then. “They said we should pay for water….It is fine for us to up the ante. It is a journey,” she said, while mobilized the women to Alaka Palace, where she gave the traditional ruler three conditions that will make the women put an end to the protest: stop the taxation of market women, stop the 10 percent increase in taxation and reverse the salaries of the Parakoyis, palace security.
All through the film, the cast features groundbreaking performances from Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankole, Ibrahim Suleiman, Jide Kosoko, Dele Odule, Adebayo Salami, Keppy Ekpeyong, Adunni Ade, Omowunmi Dada, Patrick Diabuah among others.
Austen-Peters, the driving force behind the film, expressed her enthusiasm on where the film might be headed, stating, “Submitting Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti for the consideration of Nigeria Official Screening Committee (NOSC) towards 96th Academy Awards next year is a humbling and exhilarating experience. Our team poured heart and soul into this project, and this submission is a testament to their unwavering dedication.” BAP Productions, known for its commitment to cinematic excellence, views this submission to NOSC as a significant milestone in its history. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti emerges as one critical contribution to the important conversations people are having now around women, identity and the constant push for equality.
On the choice of Funmilayo for the film, she said: “As a woman, obviously, she’s one of the strongest women that you can point to in Nigeria’s history. She has done exceptional things that all leaders are proud of. As a visionary leader, she singlehandedly mobilised market women and the elite of Abeokuta to change the laws that affected women adversely, taxation laws. In doing this, it was at great cost to herself, her family, etc. But, she went for it. So, I would like to say this was exemplary, and for a woman who was also an educator, a mother, a wife, she had everything going on. For me, there’s no better person that we could have said we wanted to tell a bio about. Funmilayo is that person.”
Bolanle Austen-Peters noted that Funmilayo mobilised thousands of women in Abeokuta in an age where there was no internet. “How did she do it? How did she have that muscle? How did she have that conviction to go against the colonial government and traditional rulers? It’s phenomenal,” she added.
The film, she said, is to express that ‘we have strong women in Nigeria, and this is something that we want to showcase to the world that our women are strong in our nation. So, we are telling the world that we have strong women in Africa, and we know we do. Women who can challenge the status quo and who have the belief in a cause.’
Also, the film is a reminder of the strength of women in the nation’s socio-political life, and a relief to many as it brings that part of our history back to people’s consciousness.
Bolanle Austen-Peters disclosed that the film, which has been acquired by Amazon Prime, is yet to be premiered adding that it is no longer hers. But, noted that she will inform the public the date of its premiere as soon as Amazon Prime confirms the date.
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was on screen at Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos last week, and has been described as a must-watch for all. It is not merely a biopic but a call to action, encouraging viewers to reflect on the past and consider how they can contribute to a more equitable future.
As Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti continues to captivate audiences and generate discussions, it is clear that the film is more than just a cinematic experience; it is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the indomitable spirit of a remarkable woman. It is also a reminder of the age long oppression of Africans by the colonial administration, which equally got the knock through the Aba Women Riot in 1929.
This extraordinary biopic serves as a tribute to Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’s legacy, reminding us all that the fight for justice and equality is a journey that we must each undertake, inspired by the lessons of the past.
In a world where stories of resilience and empowerment are needed more than ever, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.
Ace filmmaker and story teller, Femi Odugbemi said of the film: “In the end, this film will be historically significant not because of how well it represents the past but how powerfully it inspires our future. Because Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti is a love story, a story of self-discovery, self-assertion. It is also a hero’s tale inspiring in us the courage to speak truth to power and the commitment to a cause bigger than self. FUNMILAYO is also an important idea. Change is possible when we choose to act. An idea that the only ceiling to leave unbroken is the sky and that environmental, cultural and political bias only calls to the warrior within us to stand. FUNMILAYO is simply a profound and provocative cinematic experience. And by all measure an artistic success.”
