Wole Soyinka’s Prison Memoir “The Man Died” Adapted Into Film, Set For Release In July

‘The Man Died’, a memoir of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s prison experience initially published in 1972, is set to be released in July this year, on the stable of Zik Zulu Film.

The snippets of the historic movie captured the intricate parts of the narrative that form an account of the story which will make a fascinating cinematic experience for the world and the global community at large.

Produced by Prof. Awam Amkpa, the two minutes thirty seconds trailer offered firsthand, Awam’s easy, unique style of directing that lets the actors get on with the roles, but focuses on the shots he wants and manages to balance the technical and the visuals. The trailer disclosed the principal cast of the movie like British-Nigerian actor, Wale Ojo, Sam Dede, Nobert Young, amongst others.

The Man Died – Wole Soyinka’s memoir of his arrest and 22-month imprisonment during the Nigerian Civil War – is coming out as a feature film, coinciding with Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday anniversary. Speaking shortly after the release of the trailer, Wale Ojo, who was cast in the lead, said it’s one of the high points of his acting career to have played Wole Soyinka in the ‘The Man Died’.

Shot mostly in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State, the renowned playwright Awam Amkpa, earlier in an interview with BookArtVille, said that he had received Soyinka’s nod to produce the film. The book does not follow the conventional storytelling pattern. It is a memoir of the author’s extended conversation with himself in confinement. The movie is coming on the stable of  Zik Zulu Films.

Ferdinand Ekechukwu