Ayinla Omowura’s Biopic is Ready

Highly anticipated biopic on the life and times of Ayinla Omowura, the legendary Apala music exponent is finally set for release. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

The Tunde Kelani’s feature film has been confirmed to hit cinemas on June 18, 2021. The biopic follows the story of late iconic performer Ayinla Omowura. Confirming its release date, the ace filmmaker shared a teaser via Instagram with the caption: “Èdùmàrè sọ̀rọ̀ Mi dayọ̀ Mo wá nṣọpẹ́…Ayinla the Movie finally in Cinemas from June 18, 2021.” Shot in Abeokuta, the biopic follows Ayinla’s rise to fame and his tragic end.

Filming of ‘Ayinla’, a musical film started on December 2020, with actor Adedimeji Lateef in the lead role. ‘Ayinla’ also stars Omawumi Dada, Bimbo Manuel, Kunle Afolayan, Debo Macaroni, Ade Laoye and many others. The biopic was co-produced Jade Osiberu’s Greoh Studios.

The cinematographer known for his love of adaptation of literary materials and exploring cultural phenomenon says this is an important but unusual film by many standards. The ideation or obsession which gave birth to the movie, according to the veteran Tunde Kelani, lasted more than three years and refused to die despite twists and turns including the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie answers questions like who is Ayinla Omowura?

Why is his music still relevant after his tragic death forty years ago? What is the root that nurtured his craft and music? In Kelani’s opinion elsewhere, Abeokuta produced three major musical sons: “There is Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey who is a conservative but Ayinla Omowura was different because he was revolutionary. He grew up from a very poor background and he had to fend for himself.”

Incidentally, Kelani grew up in the beautiful town of Abeokuta, the cradle of economic and cultural power in the western region of Nigeria. Adding that, the shoot coincided with two related events that were held namely the anniversary of Tawakalitu Omowura, Ayinla’s favourite wife who passed on six years ago, and the 97th birthday celebration of Omowura’s lead drummer, Alhaji Rahman Adewole, aka Oniluola (one who drums self into wealth). Ironically, the latter, incidentally passed on shortly after his birthdate.

Born in 1933, Ayinla Omowura born Ayinla Waheed Yusuf, who grew to fame in the 70s with his genre of traditional African music called ‘Apala’, is considered one of the most original Yoruba musicians of post-colonial Nigeria. His music was popular in South-West Nigeria in the 70s. Sadly, the controversial music prodigy died during a brawl in a bar with his estranged manager, Bayewu in Abeokuta on May 6, 1980.

The enigma fondly called Egunmogaji or Anigilaje was at the peak of his meteoric rise to stardom when he met his untimely death. He was 47. Forty years after, his musical legacy lives on in ‘Ayinla’, having another moment in the spotlight. Although a biography “Ayinla Omowura: Life and Times of an Apala Legend” was released last year. The film is set in the 1970s and early 1980s been the time of the occurrence.