Segilola Ogidan’s Tainted Canvass

Her own experiences of sexual exploitation in different forms by men and women from when she was five and how those events shaped her as an adult, manifest in Segilola Ogidan’s Tainted Canvass, a movie which starts screening soon, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

In the light of the ongoing case brought against Nollywood actor, James Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha, who was accused of molesting a minor by Princess Adekola Adekanya (Princess), Tainted Canvass, a movie which opens on May 16, appears topical and timely, albeit handy on the issue of child sexual abuse. The feature film tells a poignant story of the dangers facing children in the society. Directed by Segilola Ogidan and produced by Orwi Manny Ameh, the movie gets its official premiere in collaboration with Alliance Française de Lagos and Igodo films.

Featuring great stars like Segilola herself, Kehinde Bankole, Tina Mba, Efa Iwara, Nonso Bassey, the film explores mental health and motherhood, and the psychological effect of the sexual exploitation of children in adult life. ‘Tainted Canvas’ follows the story of its central character, Morayo, a London-based artiste, forced to recall horrific childhood memories of her mother, Rose (Kehinde Bankole). She takes a journey back to Nigeria where she must fight to overcome the experiences that molded her damaged mental state as she confronts painful family secrets.

According to Ogidan, who also stars in the lead role, ‘Tainted Canvas’ is loosely based on some of her childhood memories of Lagos and the need to spotlight the effect of child abuse and postpartum depression. Once speaking on the inspiration behind ‘Tainted Canvas’, Ogidan admits that it’s loosely based on her childhood memories of the city and the need to speak up about child abuse and postpartum depression. Both topics spoken about in hush tones in Nigeria.

She said: “I feel that a lot of abuse happened to a number of children not because their mothers didn’t care, but in fact because they were going through something of their own and on this occasion postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis”. The story unveils the process of healing she had to undergo to let go of the past that haunts her.

When it first screened at the Sedona International Film Festival in Arizona last year, it got the first-time director basking in the euphoria of her first win amid the Coronavirus pandemic as ‘Best Drama Feature’. Sharing her excitement on the premiere of the film “Tainted Canvas” on Instagram then, Segilola wrote: “… I finally did it. My first feature. My Directorial debut. A story close to my heart that has been in development for many years because it kept evolving because I kept evolving.

“It’s not sensational in any way. But it is a rollercoaster. Of emotions. That range from pain, to anger, to love, to hate, to love again and then to hope. It’s based on my own experiences over the years from when I was five of sexual exploitation in different forms by men and women and how those events shaped me as an adult. For years, I saw myself as ugly and unworthy of true love. I’m a painter. And so the best way I knew to rid myself of some of that pain was to paint. But those paintings which I ended up burning were tainted because I felt tainted.

“I tried to end my life a few times. But God had other plans. However, now as a woman with my own beautiful kids, and surrounded by so much love from my friends and my stunning family, I am able to flip the narrative and instead of see myself as ‘ugly’ because of the taint, I am beautiful because the taint makes me a wonderful and unique masterpiece.”