By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Thomson Makolo’s latest movie, Acholo, premiers at the Lagos Silverbird Cinema, on a high note.
The movie begins with an eerie sound. The deep forest provides a setting of an unsettling security situation. Then came a family desperately calling the phone of their missing daughter, only to ring out in vain.
The movie tells the story of a young man devastated by the gruesome murder of his sister and his search for justice. At every point he turns, he met the nonchalance or complicity of critical stakeholders.
The movie evokes the traditional African mysticism in dealing with societal menace.
Acholo is an Igala word that describes the nemesis that befalls an evildoer.
The movie, rendered in Igala, is subtitled in the English language to make it enjoyable for non-speakers of the language.
The sound and lightning deployed in the production of the movie are the stuff of a blockbuster. The natural settings of ramshackle accommodation depicting village life, forest and streams. all increased the plausibility of the story.
Makolo said the storyline was inspired by the obvious realities in Nigeria.
“The critical stakeholders are not taking some decisive decisions that they need to take. And the more we keep quiet, the more we delve into more trouble. Just like we did see in the movie from the traditional leaders to religious leaders, everyone has a role to play. And this guy went round, asking them what they are doing, why are they not saying anything. And everyone tends to tell him they can’t do anything,” he said.
Makolo complains of how religious and traditional leaders are failing in their responsibility to say the truth. But he commends the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. He said the Oba stands out in speaking for the young people of Nigeria.
“Let me use this opportunity to pay glowing tribute to the Ooni of Ife who has been speaking out and speaking in the language of young people, the language of critical stakeholders who should speak for the land and speak for the people. Until we are able to do that, we are heading for more doom,” he said.