‘The Man Died’ Continues Global Festival Tour: Powerful Adaptation of Soyinka’s Prison Notes Makes Waves

Segun Atanda/

Following its October 5 screening at Lagos’ Quramo Festival of Words (QFest 2024), The Man Died—the cinematic adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s prison memoir—continues its tour of prestigious international film festivals.

Directed by renowned filmmaker Awam Amkpa, produced by the legendary Femi Odugbemi, and penned by UK-based scriptwriter Bode Asiyanbi, the film has garnered critical acclaim for its raw portrayal of Soyinka’s 27-month incarceration during the Nigerian Civil War.

While the film is yet to hit cinemas or streaming platforms, its impact is already being felt across the globe. From its symbolic premiere at the Alliance Française in Lagos on Nobel laureate Soyinka’s 90th birthday, to a highly-anticipated screening at London’s Africa Centre in July, The Man Died has cemented itself as a must-see.

Next, it will grace screens at the Accra Streamfest in Ghana today, followed by appearances at the Film Africa Festival in London, Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, and the African International Film Festival in Lagos this November.

The film, which stars Wale Ojo as Soyinka, delves into the psychological toll of solitary confinement and the personal triumph of turning suffering into a powerful literary voice. Amkpa and Odugbemi’s masterful storytelling is now captivating audiences beyond Nigeria, with screenings planned for top-tier academic institutions like Harvard, Oxford, and New York University, as well as key global film festivals like Berlinale and FESPACO.

The global tour of the film is promoted by the Foundation for the Promotion of Documentary Film in Africa, conveners of the iREPRESENT Documentary Film Forum and promoters of the annual IREP International Documentary Film Festival.

Before hitting the global circuits, The Man Died, which stars a galaxy of  renowned and notable names in the Nigeria film industry, is being considered for special screenings at educational institutions in Florence, Italy; Abu Dhabi in the UAE; Jo’Burg, South Africa as well as Ivy League institutions in the USA, including New York University; Harvard University; Oxford University; and at Ithaca College, among others.

As The Man Died embarks on its worldwide journey, it continues to honor Soyinka’s enduring legacy while pushing boundaries in African cinema.

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