Intro
- Movie Title: House of Ga'a
- Year of Release: July 26, 2024
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Genre: Historical, Epic, Based on Real Life and Events
- Starring: Femi Branch, Funke Akindele, Femi Adebayo, Tosin Abraham etc.
- Director: Bolanle Austen Peters
Today we have yet another interesting movie review.
It is titled House of Ga'a, a Historical drama set in the 18th Century that mirrors the life and times of a tyrannical Kingmaker who stirred the turmoil and unrest that characterised the era.
The movie takes a more in-depth look into this political demagogue, his meteoric rise, power lust, narcissism, and eventual decline.
The movie paraded an ensemble of one of the most sought-after and sophisticated casts within the Yoruba genre of the industry and the mainstream of Nollywood.
Cast
Bashorun Ga'a
is played by Femi Branch. A self-conceited and narcissistic fellow whose ego is larger than life itself.
He is a warrior, a distinguished member of the Oyomesi, a Kingmaker, and the most influential figure in the entirety of the Oyo Kingdom and its outliers.
Oyemekun is played by Mike Afolarin. He is the lovestruck son of the Bashorun. Unlike his father, he is emotional and a pacifist.
Ayinba is played by Funke Akindele. She is a consort to the Bashorun. She manages the domestic affairs of the Ga'a household as the most senior Iyawo to the Bashorun.
She is perceptive, quite suspicious, and an eagle-eyed woman.
Edan Asiko is played by Toyin Abraham, she like Funke, is one of the many wives of the Bashorun.
Olukuye is played by Femi Adebayo, he is the junior brother to the Bashorun, as well as a trusted subordinate. He was appointed as one of the Governors of the Kingdom's outliers- Ibadan.
Like his brother, he is greedy and covetous.
Sasa Leniyan the shaman, is another interesting role, and Ibrahim Chatta is Cast to depict this character of a powerful medicine man who intercedes and communes spiritually for the Bashorun.
Zainab is played by Tosin Adeyemi, a captured slave who ensnared the Bashorun with her charm and feminine wiles.
Aare ona Kakanfo is played by Yemi Blaq, a loyal servant of the empire and fearsome warrior.
Olubu is played by Lateef Adedimeji, the junior brother to the Bashorun who he considers a vagabond. He played a very ignoble and important role towards the end of the movie.
Alaafin is played by four characters. Firstly, Kunle Coker who is cast as Alaafin Labisi. He appointed Ga'a as the Bashorun and leader of the Oyomesi after the latter's successful military campaign.
The next Alaafin was Awonbioju played by Muyiwa Ademola.
Alaafin Agboluaje was played by Gbenga Titiloye.
Alaafin Majeogbe is played by Dele Odule, he became the nemesis of the Bashorun who he took extreme measures to subdue.
Asipa was played by Bimbo Manuel.
Olaotan is played by Jide Jblaze Oyegbile, a dutiful son to the Bashorun. Like his father, he is strong and willful, a trait that made him formidable, he was appointed the Governor of Dahomey.
Seun Akindele is cast as Onisigun, one of the loyal sons of the Bashorun, he was also appointed to govern Egbaland.
Juliana Olayode is cast as Bibanke, one of the junior and numerous wives of the Bashorun.
Other casts include Idi El Farouk played by Kevin Arobiloye, Kizz Daniel's former impressionable bodyguard.
Bambam Olawunmi-Adenibuyan is cast as Eyinoju, while her spouse Tope ‘Teddy A’ Adenibuyan plays Ojo Agunbabaro, a warrior and loyal son to the bashorun,like his brothers, he was also sent to Ilorin to serve as its Governor.
Stan Nze makes a cameo appearance as the defeated Nupe Warrior while Ali Nuhu is cast as the Seriki, also a cameo appearance.
Crew
Writer/Screenplay - Tunde Babalola
Editor- Iseoluwadoyin Emmanuel & Temitope Folarin
Colorist- Jarryd Duttroit
Score- George Aeogry & Alan Derian
Sound Design- Daniel Olaoluwa
D.O.P- John Demps
Producer - Bolanle Austen Peters
Executive Producer - Bolanle Austen Peters who also served as the Director of this swashbuckling historical drama.
Plot & Story
The story centers around a very bloodthirsty and incredible figure who lived in the Oyo empire during the 18th century, the timeline of this story circa 1750–1774.
It is a classic retelling of this historical piece but takes a more profound look into the historical precedence of this era, it gives context to the importance of this character during the heydays of the Oyo empire that spanned many communities and territories.
The plot gives more credence to the historical significance of the figure in focus, the constitution of the hierarchy within Oyo Ile, the making of a despot, the transient nature of power, and the tragedy that culminates in the end of tyranny.
Character Development and Performance
Femi Branch came into this role fully prepared. His powerful facial expressions and inflections coupled with his oratorial dexterity made him the man for the role.
I loved his well-thought transitions from warrior to Kingmaker and finally to a blood-thirsty despot enmeshed in a cesspit of vainglory, nepotism, and pride.
Mike Afolarin portrayed the character Oyemekun, the lovesick son of the great Bashorun.
Unlike his father, he chooses a life of contentment where he can live with one woman he loves, and somehow move far away from all the drama and powerplay his father is deeply entangled in.
Funke Akindele who is cast to play the role of Ayinba, is one of the most influential female characters in the life of the Bashorun.
She is pesky and unnecessarily jealous, especially for the head of the wives of the Bashorun.
Funke ensured she infused her usual personality to give the role a Historical run.
Ibrahim Chatta has always remained one of my faves, especially in epic drama roles, portraying the role of a shaman whose forte is voodooism or "juju", as we call it in this part of the world.
Chatta did an amazing job with this depiction, and like the exceptional actor he is, the dude lived and breathed the role.
Femi Adebayo who was cast as Olukuye was quite minimal in the role, I believe the historical description of this character could be ascribed to the reasons for this. Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Was Femi Adebayo not properly cast in this movie?
Yemi Blaq who played the role of the Aare ona Kakanfo, was barely noticeable in the entirety of this flick, but it was refreshing watching him in a Yoruba language drama, an amazing novelty I'd say.
Tosin Abraham too was quite distant in her role as Edan Asiko, a gentle yet formidable wive of the Bashorun.
Her gentle and calm demeanor was tested during the ending scenes, and she surprisingly showed a dark and dependable side.
I truly loved the character Olaotan carefully depicted by Jide Jblaze Oyegbile, a warrior and a very influential one at that.
His role as the first son of the Warrior Bashorun Gaa was typically interesting to watch.
His thirst for blood and vainglory endeared him to his father, who saw a mirror of himself in his first son.
Tosin Adeyemi who played the role of the captured female Zainab, was another character that was spot on.
Her impeccable transitions from vulnerable slave to a loving concubine to the Bashorun and eventual villain who helped in demystifying the latter's nepotistic legacy were remarkable.
The inclusion of Kevin Arobiloye as Idi El Farouk added another humoristic twist to the drama, at least we get to see another artistic side to the man who has been stereotyped into the image of a bodyguard, though his role here was still similar.
Stan Nze showed his versatility after his iconic appearance in the Igbo Language drama - Afamefuna, you can read the review here, if you haven't done that already.
Though the role was quite a concise one, seeing him speak flaunt Yoruba even if it were a few lines, was a good one.
Casting & Directing
The cinematic direction of the industry is properly managed by the activities of good directors like Bolanle Austen Peters.
An Artistic aficionado and a great chaperone of the arts, she brought something extraordinary to this historical drama with her Directing.
The classic retelling of the story to match the timeline should be commended.
The only issue I had was with the casting, we have seen many epic Yoruba dramas like Jagun Jagun, and Anikulapo, but the constant use of the same faces especially as the Oyomesi is a tad boring I'd confess.
I discovered that Gabriel Afolayan made an appearance, a very brief one as the elder brother to the young Bashorun Gaa. Another very familiar face we see all the time.
Then Lateef Adedimeji has also been stereotyped into playing the role of a slow and in some cases, a stupid person. Like he did in Anikulapo, he reprised this character again, making it a cliché of sorts.
For this outing, I'd give Bolanle Austen Peters an A.
Visuals and Cinematography
Nollywood movies are beginning to gain global attention and this could be attributed to the outstanding cinematic expressions made by our D.O.Ps.
John Demps gave us some of the most mesmerising shots that would keep your eyeballs glued to your screen.
The aerial shots, camera angles with subtle movements, and detailed master shots gave a true aesthetic appeal and representation of what this historical drama is all about.
The night scenes were also unprecedented. This cinematic representation gets an A plus.
Story/Screenplay
The classic storytelling and character depictions, well correlated with the timeline of events were oddly satisfying.
I loved the fact that though it was recreated for cinematic purposes, the core objective Message of the story wasn’t negated and relegated to the background.
Though some scenes were largely unnecessary, especially those that had no business with the original historical account, their inclusion I believe was made to breathe life into the real personality of this 18th century villain.
The storytelling gets an A.
Editing & Special Effects
Nollywood Movies are gradually cascading into uncharted waters, and animation and VFX happen to be one of them.
This movie had its fair share of VFX and special effects that screamed a bit of Hollywood with the finishing of a Nollywood production.
Though some of the effects were quite amateurish, some were captivating like the scene with the snake bite, then the one where Ibrahim Chatta conjured an Elephant. Good animation I'd say.
The fighting choreography looked real, but I discovered that the Bashorun who happened to fight his foes for hours emerged from the battle not smeared with blood, or broken enough sweat for someone battling.
Common, this was vague and funny, coupled with the blood work that was also not convincing.
Not forgetting the scene where the opposing soldiers clashed with the men saddled on horse back, which you could tell was wrongly superimposed to give you an illusion that was sadly equivocal, to say the least.
I loved the setting of this drama, kudos to the colorist. Things were properly graded with finesse taking into account the true imperfections of each material like skin tones, vegetation, etc.
For this Editing and colour grading, I'd award an A plus to the duo.
Then for the special effects, I'll give a B to the VFX studio.
Soundtrack & Sound Design
It's a good thing that our Nollywood studios are beginning to take audio seriously.
I also loved the score of the movie, that it did not interfere with the dialogue is also commendable. The sound design gets a generous A.
Theme & Message
The retelling of a story with such a Historical significance, ensuring the main theme was not distorted sounds good.
The power of greed, nepotism, and vainglory remains counterproductive, the Bashorun was so egotistical to the point that he felt indispensable, a trait we deal with to this day as we are inundated with leaders who have no business with leading.
Sadly we are still suffering from many Bashorun Gaas who believe the world revolves around them and their many indiscretions.
The story captures the end of tyranny followed by what I could refer to as a melodramatic climax to an era of bloodletting, nepotism, and wrongful deaths that characterised the Oyo empire at the time.
Summary
House of Ga'a portrays an amazing retelling of this historical drama, good acting with the right nuance was perfectly relayed, then good a camera work, and beautiful Visuals that were so surreal.
The movie gets an 8.5/10.
Have you watched the House of Gaa?
What could be better?
Do you think the historical description was distorted to suit the Cinemas?
Let us know in the comments section.
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Till when next we see you, ciao!
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