The movie adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s stage play “Death and the King’s Horseman” by Netflix and EbonyLife, titled “Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman” is set to grace screens soon, as its world premiere will take place at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Directed by Biyi Bandele, the movie stars renowned actor Odunlade Adekola as Elesin Oba. Odunlade stars alongside Shaffy Bello, Olawale ‘Brymo’ Olofooro, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, Jide Kosoko, Mark Elderkin, Jenny Stead, Langley Kirkwood, Kevin Ushi, Drikus Volschenk, Fares Boulos ‘Oyibo Rebel.’ Ajoke Silva and Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett will also make special appearances in the movie.
EbonyLife CEO Mo Abudu, took to her Instagram handle to announce the TIFF Premiere.
“EbonyLife Films and our co production partners Netflix are pleased to announce that “Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman,” will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2022. Elesin Oba will feature in the prestigious Special Presentation category, the first Yoruba language film to do so.”
“The original Death and the King’s Horseman was a stage play, written by Prof. Wole Soyinka, who won Africa’s first Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. It is the first time that one of Soyinka’s works has been made into a feature film. The screen adaptation was written and directed by Biyi Bandele,” Abudu disclosed.
“Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman,” becomes the first Yoruba Language movie to premiere at TIFF.