HOUSE OF GA’A
BOLANLE AUSTEN-PETERS’ HOUSE OF GA’A DISTINGUISHES ITSELF FROM THE TYPICAL YORUBA EPIC
The novel Basorun Gaa written by Adebayo Faleti was shot as a movie in 2004, the story was also adapted and performed for stage by students in 2010.
Netflix has taken this epic tale engagingly further by streaming Bolanle Austen-Peter’s production of the didactic tale while delivering some entertaining story telling and brilliant acting.
Although rooted in Yoruba tradition, House of Ga’a goes beyond cultural boundaries. Its suspenseful plot and engaging dialogue appeal to both Yoruba and non-Yoruba speakers, keeping audiences engaged from start to finish. What could this story be about?
The movie begins with a vicious war scene between the Nupe and the Yoruba kingdom. Ga’a and his sons lead the Yoruba to victory, earning Ga’a the title of Bashorun of Oyo, a title he receives with disdain, feeling he deserves more accolades than what he is given.
After the war, Ga’a chooses a Nupe enslaved woman, Zainab, as one of his servants, eventually making her his wife, which displeases his other wives mostly because she is from another tribe. He then appoints his brother Olokoye as the governor of Ibadan and his first son Olaotan as the governor of Dahomey and sends his other sons to govern Egbaland and Ilorin. He however gives nothing to his younger brother Olubu, considering him a drunkard and a family disgrace.
On the other hand, Ga’a’s son, Oyemekun, is sent to Dahomey to be trained as a warrior. Oyemekun is in love with Princess Agbonyin, whom he had wants to marry until his father marries her off to his uncle Olokoye, the governor of Ibadan.
Meanwhile, as Bashorun, Ga’a remembers how the Alaafin, when he was a crown prince, beat his older brother Oluke to death. Ga’a considers himself the most powerful man in the kingdom, refusing to bow even to the emperor. Fearful noblemen allowed Ga’a to select the Alaafin, ensuring a ruler who would respect him and not demand his obedience.
Ga’a’s resentment towards the Alaafin grows, leading him to conspire with the Oyomesi against any non-submissive Alaafins. This continues until Majeogbe becomes Alaafin. Majeogbe, aware of Ga’a’s tricks, protects himself with charms and is determined to end Ga’a’s authoritarian rule. Majeogbe’s reign is marked by his efforts to stop Ga’a’s violence. At the wedding of Olokoye and Princess Agbonyin, Majeogbe proposes a one-on-one sword fight between his best warrior and Ga’a’s best warrior. Olaotan accepts the challenge, but Majeogbe insists that Oyemekun, who is less experienced, fight instead. Events after this shape the plot of the movie.
The dialogue of ‘House of Ga’a’ is predominantly in the Yoruba language. The story is told from the unique perspective of one of Ga’a’s sons, Oyemekun. This narrative style adds a layer of intrigue and keeps the audience engaged.
Though part of the story, the narrator is independent of the actual story, which helps deliver the backstory and the sub-stories so that they are cohesive from the movie’s central idea. The fact that the story is told from both a historical view and perspective view gives some subtle spice to the storyline. It was nice to relive the popular Basorun Ga’a story from the lense of contemporary storyline.
One beautiful thing about this story that made it appear well thought-through was the dialogue, the Yoruba language was rich in accent and diction, though some few cast struggled with the language, however, superb performance from the likes of lead cast, Femi Branch, and a few other actors like Funke Akindele, Ibrahim Chatta, Femi Adebayo, made those other loopholes noticeable, House of Ga’a is one movie the sequence in the story telling makes you forget what was not done properly.
We also cannot but talk about the relevant costume used, it was nice to see costume that fed us with rich knowledge of ancient Yoruba Kingdom, The film’s authenticity and meticulous direction respect Yoruba culture and its people. From costumes and location scouting to dialogue, the movie exudes legitimacy. “House of Ga’a” is an important film striving to stay close to historical accounts, which is reflected in the performances.
However, while we praise a job well-done, there are things that could have been better, for example, the way Sasa L’eniyan dies does not do justice to the intrigue the writer had fed us with from the onset, a man with such powerful voodoo shouldn’t have been killed that way.
Also, the SFX and visual effects could have been better for a movie that scores so high in impeccable storytelling, for instance, the scene where Ga’a and his slave are set on fire, what was that? We have seen lesser movies come up with better effects, Oh, did we just say Ga’a was set on fire? Oh, no more spoilers, go see the movie yourself, it streams on Netflix.
Notable cast in this are: Femi Branch, Funke Akindele, Muyiwa Ademola, Femi Adebayo, Ibrahim Chatta, Mike Afolarin, Seun Akindele, and a host of others.
Star Performer(s)- Femi Branch
Being a titular protagonist is never easy, if the protagonist falls below par, the whole movie can become distasteful to watch, Femi Branch starring as Ga’a was exceptional in this as he gave us a thrilling and entertaining watch.
Can-do-better Performer(s)- Teddy A
Acting as Ojo Agubambaro, one of the sons of Ga’a, Teddy A did look to struggle with the Yoruba language noticeably, well, we believe he should most likely do better in another Yoruba piece.
