[REVIEW] Sacrifice and Sacrilege: Taming An Uncultured Culture of Mutilation


By : Ameenah Gambari 



Mutilation and tribal incision — as a traditional means of beauty or identification — is what has been recently gaining attention and rejection. The act is therefore termed as being barbaric, especially in the 21st century. Those who objected to this act make a lot of sacrifices, such as breach of relationship from brethren who believed they once shared the same value, and the banishment from the society because condemnation of the culture is sacrilegious.

Because of the need, and the rise above this skinning culture that tends to skin children alive, this features as the main theme in “Alakiti” — a Yoruba tragi-comedy play subtitled in English – a 2018 movie  produced by Prodigy and Pens communication with Jumoke Odetola and Abiodun Jimoh among star actors and actresses — where Diana, an innocent girl was mutilated in the name of his father’s culture. Diana’s mutilation rose hullabaloo and caused brouhaha into the community. Since the father approved to the dreaded act and was carried out in the absence and without the consent of the mother, Diana’s mother snides the process and breaks all chains of connection with her husband.

Diana wouldn’t have been mutilated, the father, of course is not a fan of the tribal mark — even though he came from a royal house — he still doesn’t have a hitch on his contourless cheek. But for a sudden selfish interest in politics, and the means to appease the people of his village, he stood and watch the cheek of his child being sliced with blade. This queering decision by Diana’s father got a surprise and unofficial divorce from her mother.

The sacrifice Diana’s father made for his political ambition would have been better if he was the one mutilated and not an innocent girl — an unconscious child for crying out loud.

*THEMES*

Alakiti portrays mutilation as a tribal mark in a barbaric way, this termed as a forceful incision of the children face — something they grew up detesting. Diana’s father finally warred against the act, fought his brethren and bring a revolutionary declaration of an unwanted and unwilling mutilation. “Many people with tribal marks do not like it…or they cannot get the opportunity of the job they wanted,” simply because of an uncultured culture.

Also, the sacrifice of Diana led to the birth of Diana’s Foundation — a non-governmental organisation which battles the child abuses and mutilation. The non-governmental organization fights against the subsequent cases of child abuse and other archaic culture that tends to suffer innocent children.

Betrayal of Diana’s mother is another theme in the play. Mutilation of Diana came in the presence and with approval of her father simply to gain acceptance from the people of the village for his political career. This, of course, dragged the play into another direction — of war and hatred — which happened for months between the couple.

Generally, the play themes sacrifice and sacrilege, breach of trust and rejection, and of course love — one true feeling shared between the both couple. The traditional play plays the role of change, draws attention to the inhumane act and prays its rejection.

As a movie produced recently – 2018, there are lots of improvement comparing to the early stage of movie production in Nigeria in terms of scenery and graphics, but I think it would have been a condiment to the movie and a part other lovers of movie would have liked, had it been the King – after all the deed is done, does not enmeshed in a ridiculous death dearth. Though, It’s  as a result of justice quested for by Diana’s mother, but still, the producer would have chosen other comeuppance rather than such cultural denigration – a slap on the King and the villagers’ cultural tenet.

Anyway, with and without exaggeration, the producer made a very good choice of music – suitable for the message the movie conveys. And as well, such a suspenseful soundtrack – though its Yoruba word usage is too rich for an average speaker, but still, it sort for emotion and drive watchers more into the movie while watching.