NIGERIANS have reacted to the recently announced upcoming TV series adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s classic novel, “Things Fall Apart”.

At the heart of this discussion is the casting of British actor, Idris Elba, as the lead character, Okonkwo.

The 1958 novel tells the story of Okonkwo, a strong Igbo man who navigates the challenges of pre-colonial life and what it means to live in what is now South-Eastern Nigeria.

The book offers a complex picture of pre-colonial Igbo society and the effects of British colonialism as it explores themes of cultural identity, colonialism, tradition, and change.

The film adaptation of this book, to be produced by Nigerian-British actor, David Oyelowo, has generated significant attention, making many Nigerians ask if the film adaptation could be as compelling as the original work.

Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express their reservations, arguing that a non-Nigerian actor might not accurately portray Okonkwo’s complexities.

They argued that Nigerians would best tell their own stories.

Nigerian creatives weigh in

The ICIR spoke with some creatives in the Nigerian entertainment industry and authors who shared their opinions on the issue.

Samson Kukogho 

Author and communication specialist, Samson Kukogho noted that as a professional actor and following his acting repertoire, Idris Elba was qualified for the role.

“It is my assumption that the movie dialogue will be English, and that eliminates the only genuine obstacle I would expect. We need to stop the noise.

“I strongly believe any good black actor will suffice as long as the language is not Igbo. Assimilating a character is what actors do, and Elba’s past roles suggest that he has the capacity to portray Okonkwo excellently,” he said.

He stated that the book had been read globally and deserved a good actor for the roles, stressing that there was barely any Nigerian actor that would do a good job.

“I honestly cannot think of any Nigerian actor who will do a better job simply by being Nigerian. Things Fall Apart is a global book, and Okonkwo’s character is not ours alone. Let Elba be Okonkwo. All I care about is a good movie,” he stated.

Kukogho emphasised the huge investment required in taking Indigenous stories to global platforms.

He said, “Globalising local content will always come at a cost. Perhaps, in this instant, the cost is that we need a global face like Elba’s to enhance success”.

Kukogho is an author of four poetry collections – What Can Words Do (2013), I Said These Words (2015), Words of Eros (2017) and We Who Sowed Hurt & Beaded Pains (2017), and has won accolades for his prose writing, including GT bank Dusty Manuscript.

Zubairu Attah

Literary activist and actor, Zubairu Attah told The ICIR that he did not think the casting of Idris Elba would affect the story’s originality.

He noted that Elba’s lead role would not make it lose the Igbo essence. According to him, the same book has been translated into many languages worldwide.

“When you translate from one language to another, it loses that direct meaning. So you try to solve that by costume, locale and cultural hangers that help to give that same essence that could be lost in diction.

“He can also be trained for nuances. Technology has come in here through AI voice which can be used to augment the diction. Meanwhile, the critics probably think it is a Nollywood film where we can shoot a movie in 15 hours. So I don’t think there is a case there,” he said.

Asked if a non-Nigerian lead actor would effectively capture the nuances of Okonkwo’s character, Attah said, “It depends on style, intent and objective. It also depends on what perspective the creative wants to portray or tell the story from. I understand the need for cultural re-assertion in this era of establishing authentic cultural identity by people all over.

“Especially in cases where the world view of that culture has been digitalised and bastardised by distortions or inaccuracies of history writers for whatever purpose. Have we not acted Greek plays in Nigeria and pidgin?”

Attah has starred in movies and series like A Place in the Stars (2014), Sons of the Caliphate (2016) and 4th Republic (2019).

Nura Abubakar

An academist and researcher with particular interest in the Nigeria creative industry, Nura Abubakar said that after reading the novel a couple of times, he had different perceptions of its authenticity.

Speaking on the authenticity of the film in regards to the actor picked for the lead role, Abubakar said his background – having Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian descent – and his exceptional acting abilities made him a strong candidate.

He argued that the actor had the physique, skin tone, and stature to embody Okonkwo’s character. A well-written script is all that is important, Abubakar stated.

“No matter how talented the actor is, there must be a solid story with well-crafted lines for him or her to follow, and a skilled director to bring it all together. The actor must understand the essence of the character and the significance of Things Fall Apart. For me, that’s what matters most,” he said.

He also said he believed that a non-Nigerian actor could effectively capture the nuances of Okonkwo’s character of which he pointed out that Idris Elba is an excellent choice.

He cited examples like the mini-series Lawmen: Bass Reeves on Paramount, created by Chad Feehan.

“David Oyelowo, a Nigerian actor, plays the role of an African-American lawman. If the creators had focused solely on his Nigerian background, would he have been considered for the role?’ he added.

Johnson E. Awolola

Filmmaker and director, Awolola also shared his thoughts on the issue with The ICIR.

He said he trusted Idris Elba’s craft regardless of questions surrounding his capacity to portray Okonkwo due to cultural differences.

He added, “I believe Africans must tell their own stories. If we don’t, others will, potentially misrepresenting our narratives. Instead of criticising, we should take ownership and create our own stories for global audiences.

“We all know Idris to be a versatile actor. I don’t think portraying the role will be an issue. We’ve seen him embody complex characters in films like “Beasts of No Nation, and Long Walk to Freedom”, where he spoke a significant amount of African languages. I believe Nigerians are more concerned with the authenticity of the language, and how he sounds speaking it, rather than his actual performance.

He also highlighted how Elba’s involvement in the film could put Nigerian culture on the global map, urging creatives to cultivate a culture of telling Nigerian stories.

“It is understandable that we Nigerians are deeply emotionally attached to the character of Okonkwo. So we feel that it’s only right for our own to portray him.
However, when people start to separate Idris from Okonkwo, they’ll see that what’s most important for bringing Okonkwo to life is a stellar performance. And in all honesty, we all know Idris is arguably one of the best actors out there. And he surely knows what he is up against on this project.

“On the brighter side, his global influence will also put our story and culture further on the world map for a wider audience to see. We need to cultivate a culture of telling our own stories. If we don’t tell them, others who appreciate our stories will, but they will tell them in their ways”, he said.

Awolola has worked in different capacities on movies like Netflix’s ‘Oloture’ and ‘The Lost Café’, Jate Amata’s ‘Muna’ Dimbo Atiya’s ‘Still falling’ and ‘Halita’ TV series.