The Griot joins a slew of recently (on Netflix) released Yoruba based films just brimming with the vividity of the culture and people. With the success of movies like Ayinla, Eleshin Oba and Anikulapo, one might come into The Griot with high expectations on a big budget production. Lower those expectations! This film takes it back to simplicity, whether that is a good or bad thing is entirely uncertain.
Directed by Adeoluwa Owu, The Griot is a movie with so much potential considering how easy it approaches the story it tells.
In a small village called Wakajaye known for storytelling lies a shy and talented storyteller Lakunle (Adedimeji Lateef) who gives his bold but uncreative friend, Sanmi (Temiloluwa Fosudo), his stories to tell. After a while, Lakunle begins to admire the popular beautiful village musician, Tiwa played by Goodness Emmanuel, but his timidity hinders him from approaching her even though she gives him the green light. He asks his friend Sanmi to relay his intentions towards her, unaware of Sanmi’s interest in her.
Tiwa sternly refuses Sanmi’s passes because she has already developed feelings for Lakunle. Sanmi still does not give up easily, he tries to use the freshly acquired social status to have Tiwa at all costs. Suddenly, everything falls to pieces when he has to tell a new story at the yearly storytelling festival.
The overall acting is revitalising; it is refreshing to watch actors blossom in their roles, although some performed better than others. A pleasant surprise is the lead actress Goodness Emmanuel, a newbie in the Nollywood scene but my goodness! She has potential. She embodied her role and was the unexpected star of the screenplay.
Intertwined in the general plot is a lesson of betrayal, one of the biggest upsides to this movie is, it teaches a lesson while entertaining its audience. Truly, not everyone is a friend.
Yoruba is inserted here and there but it is not the main language. While this may not be a plus in the eyes of many, it appears to be a smart and well calculated move. The use of English as the primary language automatically means The Griot will appeal to a larger audience.
It is pure art seeing on the cinematography level, the soundtrack, location, set props, costumes and the showcasing of the Yoruba culture through traditional dances and songs. It was all portrayed seamlessly and smoothly.
Some scenes of the movie are immaterial. The Griot ends on a sad note, which naturally shouldn’t be a downside but in this case it is because viewers considered it unnecessary. It could have gone so many other ways but sadly, viewers do not get to decide that. It felt more engineered for shock value than any other thing. After all, not every story has to have a happy ending, right? But to sacrifice the plot for shock value? It watches like a train wreck in the last two scenes.
The screenplay play is plain, too plain. The general concept has so much potential so it is a little disappointing to watch it be poorly executed. Viewers were left unsatisfied with the conflict build-up and its resolution.
Love story or tragedy? Viewers are left a bit confused because of how quickly it switches up and it’s a bit bewildering. It gets even better, to make The Griot a tragedy the oldest trick in the Nollywood book was pulled, by having, wait for it, unnecessary scenes! Nothing from the start points to a tragedy but suddenly the unnecessary scenes start and voila! we have ourselves a tragedy.
The Griot has an enchanting storyline, although the execution has a few loopholes here and there. The screenplay boasts of a simple yet captivating storyline and the unexpected twists and turns add a little bit of flavour to the overall charm. Check it out on Netflix.
Didi Dan-Asisah is an art enthusiast and critic. She lives in Lagos.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
