Celebrating Wole Soyinka@90 Celebration: Ebroihimie Road, A Museum of Memory set July Premiere
Jerry Adesewo
A new documentary, “Ebrohimie Road: A Museum of Memory,” will premiere in July to celebrate Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday. The film explores the small building on the University of Ibadan campus where Soyinka lived while teaching at the institution. This bungalow is significant as it was the site of Soyinka’s arrest in 1967 on espionage charges, leading to his 29-month incarceration by the Nigerian government for his attempt to prevent the Biafra conflict.
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Directed by Kola Tubosun and featuring cinematography by Tunde Kelani, the 110-minute documentary is set to debut on July 11, 2024, at the University of Lagos. This screening is part of a full-day scholarly event organized by the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) and the Nigeria Academy of Letters (NAL). The event, themed “ENI-OGUN: An Enduring Legacy,” will also include a symposium, a dance performance, and a reception.
Produced by Olongo Africa, the documentary includes interviews with Soyinka’s family, relatives, associates, and comrades. Following its premiere in Lagos, it will be screened on July 20 at the WS90 celebration in London, organized by WSICE and The Africa Centre. Additional screenings are planned at cultural and historical centers in Nigeria, Europe, North and South America, and various festivals worldwide.
Confirmed Screening Dates:
– WSICE2024/WS90 Symposium, University of Lagos, Nigeria — July 11, 2024, at 4 PM
– WSICE2024/WS90 Celebration, Africa Centre, London — July 20, 2024, from 3-5 PM
– Africa Centre, New York — Date TBD
– Centro Cultural Africano, Mexico — July 13, 2024
– Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), Freedom Park, Lagos — July 14, 2024, at 6 PM
– Senior Staff Club, University of Ibadan — Date TBD
– Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan — Date TBD
– Hutchinson Center, Harvard University, USA — September 2024
– University of Leeds, UK — October 2024
– Lagos International Poetry Festival, Lagos, Nigeria — October 24-27, 2024
– Lagos Book & Art Festival (LABAF/CORA), Freedom Park, Lagos — November 2024
Synopsis:
“Ebrohimie Road: A Museum of Memory” chronicles the significance of a small bungalow on the University of Ibadan campus, where Wole Soyinka lived and was later arrested in 1967 for attempting to mediate the Nigerian Civil War. The film delves into Soyinka’s life, his arrest, imprisonment, and subsequent exile, highlighting how the personal intersects with the national. Featuring stories, visuals, and historical records, the documentary reveals how a modest campus residence became a witness to pivotal moments in Nigerian history.
For more information, visit the official website http://ebrohimie.olongoafrica.com or the IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32188700/
Watch the official trailers on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY_wp_Kxz2o&t=1s
For screening and interview inquiries, contact publisher@olongoafrica.com.