A People’s Tragedy On Independence Day Eve By Kunle Afolayan
August 31, 2014
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Title: October 1
Producer/director: Kunle Afolayan
Script writer: Tunde Babalola
Film reviewer: Funke Osae-Brown
Nigeria is on the eve of Independence, like a dutiful servant, Inspector Danladi Waziri, sits before the colonial masters, Winterbottom an attaché to the outgoing governor of Lagos, Ackerman, and Tomkins Colins, DCO from Kenya, giving account of his investigation of the murder of five female virgins in the remote village of Akote.As a police officer from the north, Waziri, is diligent and determined to resolve the mystery behind the serial murder. And so, he embarks on a journey to Akote. In spite of the fact that he has written a report on his findings, Fred and his men still love to hear Waziri narrates his experience to them verbally. As Waziri begins to speak, the film takes the audience into a busy market day in Akote each of the scenes shown are interjected with demonstrations from women where the figure of the famous Funmilayo Kuti looms large.
Inspector Waziri is received at the motor park by the comical Sergeant Afonja who gives him a progress report on the killings. Sergeant Afonja takes him to examine one of the corpses. The portrayal of this scene is very commendable. The corpse is not shown but its state is aptly captured in the words of Inspector Waziri who brilliantly delivers the lines thus:
“Discolouration around the neck suggesting strangulation, the same for the other victim. Blood around the vagina suggesting rape.”
‘October 1’ is a brilliant recreation of history where the script writer, supported by the director, skillfully recreated his own story. It is a story of pain, treachery, and betrayal of trust the people of Akote bestowed on the gentleman Reverend Father Downing and the entire British colonials. It is also a story of vengeance among the colonized themselves as it is the case with Prince Aderopo who is on a revenge mission. The theme of betrayal and treachery runs through the entire film.
Prince Aderopo and Agbekoya feel betrayed by Reverend Father Downing who takes them to Lagos to get western education at the famous Kings’ College. As it was the practice in the 1960s, young boys are allowed by their parents who live in rural villages and little towns outside of Lagos, the seat of government at the time, to stay with Reverend Fathers in a bid to get western education. These boys often cook and do general house cleaning for the Reverend Fathers. It was a prestigious feat for parents to have their children picked to live with such religious figures. In ‘October 1’, Prince Aderopo and Agbekoya are both selected because they graduated top their class in primary school. However, a female student, Miss Tawa is not chosen because as Prince Aderopo puts it while talking to her on a visit to the school: “You don’t know that Father likes boys.”
Truly, Father Downing’s love for boys is the web to which other sub plots of the film is spun. He is a pedophile who sleeps with Aderopo and Agbekoya. “Aderopo, it’s time for morning prayers,” he would say whenever he goes to wake the boys up in the morning. Gently like a sheep being led to slaughter, the boys would follow him, one at a time. ‘October 1’ interrogates an issue that has become a global problem in the Catholic Church the world over.
The psychological effect of this sexual violence makes Agbekoya elope from the Father’s home and sends Aderopo on a revenge mission—to rape with six virgin girls of Akote before October 1 when he his billed to travel to Britain for University education on scholarship. ‘October1’ relays the negative psychological effect of rape on the victim, this time a male. It confirms how far a rape victim can go to seek vengeance.
Furthermore, ‘October 1’ is a film rich in the use of language. The language employed in the film is diverse as 
the characters are. Yoruba is predominantly the language spoken in Akote but characters like Sergeant Waziri, and the innocent Hausa traveler wrongly accused of killing Chidinma speak Hausa. Okafor, a hunter, whose daughter is the fifth victim of Ropo’s escapade and his other Igbo brothers speak Igbo. These languages bring to light the diversity of a people on the verge of independence. The death of Chidinma and the response of the Igbo community in Akote to her killing including Okafor’s ultimate revenge confirm how divided and treacherous we are as a people in dealing with cross cultural issues. It also shows the faulty foundation on which our independence is laid. The bar scene also depicts the optimism and unity of a people before independence.
the characters are. Yoruba is predominantly the language spoken in Akote but characters like Sergeant Waziri, and the innocent Hausa traveler wrongly accused of killing Chidinma speak Hausa. Okafor, a hunter, whose daughter is the fifth victim of Ropo’s escapade and his other Igbo brothers speak Igbo. These languages bring to light the diversity of a people on the verge of independence. The death of Chidinma and the response of the Igbo community in Akote to her killing including Okafor’s ultimate revenge confirm how divided and treacherous we are as a people in dealing with cross cultural issues. It also shows the faulty foundation on which our independence is laid. The bar scene also depicts the optimism and unity of a people before independence. Although, it is here that the audience is given another perspective to the whole concept of independence when Prince Ropo says: “My educated side tells me independence came ten years too early. Mark my words by seven years, this country will be at war…. At war with itself.”
Also, the use of date and time in the film helps put the story in proper perspective. It adds to the movement of the plot and the sequence of events. It illustrates the brevity of life itself. Inspector Danladi begins his investigation on the 5th of September, 1960 and he is given a deadline to submit his report before October 1, 1960. Interestingly, on September 7, 1960, 6.21am, Agbekoya has a nightmare about Father Downing’s call to prayer. It is about that time Sergeant went to tell Inspector Waziri another body has been found. The night before, Inspector Waziri and Sergeant Afonja are both warned by Baba Ifa, the Ifa priest, the mysterious killer is insatiable and he plans to kill more.
Sergeant Afonja’s refusal to arrest the Ifa priest on the command of Inspector Waziri, after which he is sacked, is instructive. It demonstrates the repressive British system and how sacred the Yoruba culture and the Ifa institution are. It also brings to fore that the fact that the Ifa institution cannot bow to a strange culture.
For technicality, I rate ‘October 1’ a hundred percent. The cinematography is perfect and the sound quality is good. The pictures are crisp and clear. The interplay of lights and the shot of the secnes contribute to the movement of the plot. The scene of the water where the palace guard, Sumonu’s girl friend is later killed is lovely. The rays of the lights in that scene fall beautifully on the trees giving the impression of a moon shinning in its full strength. Also interesting is the scene of the horse ride by Prince Aderopo while admiring the belle, Chidinma, is next victim. The hills in the background give the scene a breathtaking view.
To this end, ‘October 1’ is a must-see and an interesting film that depicts the hypocrisy of Britain on the verge of independence. It proves how hypocritical the British system of justice is. The culprit in the film is Prince Ropo but he is left unpunished because he is the son of a notable King. Instead, an innocent Hausa traveler is accused of the murder of Chidinma. And Winterbottom insists it remains so because the Hausa man is unknown, a faceless man, while Prince Aderopo is well known, hence he is incapable of murder. The grand plot is not to protect Prince Aderopo but to cover the inadequacies of Father Downing. Therefore, all this including the rape of the boys signify the colonialists’ rape of Nigeria nay Africa’s economy, land, religion, and culture including a corruption of the justice system.
‘October 1’ premieres on September 28, 2014 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. It will be in the cinemas on October 1, 2014.
