Successful screening of 'ÌMÁLÀ' (The triumph of Wisdom) in Ireland

Successful screening of 'ÌMÁLÀ' (The triumph of Wisdom) in Ireland

by Yinka Dixon-Oludiaiye
Publisher: BECKY
CEO: Corporate Phases

The success story called 'ÌMÁLÀ' (The triumph of Wisdom) continues to be told. All roads led to the Plaza Hotel in Dublin, Ireland’s, Tyrellstown, on Friday 26th November, where the Movie premier was screened in Ireland for the first time. The movie screening which was presented by Matrix Entertainment Ltd and Ddymensions, saw several UK and Nigerian based Entertainment and Media personalities reunite with their Ireland based friends. After the screening, a question and answer session allowed for audience interaction and essential feedback for the benefit of the actors and directors. There was an initial photo call of Nollywood actors with business people and some fans.
ÌMÁLÀ has a simple but fantastic plot, creatively contrived, and deliberately woven into many real life complexities by the story’s author and Producer, Mr Abidemi Alaran, a writer, actor, film maker and Master of Ceremonies. Based on a true story, the plot takes the audience to different levels of emotional outbursts, with several interjections of laughter, side comments, arguments and even tears. Shrouded in several moments of mystery and suspense, the movie presents itself as educative, informational and entertaining. Set in a time, not too far away (2008), the story uses flashbacks as a very creative tool, bringing its audience to the beginning, the middle and the end of the story. The movie uses social, political and religious signposting, to bring into the consciousness of its audience, events in the country at the time of this incident.

Set in the village of IMALA in Ogun State of Nigeria, West Africa, and told in the Yoruba language (one of the three major languages of that country), the movie is sub-titled in English, though many intricate aspects of language is usually lost in translation. Conversations were drowned many times in poor audio output, and there was excessive use of ovation software. The sub-titling could also have benefitted from a bit of adequate language editing, and the pregnancy prop, made more believable. However, not once did the audience hear spiritual incantations, or aggravated commotion, excessive and noisy fighting or ubiquitous and pointlessly annoying swearing. The storyline is a complete departure from the usual fetish and noise-making that characterises the generality of African movies, giving the impression that many more good movies are about to explode out of Africa.

The title, 'ÌMÁLÀ', is a Nigerian phrase, derived from three words “Imo A La”, indicating the appearance of wisdom. This movie is a triumphant victim story of girl-meets-boy and becomes pregnant, of confusion, miscommunication, and hardship that eventually, ended in a happily-ever-after. It told the story of a young ambitious man (Bankole), living under the very watchful eagle eye of his uncle, a very devout church reverend to pursue his further education, met and fell in love with Segilola, an innocent secondary school girl. Segilola takes teen pregnancy, which is often a challenge that many homes face, as its main theme and explores the numerous challenges a girl faces, in the determination to correct her path in life as a teenage mother.

The movie centres on the story of Segilola a teenager who fell in love with Bankole, a 27-year old graduate. Segilola's naivety and lack of sex education put her in a life and career threatening situation. She was rejected and had to chart a new course for herself completely impervious of life's challenges. Sixteen years later, she is still trying to mend a situation that happened in complete innocence. The movie, which was directed by Andy Amenechi, sought to make the point that there are "no shortcut prescriptions" to matters of sex.

This "must watch" story is neatly and tastefully put together. From an educational point of view, the movie brings to light how young people receive little or no sexual education and are sometimes left with the resulting trauma and heartaches. While highlighting the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and unsafe abortion, ÌMÁLÀ significantly provokes much thought, discussion and debate, and depicts the gaping relationship crisis of our times, and how a girl’s life can easily go wrong. The well-meaning movie Director allowed the story to have a "happy-ever-after" ending, but many life stories do not actually end this way, leaving many career women as single mothers.

In conclusion, there are many lessons to be learnt which will enhance the education of young people (and adults) as far as sex, health and relationships are concerned. BECKY congratulates the directors, cast and crew of the movie for a job well done and recommends 'ÌMÁLÀ' (The Triumph of Wisdom), to everyone in every society and every culture.