Nollywood veteran Wale Ojo is set to portray renowned Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka in an upcoming film adaptation of one of Soyinka’s most notable books, “The Man Died.”
The memoir delves into Soyinka’s reflections during his time as a political prisoner held by the government amid the Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960s.
Director Awam Amkpa revealed the film’s release date of July 2024 in an Instagram announcement on Thursday, May 2nd.First published by Soyinka in 1972, “The Man Died” offers a gripping autobiographical account, penned two years after the war’s conclusion.
Soyinka’s literary contributions garnered him global acclaim, culminating in his historic Nobel Prize in Literature win in 1986, marking him as the first Sub-Saharan African recipient of the prestigious award. Last July, on Soyinka’s 89th birthday, Wale Ojo celebrated the playwright’s legacy, hailing him as a “rare icon” in an Instagram tribute.
The film adaptation of “The Man Died” boasts a stellar cast from Nollywood, including Chidi Mokeme, Sam Dede, Norbert Young, and others, with production helmed by Femi Odugbemi and screenplay by Bode Asiyanbi.
Scheduled to coincide with Soyinka’s 90th birthday in July, the release of “The Man Died” promises to honor the esteemed author’s enduring legacy.
