By Chris Ihidero
The film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s award-winning novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, is finally about to begin. After a fairly long wait, the 2006 Orange Prize winning novel will move its narrative of the Nigerian civil war to the big screen. This is a major step in many ways, as Nollywood has not been too fond of adaptations, and as great as Nigerian fiction writers have been, their impact hasn’t really been felt in the film industry, outside of the adaptations made by the likes of Tunde Kelani.
Soon after the announcement that Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dominic Cooper and Thandie Newton would feature in the film, uproar ensued, with a petition demanding that Thandie Newton be dropped from featuring in the film, as she cannot properly play Olanna or Kainene, the female lead characters. An online petition, instigated by one Ashley Akunna sums up the reason for the petition:
Igbo people do not look like the bi-racial Thandie Newton. Thandie Newton is an accomplished and talented actress in her own right. However, she is not Igbo, she is not Nigerian, and she does not physically resemble Igbo women in the slightest. As a result, I have created this petition to demand the following things:
1.. The use of Igbo men, women, and children, who look like the majority of Igbo people (which means brown in complexion) in the leading roles of the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s, Half of a Yellow Sun
Not satisfied with the demands, he goes ahead to conclude and threaten: “This casting choice is an abomination to Igboland…Failure by the producers of Half of a Yellow Sun, to meet these requirements will result in the failure of everyone who signs this petition to support Half of a Yellow Sun when it is available in theaters or for purchase.”
So far, 500 people, out of a target of 300, 000, have signed the petition. 500 unhappy members of the audience will hurt the chances of a film at the box office, no doubt.
The ludicrousness of the petition is itself amazing, yet Mr Akunna is not alone. Justifying the petition, one Ifeoma comments on a blog on www.indiwire.com: “As a very proud Igbo woman, I’ll give my opinion on this. I agree that casting Thandie Newton was the wrong decision in three main factors. The first factor was that this is the second movie made about Biafra war and just like the first movie; Igbo people playing in the movie are limited. Is that fair? Only one person is actually an Igbo person (Chiwetalu Ejiofor) playing in this second version of the Half of Yellow sun similar to the first movie. WTF? …Is that fair I ask? Are we not allowed to partake in our history? I’m not shocked some Igbos are angry. In our culture, they value authenticity very well, if you can’t act like us and you do not look like us, don’t play us. Leave it be. Igbo people don’t play when it comes to our culture; history, etc. trust me on this. Accurate authenticity is everything in our culture.”
This is seriously laughable on many fronts. Where have these petitioners been all the while Igbo producers and marketers were busy debasing Igbo culture in Nollywood? Or only non-indigenes must be prevented from such dastardly acts? I suppose the ‘bean sack’ costumes and those ridiculous body markings that dominate Nollywood ‘epics’ are authentic representations of Igbo culture: where are their petitions?
It is interesting that anyone, let alone an Igbo man, can assume that Igbos are homogenous, so much so that they are only brown in colour. It is equally interesting that anyone can assume cultural affiliations are enough reasons to make demands of this nature. A similar thing happened when FELA! was brought to Lagos last year. Some people thought a Nigerian, possibly D’banj or Seun Kuti, should have played the lead. If people like Ifeoma and Ashley were really serious about the production of an authentic Igbo film on the civil war, the simple thing to have done would have been to raise the funds, find a story, and produce the film. Then they could populate it with not just authentic Igbo people (what does that even mean?), but also authentic Igbo fowls, goats, and cocoyam. If the 500 people who signed that petition contributed N20, 000 each, they would well be on their way.
It is important to understand how the film business works. I say ‘film business’ because that’s what it is essentially, a business. I’m not saying that the producers of HOAYS could not have used a Nigerian based actor like Genevieve Nnaji, but the considerations for casting goes beyond that. The questions we need to ask, perhaps, are: what is the primary audience of this film? Who are these filmmakers going to sell this film to? How many people have read this book in Nigeria? Will the film sell just because it is a Biafra story? If the film is targeted at a Nigerian audience, what is Nigeria’s cinema capacity that will ensue that the film is seen widely enough to return investment? What is the film’s selling point?
A film sells on the strength of the director, the producer(s) or the lead actors. Biyi Bandele Thomas is making his directorial debut with this film so he isn’t a major selling point. Andrea Calderwood, producer of ‘The Last King of Scotland’, and Gail Egan, co-producer of ‘The Constant Gardener’ are producing HOAYS. They are very credible and capable producers but no Jerry Bruckheimer. Chiwetel Ejiofor is the biggest selling point of the film. Thandie Newton comes in comfortably next to him. Whether she will deliver or not is another story. But on the strength of her skills and her box office credentials, she’s a great choice.
My concerns about the film lie elsewhere and I will keep them to myself for now, while wishing everyone involved in the project all the best.
25 comments
Oh my, there goes Chris again. To populate the movie with ‘authentic Igbo fowls, goats, and cocoyam.’? C’mmon! I no fit laff abeg. It’s a Monday morning.
please. Give it a chill for crying out loud. Its just a movie. If you want igbo people on screen so bad go ahead and make your own movie. Personally I’m happy they’re using this Thandie Newton chik, I mean you can imagine how blockbusting the movie would be had they decided to employ the services of say Tonto Dikeh [I don’t want to laugh please]. I’m a proud igbo guy and that’s why if my history is gonna make it to the big screen, I’d rather have a white woman play it right than have an igbo chik murder the character. P.S- its just a movie, enjoy it and stfu. TIW out.
C’mon Chris, just get on with your point without insulting the ‘Igbos’. What do u mean by “Then they could populate it with not just authentic Igbo people (what does that even mean?), but also authentic Igbo fowls, goats, and cocoyam”? U probably have been looking for a way to insult them, so go ahead.
I see reasons with those agitating for an ‘Igbo’ actor. Maybe they presented their petition wrongly. Not because no other except Igbos can do it, but probably because they feel the movie would be well interpreted with one who understands the culture.
I remember uncle Pete Edochie having such issues about Olu Jacobs’ interpretation of Igbo kings in nollywood movies, and he was bang on right!!
Fine, Thandie Newton’s choice might be reasonable, in terms of international acclaim, but do not dismiss the petition as mere useless statement. The underlying reasons are there for even you to see. Just that you don’t want to see them.
“I suppose the ‘bean sack’ costumes and those ridiculous body markings that dominate Nollywood ‘epics’ are authentic representations of Igbo culture”, you sarcastically wondered. I suppose you are an ardent nollywood follower (if you aren’t, then you have no reason writing this piece), so you of all people should realise that the costumes speak volumes. In fact, I doubt you know nollywood ‘epics'(as u call them) well, else you wouldn’t say such. And since you know so well how the costumes should be, why don’t you teach them? SMH!
There is only one conclusion to this! Do not criticize issues based on sentiment, or because you want to be clapped for as one with grammatical prowess. Do it as one who has a point or two to make. On evidence of your ‘editorial’, I’m afraid you did the former, than the latter.
“…If the 500 people who signed that petition contributed N20, 000 each, they would well be on their way…”
So true. We all seem to always know what others should be doing and no one wants to start by actually DOING IT!
You’ve stirred the waters of ƒσя and against. I’m sure some of our nollywood peeps wld be given roles. Lead roles are key roles and hollywood is celebrated becos acting and film making are what they do well. They’ve done indian movies, chinese with their stars becos dese stars broke into the international scene. We don’t hav such stars here, but we would soon. Till then they have τ̅☺ make money and also push forth one of our culture τ̅☺ the world. I think that’s great. Remember the target market is not just 9ja and africa. I also pray Biyi Bandele succeeds, that’s also one of our own.
I totally understand why the choices of actors and producers were made and I look forward to a great movie. However I had wished they would be shooting in Nigeria so some industry people from Nollywood may pick up some skills by being part of the production.
They are making a hollywood movie not a nollywood flick. Is Thandie a great actress, yeah! Leave it be… like Chris said, a lot of other factors go into film making and from all indications, Nigeria is in the minority- audience wise.
For a book that has been written in 2006, i feel our producers have had the chance they didn’t take. By the way, i never read Chinua Achebe or Elechi Amadi writing that sacks were the fashion choices of the ancient ibos….
Your write-up was quite constructive at the beginning, but this statement floored it:
‘Then they could populate it with not just authentic Igbo people (what does that even mean?), but also authentic Igbo fowls, goats, and cocoyam. If the 500 people who signed that petition contributed N20, 000 each, they would well be on their way…’
You need’nt have stooped so low, sir, and would still have made a lot of sense — even have changed the mind of many that are angry with the Thandie Newton featuring. This rant is quite disrespectful, what with the way you showed us how ridiculous you see the Igbo.
Thank you for this though.
well said Chris bobo. I laughed my head off on the authentic fowls and cocoyams! very spot on.looking forward to the film, am still basking in the rays of the powerful imagery and in- your- face-matter- of-factly language of the novel.
I wonder what anyone hopes to achieve with the so-called petition. Its a movie, and it has to meet international standard. Of course you should know the target market. For me, I don’t have any problem with thandie playing that role. She’s a great actress. If you want an ‘igbo’ movie to suit ‘your’ taste,contract tonto Dike and Emeka ike and Produce it. As for HOAYS, Let it be. Am sure the petition writers/signers will be the first to hit the cinemas to watch ! ..Invest your energy in something else please. Leave petitions abeg.. *sigh*
Well said. Nothing more to say abeg!
Authentic Igbo fowls,lol. Oh My Days
But seriously,Why we(Naijerians) get so emotional to the point of blindness is beyond me. Things fall apart Nko!! Why have they not made a film since??Yes there was a TV series, but isn’t that story worth a cinema outing. They have ignored that all these years, and now cry foul when someone sees the opportunity they ignored.
If every film in the world cast ‘authentically’ as they are advocating very few movies will EVER get made. Casting calls nightmare would incease by 900% as the “authentic actor” may not exist in that city or just has no skill whatsoever.
Actors are trained to transform into the role or character they play . Speak like,sound like, walk like and even think like.
Meryl Streep is not Britsh but she just played a British Prime Minister brilliantly. Mel Gibson wasn’t Scottish but he played William Wallace and showed the world Scotland’s greatest hero.
Anthony Hopkins a Brit played Nixon an American President.
So many examples of actors of one nationality playing the role of an iconic character of a diff nationality. Many classic characters from beloved American or British literature were played by people of different nationality.
At the end of the day, all that matters is, did they accurately portray the character? Not, do they have the right DNA.
And for the claims of out story. Is absolute nonsense.
HOAYS is a FICTIONAL story, with fictional characters. It is not a biography. The Biafra war is a backdrop for the story and not the main.
It’s a capitalist world. Next time an opportunity like this arrives, don’t dull, seize it so issues like this won’t arise.
Hey, nice piece as usual, points well taken, as much as they do have some point, but the way I see it, business is business. I am sure the producers of the movie are more interested in making it a success than appeasing the igbo tribe.
That being said, did you just take a swipe at your in-laws? (LOL)
Spot on ChRis, another brilliant piece !
This killed me
“Then they could populate it with not just authentic Igbo people (what does that even mean?), but also authentic Igbo fowls, goats, and cocoyam.”
ROTFLMAO!!!
Excellent and thoughtful write-up Chris, both side of argument are positive pointers about the production. Audience taking ownership of a production is good. also sentiment is a big part of game. ” original igbo goat blah blah!!” is a bit harsh. in all i enjoy ur expression as usual
Hi Ebele, thanks! Me, swipe at my wonderful in-laws? Not POSSIBLE!! LOL!
Who said tonto dikeh, i she an igbo? she is an ikwerre gurl 4rm river state, we don’t need her
Okay Chris..you got me clapping until u went sarcastic with ‘the goats, fowl etc.njust like any other film with cultural values, proper research has to be carried out to ensure that things are done properly before the final screenplay. The book is detailed enough for a proper adaptation.. I share in the sentiment of the aggrieved ibo clan, however I do not agree with their petition.. I am an ibo man and a film maker and I know what it takes to produce a film, hope that the film is accepted and pray that it sells. Firstly, who are these to tell who plays what and why? Where have they been all these while? If they feel so passionate about HOAYS why did not not produce their own version and inculcate all the ibo traditional values.. These people do not represent the ibo community in this and so their case should not b taken as d ibo mans contribution..
I am vexed however that we did nothing before now about the award winning book and I am not blaming anybody for it cause I know what it takes to source for sponsorship to produce and produce well a film of this magnitude.
I think we should be hoping that Biyi and his team pull this off well instead of trying to do their jobs for them…. I like thandi and I hope she nails this one… Genevieve wouldn’t have been a been a bad idea for Kainene though.
In all, still think proper research should be carried out to get things right
Is anybody not bothered about the kind of accent Thandie is going to b putting forward as an IGBO GIRL???
Thandie Newton will not need to speak with an Igbo accent, because if you’ve read the book (which i doubt), you would know that her character in the book was educated abroad, and like most Nigerians educated abroad, speaks with a non-Nigerian accent.
I dont see what the fuss is about really.
This is a movie, with characters played by actors, and the producers/directors are under NO obligation to cast ANY Nigerians in their movie. I’m sure doing so would have given it a more authentic feel, but i’m pretty sure that as businessmen, they are not expecting to make any kind of profit from Nigerian movie-goers in Nigeria or DVD sales even (haha).
I’m proudly Nigerian by the way.
Darn it! It’s just a movie in the end! Let’s all get real…….put the money down and put in whoever you want otherwise it is silly to think that some dude across the Atlantic considers anything beyond the commercial success of the movie. If Chiamanda plays it’s then who are we? Please, let’s move on…..
My comments on this are:
1) if you are looking for a name actesss, she not it, not by a lon shot when last did Thandi sell a movie? The answer is never, i’m trying so hard to remeber her movies and only mission impossible comes to mind and Tom Cruise was the selling point
2) If it is talent, my reponse is are you kidding me????? she’s not that good.
3) Hey if we’re throwing authenticity out the window let’s go big and get a big hollywood name like Angelina Jolie, never mind race or age make-up covers everything.
At least she’ll nail the accent (and the acting). And for everyone that disputes this, oh yes there is an accent, the igbo language is so ‘thick’ it over shadows any subsequent language (trust me i’ve been trying to loose it with years living outside 9ja). Perfect example is the Author herself, the accent becomes more subtle but it’s there and outsiders will often use a south african accent as a substitute when protraying this. This accent will creep in during pronounciation of certain sounds and vowels. eg the letter ‘H’ (we would automatically say “hey-ch” only say ‘ey-ch’ when we’re being very careful).
In the end no one will be satisfied, not the critics (unless Thandi uncharacteristically delivers a memorable performance), not movie goers because let’s face it she’s not that big of a deal outside UK and future generations will judge this movie for it’s lack of Authenticity. Hey we still make fun of Yul Brynner playing a Siamese King (no judgement, i love that movie).
I wish them luck because Thandi or not, it is great moment for African Lit.