Odegbami turns chronicler as Tunde Kelani shoots Ayinla Omowura movie

The body of work on the late Apala musician is set to increase with the movie.

ACE cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, commenced principal photography of his movie on the late maverick Apala crooner, Ayinla Omowura, on Saturday, December 5.

Interestingly, the movie had been in the pipeline for over three years with the meticulous filmmaker putting the finishing touches to it.

“The ideation or obsession which gives birth to this story, lasted more than three years and refused to die despite twists and turns, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Officially filming starts tomorrow, while the crew, equipment, and cast are expected to arrive at the Abeokuta location base today,” Kelani disclosed in a short message ahead of the shoot.

He also disclosed that two related events to Omowura preceded the shoot. They were the anniversary of Alhaja Tawakalitu Omowura, Ayinla’s favourite wife who passed on six years ago, and the 97th birthday of Alhaji Adewole Onilu-Ola, Omowura’s master drummer.

Omowura, who died 40 years ago, was a famous musician who ruled the roost at Mushin, Lagos, his native Abeokuta and across the southwest. He was a fan favourite renowned for his acerbic wit.

Kelani’s feature film will be another vital contribution to the body of works on the musician who remains a toast of people across the Southwest.

Sunday Tribune columnist, Dr Festus Adedayo, had earlier this year released a book titled ‘Ayinla Omowura: Life and Times of an Apala Legend’ on the life and contributions of the musician.

Ex-Nigerian international, Segun Odegbami, who is playing a role in the movie, has further raised people’s interest with his decision to publish his experiences on its set.

His first post published during the week went viral with some commentators unaware that ‘Mathematical’ has been a newspaper columnist for years, commending his writing skills.

He wrote in part: “The past two weeks have been intense, exciting and a blast. Working with TK and seeing how a movie is being put together has been a unique experience. The details in producing an epic film like ‘Ayinla’ are mind-boggling.

“The only subject anyone can get TK to discuss these days is the film. Every conversation starts and ends with ‘Ayinla’. I am in his ‘prison’. The good news is that, at last, the filming started a few days ago in Abeokuta. That has taken over his life.

“Before that, TK had been prancing around like a boxer on the eve of a big fight. He reminded me of how I used to feel before a big game – restless, singleminded, anxious, poor sleep, fasting and praying, adrenalin pumping in the veins, all emotions unleashed. At such times, time moves very fast, racing at a thousand kilometres per hour.

“TK obviously has an exciting but challenging movie script in his hands that is taxing his creativity and stretching the limits of improvisation in securing the tools and locations for a film set a long time ago in the 1970s and early 1980s.

“The other day I jokingly teased him about why he is not using me as his lead actor, considering the rave reviews I got for my world-class performance in Campus Queen. His response left me confused. The protagonist in the movie, TK says, is not Ayinla Omowura, but the ancient ‘town under the rock’ around which the movie is intricately woven, its environment, people, culture, history, language, and social life that moulded a local musical genius, whose songs were deep socio-cultural and political satire.

“Abeokuta provided all the ingredients that created Ayinla Omowura, and gave him all the ‘materials’ for songs that are evergreen for those that understand Yoruba language and appreciate his genre of music – Apala.”

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