INTRODUCTION
Movie Name- IGODO
Director: Andy Amenechi , Don Pedro Obaseki
Major Cast: Pete
Edochie, Nobert Young, Sam Dede, Charles Okafor, Obi Madubogwu, Chidi Mokeme,
Prince James Uche, Ignis Ekwe, Joe Layode, etc.
Release Date: (Nigeria)
1999.
Settings: Nigeria
Continuation…
THE SEVEN HEROES OF UMUOKA
The journey of the seven
heroes of Umuoka who ventured into the evil forest captures the intriguing tale
of IGODO. The seven are chosen to venture into the evil forest for the sword of
Amadioha, the god of thunder. According to Dibia, only the sword of Amadioha
can hew down the giant tree that houses the grave of the son of the god,
Ihekumele. Chosen by the god, the seven are to find answers to the questions
before the community; answers to the questions of many deaths.
1.
Emuna,
the Hunter
Emuna is a hunter. He is chosen by the god to be the
leader of the seven. He is revealed as one who has issues with the community
because his father’s land was wrongly given to one Woke. He refuses to answer
to the call of the god for this very reason, but changes his mind when his son
is killed by a tiger in the forest. Beholding his son, he has no choice than to
go for the journey. Emuna is a brave man. He fears no one. He takes a gun to
the forest to face a tiger when he hears of the death of his son. He also saves
Okonta when he is charmed by the spirit. He is also a man of wisdom as
severally he tries to keep the unity of the seven in the bond of peace. When
Igodo mistakenly killed Okonta, climber, there was tension everywhere. Agu,
asks: For how long shall we continue to
kill ourselves? Emuna replied: “As
long as the last man remains standing. Brothers we must remain united as a
broom”. He is not just a leader, but he is one who lives by example. Emuna
sacrifices himself in the hill of Amadioha in order to get the Sword. It is a
necessary sacrifice as only a human sacrifice is needed to make them get the
sword of Amadioha.
2.
Agu,
the warrior
Agu is a man of war. Revealed as one who fights many
battles, he is a man of bravery. He is also full of action and curiosity. Once
when Emuna asks them to take a direction, Agu questions him as to why the
direction is to be taken. A fight is about to begin between the two before Okonta
settles the dispute and leads the way. He always finds answers to questions
before them and seeks at all time to be on track. Agu is the only one left with
Igodo after the sacrifice at the Hill of Amadioha, but he dies when he drinks
from the cup of the spirit.
3.
Okonta,
the climber
He is a gentle man with the history of the land in
his head. He tells the story of the conspirators to the seven in the night of
his death. He is killed by Igodo who mistakes him for an animal. He is a
peacemaker. He solves the problem between the wrestler and Emuna when the
wrestler insists he doesn’t want to move ahead anymore.
4.
Woke,
the drummer
Woke is a very good entertainer. He is mostly seen
playing drums at the market square as the villagers dance to the beat of his
drum. He helps Izu, the farmer, when he falls into the River. He is known for
always trying to save his own, and this leads to his death as he is killed when
trying to save the wrestler who is already shot with a bow by the bush men in
the evil forest. Woke is known for an adage he always says: “Light is Light, darkness is Darkness, they
never meet”.
5.
Igodo,
the flutist
Gentle like the cold breeze, Igodo looks just
ordinary but full with the wisdom of ages. In most of their encounters in the
evil forest, it is Igodo that reveals the state of things to them. He reveals
the mystery of the children of the night and also tells them of Ezemma. He is a
very sensitive man as he is able to read the presence of the spirit with just
his body language. He saves the drummer from drinking from the river of Ekwesu
and regrets when he kills Okonta by mistake. For this, he decides to sacrifice
himself at the Hill of Amadioha for taking another person’s life but Emuna
refuses him the opportunity saying, that a good leader lives and dies by
example. Igodo is the only one that returns back. Perhaps, the god knows this;
hence the god spends much time talking to Igodo during the fortification
exercise before their departure. Igodo wife dies when he is in the evil forest.
He is indeed brave to have survived the evil of the forest. Though he may have
been favoured by the god, he is indeed a man of honour, wisdom and bravery.
6.
Ikenna,
the wrestler
Ikenna is a man of strength. He believes so much in
his wrestling skills that he sometimes goes to the village square to display
his skills and be praised of men. Though brave, he is seen severally asking for
water during their journey, more than any other of the seven. He is shot by the
bush men of the evil forest but dies when he utters a word by the river of
silence.
7.
Izu,
the farmer
Izu the farmer is the first to die. A hard working
young man, he is severally tempted by the spirit, and he who is severally
tempted this way has already been marked for death. He dies when he looks back
to respond to a voice representing that of his mother. But no, not his mother,
it is an evil spirit.
REVIEWER’S
NOTE:
The story of the seven heroes of Umouka reveals the true
state of most of the African Communities. African communities in those days are
known for having evil forests where evil spirit dwells. According to some myth,
no one goes into such forests and come out alive. The seven sons of Umouka
venture into the forest risking their lives for the survival of the people.
Representing the seven conspirators, one by one, they all die, leaving only
Igodo to return with the knife, the same way only one of the conspirators lives
to tell of their conspiracy. Their journey tells of the African’s god way of
justice as prescribed by the gods and how brave men of old showed courage in
saving the future generation from impending doom.
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