My attention has been drawn by friends to this TV Series showing on DSTV titled ''Ajoche''. The complain is that the series is putting the Idoma nation in bad light, showing that we are bloody, immoral, dirty and greedy.
Though I have never taken time to watch the said telenovela, my brief research shows that the telenovela, which was set in 1918, tells an epic story of a kingdom that goes on a bloody rampage after an innocent woman is murdered. The story has a theme of war, love and betrayal. It stars talented actors like Hilda Dokubo, Femi Branch, Luci Ameh among others.
Though I have never taken time to watch the said telenovela, my brief research shows that the telenovela, which was set in 1918, tells an epic story of a kingdom that goes on a bloody rampage after an innocent woman is murdered. The story has a theme of war, love and betrayal. It stars talented actors like Hilda Dokubo, Femi Branch, Luci Ameh among others.
It was produced by James Omokwe, and was first aired on April 30, 2018, on Africa Magic Showcase.
My further enquiries confirmed the worries of my friends who are not of Benue origin but have lived with the peaceful and lovable people of Benue over the years and who did not see any of the attributes displayed in the telenovela in the Benue people that they know.
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| A Scene From Ajoche |
Mr. Omokwe is definitely not an Idoma name and may not know much about our culture. If the script writer is truly a proud Idoma son/daughter, they would not have portrayed the godly nation in that light.
In 1918, the ancestral fathers of Idoma land are barely settling down in the present Idoma land after the Jihad led by Otman Dan Fodio in 1900 that deformed the Kwararafa Kingdom, and are not capable of all the ''evil'' portrayed in the series. The ancestors were at this time building rapport with their neighborhood and war was not an option here.
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| A Scene of Violence From Ajoche |
Moreover, the land has religious and cultural norms that guarded against sexual immortality, wickedness and unlawful bloodshed.
As a creative writer, I appreciate the effort put in the production of this series, but nonetheless not in support of bad image portrayal or any attempt to put the peace-loving people of Benue in bad light.
I want to declare that, despite the cult activities and political upheavals of the recent past abetted by bad governance, we are not bloody, dirty and greedy as allegedly portrayed by Ajoche.
I therefore call the attention of the well meaning Idoma leaders to review the said telenovela and take necessary action/decision to avoid further damages to our good name and fatherland if this claim is true.
God bless Nigeria
By: Oche O. Onu
Thank you my brother. I honestly agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you my brother
ReplyDeleteLucid article I must commend you for this write up.
ReplyDeleteAjoche is an epic movie that depict the custom, culture and traditional way of life of the Idoma nations in a way that will leave viewers in intrigues.
Sincerely, in my opinion the writer didn't solely centered this movie in the Idoma cultured as been portrayed but, that it self is not far from some of the atrocities that may have happened and was never documented in the medieval period.
I'm from Owukpa, in Itabono community, i was told that my great grandfather who happens to be a local or king was a slave merchandise, he ride for slave, captured and sold slaves.
If this is true about my great grand father then, some of the scene in the movies might just turn out to be true in disguise.
Although, I have not watch the entire movie to the end, and some of the episode I have watched, the acting is just an added up to spice the movie.
The Idoma culture, customs and traditions is way beyond a story you can just tell.
So, to put it in a broader scope like in films or documentary, one just have to do research, consult and pick somethings you might really want the world to see, but, certainly not everything can be use.
Thank you.
As for my own view i see nothing to complain about ,
ReplyDeleteAll those moveis we watch that potray ibo and yoruba culture and history, even some u see cultism , ritualis and many more, at kings being buried with 7 virgin head, does it mean anything?
Dont forget THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY,
THINGS FALL APART E.T.C
they all potray another man history, we all watch it as entertainment but why complain when the act something about us?
Dont forget the whole of Africa have some dubius history before the coming of Christianity.
I dont see anything to worry about.
Despite calling us minority they still took there time as majority to go on research about us to form something,
No matter what they act IDOMA REMAIN MY BLOOD AND MY BLOOD KEEPS ME GOING.
As for me nothing to be taking personal here.
Make we just do our thing jeje ACCORDING TO 2FACE IDIBIA