By Ayomide Otitoju
The feature film The Man Died, inspired by Wole Soyinka’s prison memoir, clinched the Best Screenplay award at the 35th Carthage International Film Festival, held from November 14-21 in Tunis. Written by UK-based Bode Asiyanbi and directed by Nigerian-American filmmaker Awam Amkpa, the film stood out among 14 entries in the feature film competition.
The prestigious festival, held at the Opera Theatre in Tunis, received entries from over 100 countries. The Grand Prize, the Golden Tanit, was awarded to Tunisian filmmaker Lotfi Achour for The Red Path (Les Enfants Rouges). Palestinian director Mahdi Fleifel’s To an Unknown World claimed the Silver Tanit, while Senegalese director Mamadou Dia’s Demba took the Bronze.
The Man Died, which chronicles Wole Soyinka’s harrowing 27-month imprisonment during the Nigerian Civil War, continues to gain accolades, including Best Screenplay at the 2024 African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and Best Audience Choice at the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIFF).
Producer Femi Odugbemi of Lagos-based Zuri24 Media confirmed the film’s upcoming appearances at notable festivals, including the Luxor International Film Festival in Egypt (January), Jo’Burg Film Festival in South Africa (February), and FESPACO in Burkina Faso (March). It is also slated for special screenings at global institutions such as Harvard University, Oxford University, and Ithaca College.
The film features a stellar cast, including Wale Ojo as Wole Soyinka, Sam Dede, Norbert Young, and international actors Christiana Oshunniyi and Abraham Awam-Amkpa. Through gripping performances, the movie portrays Soyinka’s descent into isolation, resilience against brutality, and reflections during his imprisonment.
The Man Died began its global tour in July in London as part of Soyinka’s 90th birthday celebrations and has since been showcased at various cultural and literary festivals, including the Lagos Book and Art Festival and NYU Accra’s “Labone Dialogues.”
Awam Amkpa, the film’s director, is a professor at New York University specializing in drama, film, and cultural analysis. Renowned for his contributions to African cinema, Amkpa continues to highlight themes of representation, postcolonial narratives, and the African diaspora through his works.
As the film garners attention from global streaming platforms, The Man Died remains a powerful tribute to Soyinka’s legacy and a compelling exploration of survival, introspection, and resilience during times of profound adversity.
