The Herbert Macaulay Affair | |
---|---|
Directed by | Imoh Umoren |
Written by | Bisi Jamgbadi |
Starring | William Benson Saidi Balogun |
Edited by | Olutayo Odugbesan |
Production company | Rucksack Productionz |
Distributed by | TRACE Content Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
Country | Nigeria |
Language | English |
The Herbert Macaulay Affair is a 2019 Nigerian film based on the life of Herbert Macaulay, a Nigerian nationalist and proponent of Nigerian independence. It was directed by Imoh Umoren and featured William Benson in the lead role alongside Saidi Balogun, Kelechi Udegbe and Martha Ehinome Orhiere. The film also features Herbert Macaulay's grandson, Wale Macaulay. [1] Other historical figures portrayed in the film include Alimotu Pelewura, leader of the Lagos Market Women's Association, Oba Eshugbayi Eleko, the Eleko of Eko at the time, Amodu Tijani Oluwa, the Chief Oluwa of Lagos and Henry Rawlingson Carr, educator and administrator. [2]
The Herbert Macaulay Affair is set in 1920s Lagos during the Bubonic plague. It portrays Herbert Macaulay trying to call Nigerians to action in order to confront their oppressors. He led protests and wrote anti-colonial articles in newspapers. [1] The film starts by depicting Macaulay's 1893 return from studying in Plymouth. He takes up a surveying job in service of the colonial administration. The workings of the colonial administration frustrate Macaulay, leading him to a life of rebellion. [3]
The Herbert Macaulay Affair explores the themes of love, loss and tragedy depicted in Macaulay's activism. [3]
The film explores about 3 decades of Herbert Macaulay's life where he continually rebels against the colonial government. Imo Umoren was inspired to make The Herbert Macaulay Affair while working on a documentary chronicling the 100 year history of Nigerian national figures. [3]
Some scenes in the film were shot in Jaekel House and Mapo Hall. [4]
A writer for Pulse Nigeria noted that films like The Herbert Macaulay Affair can help bridge a gap in teaching history to Nigerians [3] as there was a preexisting misconception that Herbert Macaulay was a white man. [4] A reviewer for YNaija however commented that the film was one of the most memorable flops of the year 2019 due to "tepid technical details matched with a half-baked screenplay and wooden actors." [5]
Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, surveyor, engineer, architect, journalist, and musician and is considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism.
Lagos State University, also known as LASU, is located in Ojo, with sub-campuses at Ikeja and Epe both towns in Lagos State, Nigeria. The university was established in 1983 by the enabling law of Lagos State, for the advancement of learning and establishment of academic excellence; its motto being For Truth and Service. The university caters for over 35,000 students. The University was established during the Administration of Late Lateef Kayode Jakande. The university offers diploma, degree and post graduate programmes, including an MBA programme. LASU was ranked among the top 600 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2020. On 23 June, 2021, LASU emerged as the best young university in Nigeria having been below the age of 50 years to be added. Times Higher Education ranked the Lagos State University as the second best university in Nigeria on the 2 September 2020, and was the only state university included in the rankings for 2022. The university has attracted international funding, including for the establishment of a World Bank Group Africa Centre for Excellence on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Oloye Sir Adeyemo Alakija, was a Nigerian lawyer, politician and businessman. He served as a member of the Nigerian legislative council for nine years starting in 1933. In 1942, he became a member of the governor's Executive Council. Alakija was president of Egbe Omo Oduduwa from 1948 until his death in 1952.
Mapo Hall is the colonial-style Ibadan City Hall on top of Mapo Hill in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Mapo Hall was commissioned during the colonial era by Captain Ross in 1929.
The Badagry in Bariga, a suburb of Lagos in Lagos State, is the oldest secondary school in Nigeria, founded on 6 June 1859 by the Church Missionary Society. For decades it was the main source of African clergymen and administrators in the Lagos Colony.
Saheed Balogun ; born 5 February 1967) is a veteran Nigerian actor, film-maker, director, and producer.
Moji Olaiya was a Nigerian actress.
Ibikunle Alfred Akitoye (1871–1928) was Oba of Lagos from 1925 to 1928 during what some historians refer to as the "Interregnum" years of the exiled Oba Eshugbayi Eleko. Ibikunle Akitoye was the first western educated and Christian Oba of Lagos. Akitoye's reign also marked the association of Lagos Obas with non-traditional religions.
Oba Falolu Dosunmu was a former fisherman who was also a member of the House of Dosunmu (Docemo), and who succeeded Oba Eshugbayi Eleko as Oba of Lagos from 1932 to 1949.
Oba Eshugbayi Eleko, alias "Eleko of Eko", was the Oba of Lagos from 1901 to 1925, and from 1931 to 1932. His father was Oba Dosunmu. Eleko's struggles and legal victory over the British colonial government symbolized the struggle between indigenous rights and colonial rule in Nigeria. The outcome of the "Eleko Affair" led to the Eleko's deposition as Oba and deportation to Oyo between 1925 and 1931, years that some historians now call the "interregnum years", and that saw the reigns of Oba Ibikunle Akitoye and Oba Sanusi Olusi.
Chief Alimotu Pelewura, was a Nigerian trader who was leader of the Lagos Market Women's Association, a Lagos-based market women advocacy group. She was also an important political ally of Herbert Macaulay.
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The Jaekel House is a 2-storey colonial mansion in Ebute Metta, Lagos, Nigeria. The house was built in 1898 on a large expanse of landscaped land and named after the late Francis Jaekel OBE, a former superintendent of the Nigerian Railway Corporation who retired in the 1970s after almost three decades of active service. Jaekel House was formally the residence of the General Manager and was later converted to a senior staff rest house. The building has been renovated and restored by Professor John Godwin in collaboration with the Railway Corporation in 2010. The building is now a “mini Museum” showcasing photographic archives dating from 1940s through to 1970s of personalities, places, historical events in pre- and post-independent Nigeria and houses artefacts of the old Railway Corporation. It's also one of the fairy tale wedding locations in Lagos.
Lorenzo Menakaya is a Nigerian on-air personality, actor, event host, filmmaker and singer. He received nominations for On-Air Personality (OAP) of the year at The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) 2011 and 2012; and he won the award of Outstanding Radio Presenter at the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards 2016. He also hosted the Africa Movie Academy Awards, 2019.
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