Remember I promised that I will do a review of 20 movies I love? These reviews are in no particular order.
Abeni is such a beautiful work of art, even for a movie that was produced in 2006. This is one of those romantic stories I can say authoritatively that have stood the test of time. It is one of Uncle TK Kelani’s best so far.
The eponymous character, Abeni was born with a silver spoon. Her playmate, Akanni the Beninnose was not. But they are friends all the same. Her parents organised a birthday party for her when she turned 10, and they made it clear that Akanni was not invited. He came all the same, and Abeni’s parents chased him out of their property. He had to relocate to Benin Republic with his mother.
Several years later, Akanni and Abeni meet again and it was love at first sight. This didn’t go down well with Abeni’s parents, especially her father who wanted her to marry his friend’s son. A lot of things went down, including a frame-up and an elopement. But these lovebirds chose themselves again and again. And it all ended with Neil Oliver’s iconic song.
Watching this movie again felt like I was given a sweet smelling baby to hold!
Let’s talk about the technicalities involved in this movie:
Set in Lagos and Cotonu, this movie weaves effortlessly between these two locations. The beautiful scenery was brought to life such that you could imagine yourself cheering them up and feeling their emotions. The story is quite straightforward, the characters drove the movie as much as possible. The result? This masterpiece!
The cast did well, I mean, I don’t expect less from veterans like Jide Kosoko, Kareem Adepoju, Bukky Wright, Idowu Phillips. But the discovery of this move has got to be Dekunle Fuji in his debut. Casting him as the comic relief alongside Ayo Badmus is brilliant, especially as their antics evoked hysterical laughter. Ayo Badmus himself didn’t do badly. He acted as the spoilt Ogagu, the love interest picked for Abeni by her father and Dekunle Fuji acted as his best friend and sidekick, Laku.
And the soundtrack… drove the message home.
Starring Sola Asedeko, Jide Kosoko, Kareem ‘Baba Wande’ Adepoju, Abdel Akim Hamzat, Bukky Wright, Idowu Phillips, Ayo Badmus, Dekunle Fuji, Marcelline Aboh, amongst others.
The movie is a product of its time. It is a crisp production, it does not take itself seriously and it still delivered. Kudos to uncle TK!
6.5 stars.
My Headless Tales 