Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli, has supported the casting of Hollywood actor, Idris Elba, as the lead actor in the upcoming film adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s classic novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’.
The novel depicts the pre-colonial life in Igboland and the subsequent appearance of European missionaries and colonial forces in the late 19th century.
It was first brought to life as a movie in 1971 and a mini-series in 1987 with veteran Nigerian actor, Pete Edochie, playing Okonkwo, the novel’s protagonist.
Recall that a new series is currently in development at A24, with Idris Elba and Gina Carter serving as executive producers under their 22Summers banner, which has sparked widespread criticism.
However, in an interview with Channels TV on Saturday, Omoni Oboli said there is nothing wrong with Elba playing the lead role since he is African.
The filmmaker added that Africans are better suited to tell their own stories.
She said, “I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with Idris Elba playing ‘Okonkwo’ in Things Fall Apart.
“Idris is African. His dad is Sierra Leonean. Yes, he has lived abroad, but he is African. So, that is an African telling an African story.
“So, I do not see anything wrong with that. I am just being honest.”
The novel depicts the pre-colonial life in Igboland and the subsequent appearance of European missionaries and colonial forces in the late 19th century.
It was first brought to life as a movie in 1971 and a mini-series in 1987 with veteran Nigerian actor, Pete Edochie, playing Okonkwo, the novel’s protagonist.
Recall that a new series is currently in development at A24, with Idris Elba and Gina Carter serving as executive producers under their 22Summers banner, which has sparked widespread criticism.
However, in an interview with Channels TV on Saturday, Omoni Oboli said there is nothing wrong with Elba playing the lead role since he is African.
The filmmaker added that Africans are better suited to tell their own stories.
She said, “I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with Idris Elba playing ‘Okonkwo’ in Things Fall Apart.
“Idris is African. His dad is Sierra Leonean. Yes, he has lived abroad, but he is African. So, that is an African telling an African story.
“So, I do not see anything wrong with that. I am just being honest.”
