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Several media outlets have told the story of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti. However, no production has done more justice to her legacy than Bolanle Austen-Peters Nollywood Production. TThe film “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” saw legendary actors Joke Silva and Kehinde Bankole play the older and younger Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, while Iyimide Ayo-Olumoko played the child character. The movie focused on the activism prowess of the late politician with her role in the Abeokuta Women’s Riot of 1946. However, it goes beyond telling the story of the Abeokuta Women’s Riot; it goes deeper into the life of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and educates the younger generation on more aspects of her life. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti is more popular with Nigerians of the 21st century as the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria or as the mother of legendary singer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti. What Bolanle Austen-Peters did with the production is expository to her life beyond simply driving a car, which was a big deal back then, or putting her in the shadows of her late son, Fela Kuti. There have been debates surrounding how a 21st-century feminist should act, but there will be no need for this if every woman takes the story of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti as a perfect example. While she sought to unite women by establishing a women’s club, as seen in the film, which later transformed into the Abeokuta Women’s Union, she also understood the relevance of family alongside a supportive husband. Her major activism was spurred by the plight of women in Egba land.
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The role of fathers in training the girl child was highlighted in the film, as the character says at the start of the film that her father, Daniel Olumeyuwa Thomas, taught her everything she knew and encouraged her not to set limits in life. “My father was the driving force of my life. He taught me how to push boundaries,” says Funmilayo in the film. There is a popular catchphrase: “When you train the girl child, you train a nation.” Her father, the late Olumeyuwa Thomas, was instrumental in training a woman who could stand up to men in a largely patriarchal society by enrolling her as the first female student in the Abeokuta Grammar School. Her struggles to adapt to the male-dominated school built her up to become a strong woman among men. It is sad to note that social media and other entertainment platforms have reduced the activism power of 21st-century Nigerian youth. Funmilayo in the film portrayed the power of activism by refusing to give up her push for the abolishment of unfair taxes that were weakening the economic prowess of women in Abeokuta. Despite torture and pain, she stood firm and went further to overthrow Alake, who was stubborn about the plight of women. Nigerians must pick this example in the fight against bad leadership, which has bedevilled the country since independence. The need for patriotism and national consciousness was depicted in the film. The younger Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was called Frances Thomas, but after studying in England, she made away with her English name and decided to take up her Yoruba name. This act was proof of her national awareness and her pride in being Yoruba. In the film, she is seen arguing with her father-in-law, who relegated African culture, as she sought to correct his ignorance.
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Overall, the film is a big clue into Nigeria’s history, especially for the present generation. There is a great need to imbibe the attributes of the late activists into our daily lives and challenge institutional failure in Nigeria. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’s role in Nigerian history is indelible and etched as one of the country’s heroes of the past. Featured Image Source; IMDb
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