The man died is a Nigeria historical drama based on Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s harrowing 1972 prison memoir.
The story is set during the late 1960s at the height of the Nigeria Civil War. Wole Soyinka, a renowned university professor, writer and activist, takes a bold step to try to stop the Biafra War. He attempts to bridge the gap and appeal to leaders on both sides to let down their arms. His peace efforts anger the military government led by General Yakubu Gown, deemed by a traitor to the state, Soyinka is arrested without formal trial.
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Soyinka is moved through high-security facilities like Kirikiri and Kaduna prisons. The military regime tries to break his spirit through harsh solitary confinement, psychological torture and constant threats of execution. Instead of breaking down, Soyinka uses his mind as a sanctuary. The film explores his deep philosophical musings on politics, history, culture and human rights while he faces brutal conditions.
Confined to a dark cell, Soyinka refuses to yield to his oppressors. He secretly documents his brutal treatment and reflections on scraps of paper, which are smuggled out of the prison. These hidden notes form the foundation of his resistance and serve as a future testament against military tyranny.
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The narrative weaves the dark prison scenes together with flashbacks to Soyinka’s earlier life as a vibrant public intellectual, poet and cultural campaigner. The film highlights his core belief that “the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny”. It concludes as a profound look at an individual’s agency and the unbreakable human spirit when confronted with state oppression.
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Directed by: Awam Amkpa
Cast: Wole Ojo, Sam Dede, Norbert Young, Segilola Ogidan, Temiloluwa Fosude
Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes
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