The film adaptation of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s prison memoir, ‘The Man Died,’ has embarked on an extensive global tour, spanning four continents.
The film, which explores Soyinka’s gripping experiences during Nigeria’s civil war, is being screened at prestigious film festivals, diaspora communities, and academic institutions worldwide.
Since its premiere on July 12, 2024, at the Alliance Française in Lagos, the film has reached nearly 20 events, marking one of the widest international runs for a Nigerian production in recent years.
Directed by Awam Amkpa and produced by Femi Odugbemi through Zuri24 Media, ‘The Man Died’ dramatises Soyinka’s 27-month solitary confinement during Nigeria’s civil war.
The cast includes Wale Ojo in the lead role, alongside Sam Dede, Norbert Young, Christiana Oshunniyi, Francis Onwochei, and Abraham Awam-Amkpa. The film premiered as part of Soyinka’s 90th birthday celebration and has since followed a path distinct from typical Nollywood releases, focusing on curated screenings rather than immediate commercial distribution.
The tour began with stops at festivals like the African and African Diaspora Film Festival in Costa Rica (April 23-May 18) and the New York African Film Festival (May 7-13), with a screening at Film at Lincoln Centre on May 13.
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Other key venues include the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, AFRIFF in Lagos, the Joburg International Film Festival in South Africa, and the Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt. The film has also appeared at cultural events such as the Quramo Festival of Words in Lagos, Labone Dialogues in Accra, and WSICE’s 90th birthday celebration at The Africa Centre in London.
Upcoming screenings are scheduled at the University of East Anglia in the UK, the African Theatre Association Conference in Stuttgart in July 2025, and additional academic venues in New York, Florence, and Oxford, currently under review. A June screening in Chicago at the African Diaspora International Film Festival is also confirmed.
The film has earned recognition along the way, winning Best Scriptwriting at AFRIFF, Audience Choice Award at the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, and Best Film Tackling an Important African Issue at Luxor. Nominations include Best African Film and Best Editing at the Joburg Film Festival, and Best Feature Narrative at PAFF in Los Angeles.
Rather than pursuing a traditional theatrical or streaming release, the filmmakers have opted for a strategy targeting diaspora audiences and spaces for cultural discourse. Discussions with global streaming platforms and distributors are underway, but the delayed wide release appears aimed at building prestige. This approach has allowed ‘The Man Died’ to connect Soyinka’s legacy with audiences across Africa, Europe, and North America.
