Ayinla… for the music

Ayinla, directed by Tunde Kelani, is a film about late Apala musician, Ayinla Omowura (real Ayinla Yusuf). It isn’t quite a biopic as the scope of the film is restricted to a brief period in the life of the musician. Viewers only meet Ayinla fully formed and already a star. There’s no back story or explanation for what’s happened in his life before 1980. Anyhow the film, produced by Isoken director Jade Osiberu, was released in cinemas in June 2021. I couldn’t watch it at the time because I wasn’t physically in Nigeria. Fast-forward to May 20, 2022, when Ayinla premiered on Netflix and provided an opportunity. There were many reasons to look forward to watching this film. For one, as a Tunde Kelani film, I could expect the cinematography to be magnificent and this reason alone was enough for me to want to watch Ayinla.

But then again, there was the issue of who’s going to be in the film even though it wasn’t so much as who featured in the film which was why I didn’t really check to see which actors were in the film. However, I already knew Lateef Adedimeji was in the film. As the lead and the one playing the role of Ayinla, his face was part of the film posters and other promotional materials. So, the second reason for wanting to watch Ayinla was to see Lateef Adedimeji in action.

Adedimeji became a family favourite in his role as Tony Torpedo in A Naija Christmas (directed by Kunle Afolayan). His interpretation of Torpedo as the creepy loan shark with his maniacal laughter caught our attention. Yes, he delivers as Ayinla. Even if you didn’t know the late musician, Adedimeji sells him well. Although there are parts of the film where he’s not in sync with the recording while performing. Especially when he leaps in the air, sways, and as he lands, his lips don’t always rhyme with what’s being played.

Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to see that some other actors in Ayinla, were some of my favourites like Omowunmi Dada as (Deborah), Ade Laoye as (Jaiye), Bimbo Manuel (as Sam Ayo-Vaughan). And there’s Debo Adedayo a.k.a Mr Macaroni who plays the role of Ayinla’s manager Bayowa. I like the fact that as Bayowa, his Mr. Macaroni profile is well-hidden as it took me a minute to make the connection between Bayowa and Mr. Macaroni. Kunle Afolayan plays the role of Ajala, the show promoter planning to take Ayinla and his band to London on a musical tour.

All said the point I’m making which I hope is clear is that Ayinla has a lot of good things going for it and you should see it. However, despite everything I’ve pointed out, the one major thing that I enjoyed in Ayinla is the apala music. I wasn’t that familiar with apala music prior to this time but in the film, it’s soothing yet danceable. And there’s lots of Ayinla’s music in the film, almost enough to pass off as a musical. One can only imagine how far apala music would’ve spread by now if Ayinla Omowura had lived for much longer. So, please check out Ayinla, if for nothing else, for the music.

PS: One drawback for me is that the first five minutes of the ‘Ayinla’ is dedicated to interviews, of people like Ogun State former governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Dr. Kola Adesina from Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and others. I don’t think it this was a very good idea to have started the film this way. If I hadn’t been bent on watching ‘Ayinla,’ opening to Amosun would’ve made me switch channels very fast.