“Oloture” – Story of a journalist going undercover as a prostitute to expose human trafficking in Lagos, and discovers a world of exploited women and ruthless violence, but in this sequel, this journalist fights for her life as she forges a path to Europe.
As much as this story is the sad reality of Africans, it feels more like a docu-drama using these actors to re-enact such deep stories. It felt like a feature length of about an hour and 50 Minutes that was divided into three episodes. It is actually. How do we explain the feeling of anticipation for this sequel all these years and this is what the producers have dished out for fans to consume.
Sharon Ooja (Oloture / Ehi) and Beverly Osu (Peju) gave good performances that it seemed like they had either read the true story or watched videos of people narrating their experience. I felt their fears, anxieties and uncertainties, but it all goes away once the drama slides back to the crime syndicates. My attention span was limited around these crime lords. This sequel needed to showcase the power of investigative journalism and the function of the fourth estate of the realm. What are the deepest conversations a journalist can possibly have in a dangerous quest like this? A determined Oloture will not expose herself too easily in the face of terror.
Daniel Etim Effiong (Tony) and Bucci Franklin should have actually swapped roles in my opinion. It’s important for an actor to be versatile, but Daniel seems to be too cool for such a controller of a cartel. Is it realistic for Beauty to insist on traveling to Europe after witnessing what happened to her sister? I understand the feeling of emptiness and desperation but is that the only option to present to audiences to consume? Is Alero (Omoni Oboli) dangerous, weak or desperate? What’s really her backstory into surviving all these years without any huge collateral damage and still running deals with the foreign cartels. The character development for this sequel showed her more as an actor delivering lines and the feeling of investing in her, as a viewer was blank for me.
The producers must be commended in creating the reality of Africans who are desperate for a better life and this subject is like a javelin thrown back at African leaders. It’s a sad subject and the film is serving a good purpose bring attention to it.
Oloture is still on a journey according to this ‘Season’, and we hope the producers will not take a long break before coming back with a next ‘Season’.
WRITER: Adeyemi Olowa
EDITOR: Remi ‘RJ’ Jones
