Rita Dominic in Benin classic, ‘Iyore’

These questions readily come to mind from the epic movie, ‘Iyore’, which was premiered in Accra this week. Iyore (rebirth) explores the theme of ‘reincarnation’ and the cyclical nature of life to depict the fact that one is not the architect of one’s own destiny.Set in historical and contemporary Benin city, it resonates the fixture […]

These questions readily come to mind from the epic movie, ‘Iyore’, which was premiered in Accra this week. Iyore (rebirth) explores the theme of ‘reincarnation’ and the cyclical nature of life to depict the fact that one is not the architect of one’s own destiny.
Set in historical and contemporary Benin city, it resonates the fixture of life and pre-determinism. The present is an offshoot of a past lived by others; events in a life are shaped from previous generations, the movie portrays.
Parading some of Nollywood’s best, Rita Dominic, Joseph Benjamin, and Paul Obazele, the movie directed by Nigerian-born Ghanaian producer, Frank Arase Rajah, combines Benin folklore, tradition, music and military exploits to tell a story of love flowing from successive generations that have brought all the protagonists to an inevitable doom.
Benjamin plays the lead role as Prince Azuwa, irresistibly drawn to Osarugue (Rita Dominic), a delectable woman of low birth. Azuwa as the crown prince of Idu kingdom must choose royalty for wife. King Izuwa’s (Paul Obazele) preference is Princess Ajoke from an affluent monarchy in Ekiti.
Prince Azuwa and Osarugue’s love is intriguing and boundless. Not even the forced separation of over a decade between them and the fact that she is was now married to Ovie (Yemi Black) could extinguish the intensity of the love they shared.
Through flashbacks and anecdotes, another story is relayed from generations past. Edosa, the chief warrior commits sacrilege by sleeping with one of the Oba’s virgin maidens. Under the tradition the damsel is forbidden to make love and must be buried alive with the Oba at his demise.
The benevolent hunter and his wife from a neighbouring tributary village named the girl, Onaiwu. 22 years later, the hunter and Onaiwu are captured in a fierce battle with the Oba’s troops. The hunter is beheaded, while she is enslaved.  She escapes mysteriously and later emerges as Ajoke.
The plot returns to Osarugue, whose marriage to Ovie hits an inevitable rock because of the latter’s insecurity and distrust of her. She moved temporally to leave with her grandparents in the village.
The search for his true love takes Prince Azuwa to her village. On his way he encounters the village recalcitrant. A short boy who enjoys playing pranks on people. The boy tricked him to part with some money. The scene is intricately woven and rather than provoke anger it induces laughter. Ironically, it is this boy that leads him to find his destiny fulfilment.
Outraged by Ovie’s distrust and humiliation Osarugue finds solace in Prince Azuwa. The whirlwind romance culminates in pregnancy. Oba Izuwa is disappointed as he reluctantly accepts her as his heir.
But hell is let loose when he discovers the sordid secret of Osarugue’s subsisting marriage to Ovie. Aghast he sends her away and disinherits Prince Azuwa.
The lovers relocate to Lagos, where they enjoy fleeting tranquillity in their love until Ovie turns up in their home one day.
Prince Azuwa incriminates himself and takes the blame for a crime he did not commit and is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He returns from jail to find her married and she tried to justify her action.
A priestess takes over and recounts to Osarugue her life in generations past. Their union was cursed and only separation will save them from doom her voice echoes: “If you marry another he lives you will die, because his glory is your doom.”
Osarugue paid the ultimate sacrifice and Prince Azuwa is crowned Oba eventually.