Idris Elba as Okonkwo: Will Things Fall Apart?

There have been a lot of mixed reactions following the announcement of Idris Elba as the actor to play the role of Okonkwo in the upcoming adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s multiple award-winning novel Things Fall Apart. With many in favour, many against, and others sitting on the fence, methinks it’s time I threw my hat in the ring and comment on this controversial subject.

The 1980s version

First off, if you’ve not read the novel or watched the TV mini-series produced by Peter Igho for NTA in the late ’80s, you might not understand what the fuss is all about. There’s a whole lot of nostalgia around it. Pete Edochie killed it as Okonkwo in that series! I also can’t forget the heart-wrenching ‘Ikemefuna’ song following the murder of his adopted son (come on, there’s no spoiler here!) in one episode that left viewers practically in tears. Also, there was the show’s infectious choral theme song using the ‘ogene’ and other local instruments. I’m sure it’s all on YouTube somewhere. The series was quite authentic to the culture with most actors being of Igbo origin. I never watched the 1971 film adaptation but the ’80s series forms a perfect benchmark for the upcoming one. However, like most things viewed with nostalgia, we see room for improvement when watched again with a modern, discerning eye.

Having doubted that the new Shaka Zulu series would be any better than the 1980s original, featuring Henry Cele as the titular character, I have learned my lessons. Shaka Ilembe (the new series) is much better in my opinion. Sentiments aside. And that’s saying a lot because Shaka Zulu was a masterpiece. However, one can also argue that Ilembe was better because it was an indigenous production and thus more grassroots-oriented. As a counterpoint though, the quality of South African productions, as opined by award-winning Nigerian-born South African director, Adze Ugah, is at par with international standards. So in this regard, I keep an open mind with regards to this remake.

Does Elba have the acting chops for it?

I’m also cautious when I recall similar protests in South Africa over Idris Elba’s selection to play Nelson Mandela. A role he made his own and eventually converted a nation to his side with his epic performance. Elba made a good passionate Mandela- accent and all. It can be argued however that studying speech inflections and mannerisms of a real-life personality is not the same as playing a fictional character. You can’t mimic Okonkwo because he never existed. You can only model him after a real Igbo figure and hope for the best.

There are concerns about whether Idris Elba can get that tricky Igbo accent locked down. Well, if any foreign black actor can do it, it definitely would be Idris. With a natural Cockney, you would never have known it in The Wire where he played an American thug. A sharp contrast to his other accents on Luther, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Beast of No Nation, and Concrete Cowboy. All uniquely different. How does he do it? He understudies people and stays in vocal character on and off set the entire time. Hopefully, this talent will help him adopt the Igbo for this series. There is no debate the man is a Thespian and challenges such as these are what he thrives on.

Why not a Nollywood actor?

Why not indeed? Surely, that would be more appropriate. We could use the opportunity to promote our own. That would be a splendid idea! That is – when you become the producer, perhaps? Any idea how many would-be producers have offered to adapt this novel since 1987 and were turned down? Any idea why? Idris Elba (22Summers Productions), David Oyelowo (Yoruba Saxon Productions) and the Achebe Estate are executive producers for this movie. It has a rumoured budget of over $50 million. Now while the movie industry produces art, it is also a business. When you invest that kind of money to make a movie befitting of Things Fall Apart, you better be sure you get a massive ROI (Return On Investment). It’s non-negotiable. What better guarantee than to have a globally recognized figure for your main actor? You already have the critical mass.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a no-brainer. Once named as one of the Most Influential People in the World by Time, the man transcended the racial barrier to become a very popular candidate for the role of the quintessential white man- Bond...James Bond. If you want the story of Things Fall Apart to be bequeathed to the next generation who have little time for books then you better find someone globally recognizable on screen to lure them to the story.

A Need for Authenticity

Granted, Things Fall Apart is a cultural resource for Igbo culture and history but it is also not an artifact or relic to be preserved in a museum. Like every classic book, it is subject to interpretation. There are many internationally acclaimed novels with great adaptations by non-indigenes. We all enjoyed the hit movie The Man in the Iron Mask (an adaptation of Alexander Dumas’s classic novel)- it had only one Frenchman (Gerard Depardieu) as a main character. The French didn’t throw a hissy fit about it! Like Dumas’ book, Chinua Achebe’s novel is now part of an international legacy.

What we should expect and probably insist on is an integration of Nollywood actors in the movie for more authenticity. Good actors like Genevieve Nnaji, Kanayo Kanayo, Pete Edochie’s son Yul, and the young talent Chuks Joseph (Dark October, Afamefuna, Madame Koi-Koi) as Ikemefuna perhaps. Nollywood can be involved to add needed authenticity. This collaboration would work.

As hard as it might be for some to believe, many have never heard of Things Fall Apart. They know quite little about Africa and the art. This is one of the reasons for initiatives like Teambooktu. So take Elba as a magnet to attract a diverse global audience to watch a movie they might otherwise not have watched. To introduce them to Nollywood actors and a culture they might otherwise never have known. The show then becomes a footstool for more world-acclaimed Nigerian/African productions in the future. More like the ‘collabos’ we see between African musicians and their Western counterparts which have helped popularize Afrobeats in the West.

There has also been concern that Western involvement in its production might dilute its cultural authenticity. Valid concerns no doubt. There were similar concerns over the recent Disney-produced animation, Iwaju, a Nigerian story by Kugali Productions. Iwaju proved us all wrong and kept it very Nigerian. The show integrated popular Nigerian actors like Femi Branch and Ireti Doyle as cast members and they made Africa proud. Society appears more sensitive to authenticity and representation than some years ago.

Other Actors for the Role

Some have also argued in favour of British/Hollywood actors of Igbo extraction like Chiwetel Ejiofor for the role. Another good suggestion (though I’d say he’d have to bulk up a wee bit to be convincing as Umuofia’s wrestling champion and most respected warrior). He’s a stellar actor no doubt but I don’t think that’s how showbiz works. You don’t usually get to pick who you want from a wish list. What happens is analogous to sports where your agent finds you a club (or role) to play for. Besides, the man has already done Half of a Yellow Sun– the film adaptation of Chimamanda’s best-selling novel. People, be calming down. No be only him come market.

My concern is that Okonkwo is not overshadowed by Idris Elba’s personality so much that we can only see ‘Idris playing Okonkwo’. I’ve seen this happen often in movies where stars (like Will Smith, Ryan Reynolds, The Rock) consume their characters whole that they practically don’t appear. This hasn’t quite happened with Idris but it is always a risk that requires a star to invest more in hiding himself and convincing us to see only the character he or she wants to portray. This is generally easier for an unknown actor to do. I’m sure we all want to see the hot-headed, defiant Okonkwo on screen.

Summary

Let’s be clear: I’m not holding brief for Idris Elba. I have only laid out cases where our valid concerns have been proven unfounded. With such hindsight, we should give the man the benefit of the doubt. He can make us all eat our words again considering how he commits himself to his roles. Also with a seasoned British-Nigerian actor, David Oyelowo, and Achebe’s Estate involved, I see little cause for alarm. The centre will surely hold.