A new Yoruba movie titled, ‘Ebi Tayese’, which promotes Yoruba indigenous culture and heritage, sponsored by Tayese Academy of Arts and Culture, is set to premiere in London by December 2023.
In an interview with journalists in Lagos, the Executive Producer of the Film, Olanrewaju Sharafa, popularly known as Tayese of London and the Film Director, Olamide Laoye, popularly called Olami, gave an insight to the film project.
1. As the Exec. Producer of Ebi Tayese, what is your motivating factor for the project and agenda for production?
The Tayese Academy of Arts and Culture project is linked to my admiration of the Timi of Ede Land, HRM Oba Adesola Lawal, Laminisa 1. I’m a lover of the king and his subjects. The Kings in Yoruba Land preserves the Yoruba culture and heritage; hence the desire to support not only the Kabiesi of Ede Land but all our Royal fathers by promoting the yoruba culture, protecting and developing every aspect of the socio-cultural well-being of the yoruba land. I’m particularly proud of the up-coming Tayese of London Royal visit which would hold soon.
Our Academy is incorporated here in London with the mission to promote Yoruba arts and culture through education, creative projects, events & networking.
2. What differentiates the film Ebi Tayese from any other?
In this project, we bring back the memories of Yoruba Actors who are legends and have worked so hard to promote Yoruba culture on several creative projects. We are blending the legendary experience with modern-day characters within the movie industry. And That’s why I’m proud to say Baba Peter Fatomilola, Tunde Bamgbode, a.k.a Baba Fokoko and Toyin Oladiran, a.k.a Abeni Agbon are among other Legends who played a massive role in this project. Viewers will also see a blend of comics- especially that which makes them laugh and, at the same time, articulate the culture and heritage of the Yoruba race. We want to show the best of Yoruba comedians in the film and the Ebi Tayese short series, which will also feature on their screens soon.
3. How much was invested in the project?
Although I’m privileged to be part of the finance and general purpose committee of Tayese London, I don’t have the permission to reveal the actual spending. What I can tell you is that we have enjoyed the generosity of our funding partners. As we speak now, we are also preparing another funding application to secure funding of up to £20,000 for the premier of the Ebi Tayese movie here in London. This couldn’t have been possible without a reliable team; hence, I sincerely appreciate everyone working so hard behind the scenes.
4. What impact will the film have on Yoruba culture?
The film will enrich viewers’ knowledge on the Yoruba culture. It will promote the beauty of ‘Omo Odudua’, and ofcourse help viewers to reimagine our culture and heritage. We also believe that the film will help Yoruba sons and daughters in the diaspora to remain proud of their identity, culture and background, which is one of the core missions we would love to be remembered for here at Tayese London.
5. What is your portfolio at Tayese Academy, and what impact will the film have on the Academy?
I’m the Founder and executive secretary of the Tayese Academy of Arts and Culture London. Our activities are centred around three core themes: Creative Projects, Cultural Education, Events and networking of like minds willing to support our mission and vision. The production of the movie demonstrates our commitment and fulfilment of our creative project ambition. We can then extend the anticipated success of the film production by organising events and recognising excellent contributions to our creative project and all other initiatives that promote the Yoruba culture. By the term recognition of excellence, I’m referring to our preparation for the 2024 Tayese Award in London.
6. What informed the choice of cast in the movie?
We promised that viewers will experience the Yorùbá ÀSÀ and ÌSE from legendary and comic perspectives- hence the choice of people like Baba Peter Fatomilola, Baba Fokoko, Abeni Agbon. From a comedy perspective, we considered that our viewers would enjoy a blend of Sis Quadri, Mummy GO and others. A very great talent and character of reference in the film is also Olori Ebi Tayese- Mr Hammed Oyediran (a.k.a. Oni gege ara); Mr Hammed played a lead role in delivering strong messages that promote the Yoruba arts and culture. He is a very passionate actor who believes strongly in the Yoruba race.
7. Any partnership, upcoming projects, and future collaboration?
At the moment, Tayese London has a strong tie with TAMPAN UK. We look forward to expanding our collaboration and partnership with other organisations, creative industry experts and individuals whose mission aligns with ours. In fact, I will be glad to welcome all the characters (in the movie- Ebi Tayese) and all other well-wishers and associate partners to London for the movie premiere. We have firmed up the plan and are already preparing all the logistics to help us achieve a successful movie Premier of our creative work (titled Ebi Tayese) here in London.
Meanwhile, in his contribution, Olami, the Movie Director, said that the storyline of the movie, which is best of a kind, was tailored to restore the glory of the Yoruba culture and heritage that is already going into extinction.
Olami, also the writer of the popular trending cinema movie, Orisa, produced by Odunlade Adekola and director of the Yoruba blockbusters films, Kessari and Jankariwo in 2021 and 2022 said that the Yoruba culture is known for beauty, origin, idiomatic expressions and very strong cultural values.
He hinted that the character, Olori Ebi of Tayese in the movie, by Tunde Bamgbode, was presented to teach our children their indigenous culture, liberate them from foreign ways of life and preserve the Yoruba heritage for future generations.
The Director said: “ The Yoruba culture known for beauty, ‘origin, Asa’, Owe, is loosing its value on daily basis because we are importing foreign values into it, but we must not allow it die.
“Every tribe has its culture, but the Yorubas are known for respect, modesty, communism, beauty, and as such we must sustain our culture for the generations to come.
“Even if many of us now live in abroad, we owe our children the duty to teach them our culture and ways of life, which is totally different from the western world.”
According to him, the film Ebi Tayese represented the totality of the Yoruba culture and gives the younger and even the older generation more insight into the culture and heritage of the different Yoruba clan featured in the movie.
Olami commended Sharafa, the Executive Producer for bringing in the best hands in the industry to shoot the film and also mobilizing funding partners to invest in the project.
He named some other cast in the film to include Bose Aregbesola, Quadri Oyebamiji, Akinola Akano and a special appearance of Oba Lawal Lawal Laminisa Munirudeen, the Timi of Ede Land.
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