EbonyLife Films A Niyi Akinmolayan Film, present Taiwo Abileyi (Chief Daddy), Ajoke Silva (Lady Kay Beecroft), Richard Mofi Damijo (Tega Castle), Patient Ozorkwo (Madam Pat), Bisola Aiyeala (Chef Simbi), Adore Egbuson-Akande (Remi Castle), Funke Ennin (Tinu Beecroft), Zainab Balogun (Ireti), Shaffey Bello (Nike Williams) Nkem Owoh (Shoffa Donatus), Chuchu Chigul, Ini Edo (Kanem), Linda Ejiofor (Justina) Falz (Femi Beecroft), Mawule Gavor (Damilare Kofi Mensah) Kate Henshaw (Teni Beecroft), Lepacious Bose (Madam Tasty). DOP1, Mohammad Atta Ahmed; DOP2, Idowu Adedapo; Script Supervisor; Dayo Thompson; Director, Imran Claud Ennin; Screenwriter, Bode Asiyanbi; Producers, Steven Olugeh. Temi Dayo Abudu. ©2018
For three weeks on going, I have this boldface Chief Daddy title glaring at me, on my site. The thing is, I get cold feet, like most critics, to approach the project. The thing with it is that in no time in my reviews have I come across a single project with an ensemble of all the gods, goddesses, and cherubs of Nollywood, bundled up in a unique production. And for the first time, a Nollywood review on this site reaches one thousand one hundred and eighteen words.
Nollywood gods and goddesses include Patient Ozorkwo (Miss Pat). Her career dated far back before Nollywood, with Radio Series. Then Nkem Owoh (Shoffa Donatus), who made a name in the 1987 production of Things Fall Apart, and an early Nollywood era with Osuofia in London and the famous song track, “I Go Chop Your Dollar.” The goddess, Joke Silva (Lady Kay Beecroft), has featured in so many movies starting with her preNolly debut film, The Secret Laughter of A Woman. Ini Edo’s (Ekanem) entrance into the film world coincided with the coming of Nollywood, with her Thick Mama debut. Shaffy Bello (Nike Williams), Funke Akindele (Tinu Beecroft), and Richard Mofi Damijo (Tega Castle). These superstars had contributed to the making of Nollywood, or they made Nollywood, Nollywood. Then the Cherubs to the Nollywood gods and goddesses: Falze (Femi Beecroft), Linda Ejiofor (Justina), Zainab Balogun (Ireti) Most of these angels of present-day Nollywood are the second generation of actors and actresses, sprouting everywhere.
All these characters in Chief Daddy, are present for the funeral of the most generous film character Nollywood has manufactured yet. In life, he was generous with his body to most women; hence he had so many wives and concubines and children of every creed and color. The family attorney who will execute Chief Daddy’s will makes a call to all the essential people in the life of the man. He breaks the news to Nike Williams, “Well Chief Daddy passed away yesterday.” She stands in a trance. Kanem let out a howl in her dialect when Lawyer Castle breaks the news to her. Justina packs her roadside photo shoot and hurries to the Beecroft mansion too. “So, who’s going to make all these types of calls for you when you are gone?” Remi Castle asks her husband. As the family members all get the rude awakening of the death of the only man in their lives, they gather at the mansion, for funeral arrangements, and to hear the will.
The family meeting for the funeral arrangements and reading of the will almost go amok by various members of the family, doubting each other’s legitimacy. About Nike Williams’ daughter, Aunty Ajoke, comments, “Can’t you see her resemblance with my brother?” Ekenem’s twins’ legitimacy questioned too. Remi Castle (Adore Egbuson-Akande), the wife and partner of Tega Castle (Castle & Castle), called the meeting to order: “And we are all here for one person. Even though we may not like what the present situation is, we need to remember that that one person meant everything to us. Now the Codicil.”
As if Chief Daddy knew the kind of problem he’ll leave behind him, he starts his Codicil with self-blame. “We all make mistakes, and I’ve sure made a few. To err is human; to forgive is divine. I apologize for my missteps, but one truth I know for sure is everyone present in this room at the moment is family. None of you, I will ever call a mistake.” He goes on in his instructions as to how he wants his funeral administered without resentment, or the church shall take over his funeral, and his will shall be locked and opened only after seventy years. “Seventy Years?” Echoes Femi. Chief Daddy may have all the shortcomings one can blame him for, if ever, he had any, for I believe, those shortcomings can be relative.
One thing for sure, Chief Daddy knew his family better than all of us. In a non-inimical tone, he meticulously assigned all members to their department of expertise to carry out duties of his funeral. “About Aso ebi, and Tinu and Teni will handle event planning. They are like me. My dearest wife, Kemi, Madam, perfect, will handle all matters about the church; she spent most of her time there, anyway. My son Femi will handle all protocols. Nike, my only tomato juice, will make uniforms for all the orphanage kids. Ekanem, my energetic (speaks ethnically) hot like pepper, will channel her legendary energy to organize all things music at the party. That’s her favorite past-time anyway.”
Chief Daddy continues, “Justina, my ever delectable Cici Icecream, will be in charge of publicity. Damilare, leadership, and peace; Shoffa Donatus in charge of logistics, Madam Pat, the superwoman, who keeps the house running will take charge of the hearse and undertaker services. I’ve always trusted you with getting delicate things done, and you’ve never failed me. Ajoke, my impatient sister, should take care of the orphanage, as per our last year’s conversation. If you can all unite, take up your responsibilities, and get this done for me without malice, eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard, the things I have for you all in my will.” Immediately after the appendix gets read, arguments start over the color of the Aso-ebi. Some say the favorite color of Chief Daddy is red, some choose, white, some like blue, and some go with green.
A friend, once comparing our African cemeteries to the Western world, commented, “Every time I see Western Cemeteries, I want to die to get laid there.” The graveyard where Chief Daddy lays is immaculate and beautiful, one where one wants to bury. A place, befitting Chief Daddy’s stature. The funeral itself was somber; some tears shed. The most solemn part of the funeral, whereas a viewer, I felt the loss for the family is after everything was over, and they all come home to a mansion without the husky voice and laughter of Chief Daddy ringing through the rooms, and the hallways, calling for Donatus to come to take him somewhere.
The next phase of the funeral is the reading of the will itself. It is a tense moment for all and a pin drop you can hear in the room. This time, there was no exchange of vitriol between members, for everyone’s ear was cocked for, what, “the eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard,” if I could repeat Chief Daddy. Almost everyone present was satisfied with what the Chief left him or her. However, knowing his people so well, Chief Daddy entrusted the monies to his bank and be claimed, that is, if a member wishes to, after nine months. He was afraid most members would lavish the inheritance. The celebration of life goes well, but the one who carries the cake is Femi Beecroft, “With his, “moving mad, who is your daddy,” track.”
No player in the ensemble tried to outperform other players. They play by the script and the parts they represent. For instance, if Lady Kay Beecroft is demanding and authoritative, it’s what the text demand of her. We see how every family member hates her gut. Many hounds bay at her for the fortunes left by Chief Daddy. Chief Daddy’s sister is there; Chief Daddy’s first wife is present; his young concubines are there as well, and they all want a piece of Lady Kay Beecroft. “It is heartbreaking and beyond reason. I have just lost my husband, and I’m thrown into this circus! I will not take it…I’m not going to have a meeting with all these illegitimate.”
There are certain moments, even in the face of the gloom that the “rude awakening” (death) brought on the Beecroft, I will make a note. Specifically, these are scenes that brought respite and laughter in the film. The views where ad-hoc meetings involving two, three members at a time to set up budgets. Almost all are betting on padding the cost of whatever duty assigned them. The Tinu and Teni meeting with Aunty Ajoke, when she is urging the two sisters to attend the meeting with Kemi, Lady Kay. But the most fun is when Ekanem and Nike are talking, and young Justina shows up in almost a clown-colored red and blue dress and barges into their conversation.
Justina, “I suggest we make good use of this funeral responsibility we are given. You know budget-padding things since we are all in the same boat.”
Ekanem, “Eh, eh, eh! Wait, you and who? You seriously have no manners. You know, I honestly think that you need home training, you little gold digger.”
Nike, “She does.”
Justina laughs hysterically in their faces making them more annoyed. When Justina quickly summarizes how the five-k-a day Ekenem, and the apprentice fashion designer, Nike, stole the heart of Chief Daddy, Ekenem jumps on her.
Ekenem, “Do you know who I am? I will reverse your face.”
Justina, “Don’t let me call uncle Tega for you!
Nike pulls off Justina’s wig off her head and both of them beat her.
Nike, “You and Tega! Go call him.”
Just as directing a movie as a craft can be daunting, especially with a crowd of actors, each with their different attitude, so overwhelmingly challenging, it could address a large number of personalities on the set of Chief Daddy, you bet. Some don’t come prepared for a shoot that day; they must have had too much to drink last night. What with the gossip on the set; I can imagine the ‘behind the scene’ palava scenes among players. The producer has to deal with scandals, back-biting, late-comers to the location, and those players who weren’t quite prepared for a shoot that day. What with the wardrobe person and crew in charge of continuity. It is quite admiring, however, to accomplish such an enormous production.
“Death is for the living, and not for the dead so much.” Gates of Heaven