An exploration of sage motif in tunde kelani’s saworoide and agogo eewo

Abstract

In all cultures, there are people of profound character that embody wisdom, knowledge and spiritual power. These kinds of people are called sages. Among the Yoruba, they are known as Amoye/Agba (wise one/elder), and they are invaluable to the development and growth of the society. Thus, the saying agba ki i wa l'oja kori omo tuntun wo (literally,"a newly born baby's head should not go askew in the presence of an elder"). This maxim is used to underscore the social significance of sages. However, habitually, there is a misplaced value on sages in human societies. This study explores the status of sage in Tunde Kelani's Saworoide and Agogo Eewo, highlighting the implications of undervaluing sages to social development. Kelani adopted sage motif to comment on post-colonial Nigeria. Adopting a qualitative content analysis approach, this study evaluates two purposively selected films, paying close attention to the scenes featuring Baba Opalaba in which he offers cultural and philosophical admonitions to individuals and the community for social evolution. The study concludes that films function as powerful tools for social commentary and are a vital conduit for social change.