Two excellent actresses, Ajoke Silva and Kehinde Bankole are expected to star as the foremost activist, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in the forthcoming biopic of the late activist, Funmilayo: The Lioness of Lisabi.
The biopic, to be produced and directed by TerraKulture founder Bolanle Austen Peters, mirrors the life of the activist in an almost coming-of-age manner. While Joke Silva plays Ransome-Kuti in her much older days, Kehinde Bankole, famous for Kunle Afolayan’s October 1, will play Ransome-Kuti in her youth.
Members of FRK’s family are expected to also make cameo appearances. Yeni Kuti, her granddaughter will be playing FRK’s aunt, Dolupe, while Dotun-Ransome Kuti, her grandson will play Olikoye. Other members of the family in the dramatis personae include Femi Kuti, Kunle Kuti, and Made Kuti.
The cast also includes Jide Kosoko, Omonwunmi Dada, Ibrahim Suleiman, Patrick Diabua, amongst others.
Funmilayo is often celebrated for her norm-shattering radicalism. She rebelled against the unfair taxes levied on small traders, fought for women’s rights to vote and was thought to have been instrumental in getting the then Alake deposed.
She was a woman of many firsts: the first girl to attend an all-boys school, the first woman to drive a car, the first woman to found a party, amongst other feats.
‘The director, Austen-Peters, speaking to the media last month said, “This is an inspirational story. We need positive role models for young African women and the world at large. At BAP Productions, we believe in telling uniquely African stories. This is a story of a brave and courageous woman, a leader, an activist and a family woman.”