Anikulapo (2022) is a fascinating piece of folklore, romance, and tragedy which takes place in the ancient Oyo Kingdom. It is about a young and ambitious textile weaver, Saro who comes to Oyo in search of a better life. His life becomes dramatic as he decides to have an extra marital relationship with Queen Arolake, wife of the king, who is dissatisfied with her marriage and not interested in her spouse. Their illicit affair is flowering in the atmosphere of court intrigues, but their relationship is ultimately revealed, which causes the death sentence of Saro in the hands of the king. But when Saro meets the mysterious bird Akala, who is thought to possess the ability to bestow and command life, the story is predetermined to take a kind of mystical turn. Through the sly role of Arolake, Saro develops the power to raise the dead and is given the title of Anikulapo, which translates to the one that keeps death in his bag.
When Saro starts using his new powers, he embarks on raising his status and his wealth, demanding things of the villagers and pushing his powers to the extreme. His egomania expands and he is greedy more so after he demands to revive the daughter of the king and other elite members. His arrogance, however, is his downfall after Arolake betrays him by his greed and as a result destroys his source of power. The inability of Saro to bring the prince back to life and his unthoughtful need make him deprive of the possibility of supernatural abilities to face the tragic consequences of his hubris and the inevitability of death.
Anikulapo is a densely intertwined story that touches upon the issues of love, power, death and religious faith. The series is visually striking and immerses deeply into the mythology of the Yoruba, which creates a feeling of wonderment and sadness in the viewers, showing the delicate nature of life and death. It is a sad thought on the folly of people and mysticism of things that rule our lives and makes a lasting impression of the depth of culture as well as the depth of emotions.
