Kongi's Harvest (film)

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For the play on which the film is based, see Kongi's Harvest.

Kongi's Harvest is a 1973 film directed by the American Ossie Davis, from a screenplay by Wole Soyinka adapted from his 1965 play by the same name.^[1]^[2] Soyinka also starred in the leading role as the dictator of an African nation.

Production

The film was shot in Nigeria.^[3]^[4] It was the first production by a company set up to help Nigerians produce films that would change perceptions about their country and the continent.^[5]^[6]

Plot

President Kongi (Soykina), the dictator of an African developing nation, is trying to modernize his nation after deposing King Oba Danlola (Onikoyi). The different tribes are resisting unification, so he tries to reach his goal by any means necessary, including forcing government officials to wear traditional African outfits and seeking advice from the man he deposed. He demands tribute from Danlola in the form of a yam, an important food in the culture. Danlola's former lover Segi brings the dictator the head of her father as sacrifice.

Cast

Wole Soyinka as President Kongi
Rasidi Onikoyi as King Oba Danlola
Femi Johnson as Organizing Secretary
Nina Baden-Semper as Segi
Orlando Martins as Dr. Gbenga
Dapo Adelugba as Daodu

References

↑ Gugler, Josef (1997). "Wole Soyinka's Kongi's Harvest from stage to screen: Four endings to tyranny", Canadian Journal of African Studies, Vol. 31, No. 1, 1997
↑ Gugler, Josef (1999). "African Writing Projected onto the Screen: Sambizanga, Xala, and Kongi's Harvest", African Studies Review, Vol. 42, No. 1, Apr., 1999
↑ Davis, Ossie (September 20, 1970). Movies; "When Is a Camera a Weapon? The Camera As Weapon", New York Times
↑ Rosenblum, Mort (April 4, 1970). "Black Africa's First Full-Sized Movie", Los Angeles Times
↑ Bolwell, Edwin (July 15, 1967). "Tarzan's Africa may be up a tree; U.S.-Nigerian Film Company Would Change Image", New York Times
↑ Bunce, Alan (September 1, 1970). "'There is a constant thread in all I've done'", The Christian Science Monitor

External links

Kongi's Harvest at the Internet Movie Database

v t e Works of Wole Soyinka

Plays	The Swamp Dwellers The Lion and the Jewel The Trials of Brother Jero A Dance of the Forests The Strong Breed Kongi's Harvest The Road The Bacchae of Euripides Madmen and Specialists Camwood on the Leaves Jero's Metamorphosis Death and the King's Horseman Opera Wonyosi Requiem for a Futurologist A Play of Giants A Scourge of Hyacinths The Beatification of the Area Boy King Baabu Etiki Revu Wetin Sixty Six

See also	Ransome-Kuti family Kongi's Harvest (film)

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