Movie Review: Jagunjagun (The Warrior)

Set in the epic times before the advent of civilization and Western education, Jagunjagun is a story of valour, heroism, villainy and love.

If you saw King of Thieves (Agesinkólé) and thought that Nollywood’s future was here, I strongly advise that you see this blockbuster. Everything in this movie is top-notch. The production is crisp, the costumes and props are nice (Ogundiji outdid himself with the Jon Snow costumes), the special effects team deserve special accolades for their work, and the characterization, though shaky at some point, still delivered.

I honestly don’t have anything bad to say about Jagun Jagun, perhaps because, as a Yoruba person, I inherited a love and respect for everything that comes out of Nollywood, especially Yoruba films.

Set in the epic times before the advent of civilization and Western education, Jagunjagun is a story of valour, heroism, villainy and love. It is full of life lessons and principles that can be applied to everyday life.

Ogundiji is proof that people could be well ahead of you in life, still find your prospects threatening to them, and subsequently orchestrate your downfall. This is the case of the dynamic between Ogundiji and Gbogunmi and, later, Ogundiji and Gbotija. The friendship cultivated between Gbogunmi and Gbotija proves that you can have people in your life willing to take you as a sibling, friend or parent. They may owe you nothing, but they will show you unconditional love and the ropes. If you have people like that in your life, hold them tight.

Gbotija’s message is very clear: wars are fought because of our leaders’ bruised egos, and sadly, only the innocent are always affected by these wars. Also, the youths should rise up and stop allowing themselves to be pawns in other people’s games. Politicians turn other people’s children into thugs to fight their wars while their children are safely tucked away in foreign lands. These political thugs themselves are being offered scraps from the table.

Another lesson Jagun Jagun teaches is that a scorned woman will always try to bring about your downfall. So, treat your woman with respect, especially the one who is the architect of your success. Also, remember that you can die while lifting others. Just ask Wehinwo.

Okay, enough about that. Can we talk about the cast?

Femi Adebayo put together a collection of Nollywood’s GOATS in this movie. Apart from killing the role of Ogundiji and being the producer, Femi Adebayo made everyone in the Yoruba-speaking world hate him for his role in this movie. (Too much wickedness in one person!)

Lateef Adedimeji, as Gbotija, outdid himself. (Give that guy his flowers already! He don try!). Then there is Ibrahim ‘Itele the Icon’ Yekini as the enigmatic Gbogunmi, Faithia Balogun, Bimbo Ademoye, and Bukunmi Oluwashina as Iroyinogunkitan (I love that name! She used her influence as daddy’s girl to beat the hell out of Gbotija, and then she fell in love with him. I’m sure she is a certified Dom in the BDSM world. And the plot twist at the end…), Adebayo Salami, Dele Odule, Peju Omobolanle, Dayo Amusa, Muyiwa Ademola as the corrupt politicians/kings fanning the embers of war, Kunle Afod, Debo’ Mr Macaroni’ Adebayo as the generals of Ogundiji’s army, Ayo’ Woliagba’ Ajewole as the crazy ‘husband to be’ (footnote: avoid men like this in real life. They will buy you a car and when things go south, they will ask you to return it), his ‘wife to be’ Aisha Lawal, and Abimbola’ Jigan’ Kazeem in a small but very funny comic relief.

There is also Yemi Elesho, Odunlade Adekola, Bose Akinola, Binta Ayo Mogaji, Razaq Olayiwola, Tope Adebayo, and Azeez Ijaduade in cameo roles. And then there is the uncertain role of ‘Oba Solomoni’. It is not clear if he is in this movie or not.

Will there be a part 2? I think so. I just hope it won’t be that everything that happened in part 1 was a dream, and Gbotija is actually a student of Kwara Poly. Lol.

Jagun Jagun is a beautifully crafted movie.