By Sulaymon Ruqoya
October 21th, 2024
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli has weighed in on the controversy surrounding British actor Idris Elba’s casting as Okonkwo in the upcoming adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. The casting has sparked widespread debate, particularly among those who believe the role should be filled by a Nigerian actor.
In an interview with Channels TV, Oboli stated that she sees no issue with Elba playing the iconic role, as he is of African descent. She said, “Idris is African. His dad is Sierra Leonean. Yes, he has lived abroad but he is African. So, that is an African telling an African story. I do not see anything wrong with that. I am just being honest.”
The novel, published in 1958, has been adapted before, with Nigerian actor Pete Edochie famously portraying Okonkwo in a 1971 film and 1987 mini-series. Despite the criticism, Oboli stressed that Africans should be the ones telling their own stories, whether they reside in Africa or abroad.
Elba, born to a Sierra Leonean father and a Ghanaian mother, is one of the world’s top-grossing actors and continues to spark debate over his upcoming portrayal of one of African literature’s most iconic characters.