by Charles Kirkland Jr.
Anchored by a stunning performance from Temiloluwa Ami-Williams, the debut of Nigeria’s Agbajowo Collective, part thriller, part magical realism, is a riveting indictment of the unchecked development and forced evictions in Africa’s largest city.
Jawu (Ami-Williams) bears the mark of a warrior king but lives humbly, selling swallows at the local market, saving up for the better future she’s determined to build for herself and her son. The pair reside in the Agbojedo community, a floating slum planted in the lagoon that gives Lagos its name. Just as rumors begin circulating regarding government plans for new developments that would raze their homes, Jawu watches a corrupt politician, Abisoro (Adebowale Adedayo), burying a large duffel bag.
Curiously, she retrieves the bag to find that it is filled with American money. Struck by her good fortune, she
takes the money for herself, thinking this might be her way out. Jawu doesn’t know that she is destined for a bigger battle that is yet to come.
Ripped from the headlines, The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos is written and directed by The Agbajowo Collective, a collection of seven filmmakers James Tayler, Ogungbamila Temitope, Okechukwu
Samuel, Mathew Cerf, Tina Edukpo, Bisola Akinmuyiwa, and A.S. Elijah. The Collective also produced the
film.
The first thing to mention about the movie is that it is apparent that the members of The Collective took turns directing the film. There are definite changes in directorial style as the movie progresses through the stages of the film. While each director provides a vision for the film that is relevant to the frame of view in the story, the lack of cohesion in the visual presentation at times is off-putting at best and just plain distracting at worst. Thankfully when the film reaches the middle of the second act, the direction stabilizes into a definite vision.
The story is simple. It is about an oppressive government taking advantage of the people on the lowest rung of the ladder and the people fighting back. Since the story is based on true events, it sometimes feels like a documentary. Sadly though, the film is a fictional tale of optimism in the face of a grim reality. The Collective takes the time to remind and inform the viewers of the harsh reality during the end credits.
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos is a dreamy fairy tale with a perfect ending. The fairy tale
ends quickly with a dose of cold reality about the conditions in Lagos. It is not the only film at TIFF that
gives a sad and depressing view of life in Nigeria.
Grade: B-