A feature movie “The Man Died”, an adaptation of prison memoir written by the highly decorated author Wole Soyinka, is now available on Amazon Prime Video for audiences globally.

Screenplayed by Bode Asiyanbi and premiered in July 2024 in Lagos for Zuri 24 Media, the movie tells the story of “Wole Soyinka’s 27 months incarceration by the Nigerian government in 1967 during the civil war”.

The movie, which was directed by the U.S.-based Awam Amkpa and produced by Femi Odugbemi, starred an array of renowned actors in Nigeria, including Wale Ojo (Wole), Sam Dede (Yisa) Norbert Young (prison Superintendent), Francis Onwochei (prison controller), Edmund Enaibe (commissioner), Christiana Oshunniyi (Laide Soyinka), among others.

One of the actors Fosudo Temi, who played the role of Bola Ige in the movie, wrote, “The Man Died, an adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s memoir of the same title is now showing on PRIME VIDEO. 

“I’m proud to have played Bola Ige in this film. A friend of Soyinka’s and one of Nigeria’s most respected and prominent politicians.”

He added, “As a playwright, theatre artist (specifically from Ibadan) and lover of history, this film is important to me. 

“However different our opinions may be on Soyinka’s legacy, I believe we owe it to ourselves as a nation not to be reductive about his place in our history.”

The movie had clinched several awards and nominations, including Best Screenplay awards at both the African International film Festival, AFRIFF, (November 3-9, Lagos), and the 35th Carthage International Film Festival, held November 14-21 in Tunis and “Best African Film That Tackle An Important African Issue” at the 14th Luxor African Film Festival in Upper Egypt in 2025.

It also won Best Audience Choice Award at the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, ENIFF, Enugu, November 27-30; was screened on February 12 and 14 last year at the Culver Theatre, Culver city, California and nominated for the award of “Best Feature Narrative” at the 33rd Pan African Film and Arts Festival.