“The Man Died,” Film Adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s Prison Memoir, Now Streaming Globally on Prime Video
“The Man Died,” a feature film adaptation of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s harrowing prison memoir of the same title, is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video to audiences around the world. The film tells the deeply personal story of Soyinka’s twenty seven month imprisonment by the Nigerian government during the 1967 Civil War, chronicling how the acclaimed writer, playwright and activist was detained without trial after his efforts to mediate a truce between Biafra and the Federal Government were misconstrued as support for the rebel cause.
Directed by United States based filmmaker Awam Amkpa and produced by Femi Odugbemi, the movie was adapted from a screenplay written by Bode Asiyanbi, drawing not only from Soyinka’s original 1972 memoir but also incorporating material from two of his other autobiographical works, “Ibadan: The Penkelemes Years” and “You Must Set Forth at Dawn.” The film features a strong ensemble cast, with British-Nigerian actor Wale Ojo taking on the demanding lead role of Soyinka himself, supported by performances from Sam Dede, Norbert Young, Francis Onwochei, Christiana Oshunniyi and Temilolu Fosudo, among several other established names within the Nigerian film industry.
The story follows Soyinka’s confinement within a small prison cell measuring just four feet by eight feet, where he was held in solitary confinement without access to trial or formal legal process. Despite the brutal conditions of his detention, the memoir and its film adaptation document how Soyinka managed to retain his sense of self and creative spirit by scrounging makeshift writing materials, including toilet paper and cigarette packaging, along with homemade ink, allowing him to secretly record his thoughts and experiences throughout the ordeal. The film weaves these harrowing prison sequences together with flashbacks to Soyinka’s earlier life as a writer and activist, offering audiences insight into the inner resilience that ultimately carried him through his lengthy and psychologically taxing imprisonment.
The film first premiered in Lagos in July 2024, an occasion specifically timed to coincide with Soyinka’s ninetieth birthday celebrations, before going on to screen at additional venues internationally, including a dedicated showing at The Africa Centre in London as part of a wider nine day programme honouring the literary icon’s milestone birthday. Since its initial premiere, “The Man Died” has continued to attract critical recognition on the international festival circuit, securing Best Screenplay honours at both the African International Film Festival in Lagos and the Carthage International Film Festival in Tunis, along with an award for tackling an important African issue at the Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt.
Following a limited theatrical run in Abeokuta earlier this month, the film has now transitioned to a wider digital release strategy, becoming available on Prime Video across select regions before expanding to reach global audiences through the platform. The move to a major international streaming service marks a significant step in extending the reach of Soyinka’s story beyond traditional cinema audiences, allowing viewers around the world greater access to a deeply important chapter of Nigerian political and literary history.
Soyinka, who was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 1934, made history in 1986 when he became the first writer from sub-Saharan Africa to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, an honour that recognised his ability to fashion the drama of existence through a wide cultural perspective infused with poetic depth. Decades after his imprisonment, “The Man Died” continues to serve as both a deeply personal account of endurance and a broader reflection on Nigeria’s turbulent political history during one of its most difficult periods, offering global audiences a powerful cinematic window into the experiences that shaped one of Africa’s most celebrated literary figures.
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