Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman
Synopsis
Inspired by true life events, in the Oyo Empire in the 1940's, Elesin Oba, the king's chief horseman, succumbs to the lure of beauty and sexual desire on the very evening he is set to die in order to fulfil his lifelong debt of ritual suicide to accompany the dead Alaafin to the realm of the ancestors, he derails from a very important generational and spiritual transaction. This sets in motion a series of catastrophic consequences, in a spell-binding film of emotions, humour, and tragic role reversals that puts ancient beliefs and customs on trial in an ever increasingly post-modern and Western world.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-08-01
Top Cast
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Odunlade Adekola
Elesin
Shaffy Bello
Iyaloja
Olawale-Brymo Olofooro
Praise Singer
Deyemi Okanlawon
Olunde
Omowunmi Dada
Bride
Jide Kosoko
Sergeant Amusa
Mark Elderkin
Simon
Jenny Stead
Jane
Langley Kirkwood
Resident
Fares Boulos
Aide-de-camp
2 Milly Star
Blessing
Kevin Ushi
Joseph
Drikus Volschenk
The Prince
Taiwo Ajai-Lycett
Madam Taiwo
Joke Silva
Madam Bola
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 4, 2022
VOD & Digital Platforms
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Biyi Bandele
- Screenplay & Story
- Biyi Bandele, Mo Abudu, Heidi Uys, Wole Soyinka
- Original Score
- Olawale-Brymo Olofooro, Sir Peter Badejo Obe, Michael 'Truth' Ogunlade
- Original Title
- Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman
- Country of Origin
- Nigeria
- Spoken Languages
- Yoruba, English
- Runtime
- 1h 36m
- Production Studios
- EbonyLife Studios, EbonyLife Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Biyi Bandele
Biyi Bandele, Mo Abudu, Heidi Uys, Wole Soyinka
Olawale-Brymo Olofooro, Sir Peter Badejo Obe, Michael 'Truth' Ogunlade
Lance Gewer
Thomas Adetunji
Adeola Osunkojo, James Amuta, Judith Audu, Quinty Pillay
Department Leadership Roster
Biyi Bandele
Director
Adeola Osunkojo
Producer
James Amuta
Producer
Judith Audu
Producer
Quinty Pillay
Producer
Lance Gewer
Director of Photography
Sir Peter Badejo Obe
Original Music Composer
Thomas Adetunji
Editor
Wole Soyinka
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman.
Featured In Curated Collections
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MNR
***2022***
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Frequently Asked Questions About Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman about?
Inspired by true life events, in the Oyo Empire in the 1940's, Elesin Oba, the king's chief horseman, succumbs to the lure of beauty and sexual desire on the very evening he is set to die in order to fulfil his lifelong debt of ritual suicide to accompany the dead Alaafin to the realm of the ancestors, he derails from a very important generational and spiritual transaction. This sets in motion a series of catastrophic consequences, in a spell-binding film of emotions, humour, and tragic role reversals that puts ancient beliefs and customs on trial in an ever increasingly post-modern and Western world.
Who directed Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman?
Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman was directed by Biyi Bandele.
Who stars in Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman?
The principal cast of Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman includes Odunlade Adekola, Shaffy Bello, Olawale-Brymo Olofooro, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada.
When was Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman released and how long is it?
Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman was released in 2022 with a total runtime of 1h 36m.
Who composed the musical score for Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman was composed by Olawale-Brymo Olofooro, Sir Peter Badejo Obe, Michael 'Truth' Ogunlade.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman?
Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman holds official age classifications: FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.).