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Aníkúlápó

Name: Aníkúlápó
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Released: 2022
Duration: 142 min

Representation Score

3.2/10

Limited

2022

TV-MA

Director

Kunle Afolayan

Runtime

142 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Aníkúlápó is a sophisticated exploration of a pre-colonial Yoruba worldview. It successfully centers indigenous epistemologies and spiritualism, shifting the narrative away from Western-centric standards. However, the film remains rooted in traditional social structures, focusing on gender hierarchies and patriarchal systems. It does not engage with contemporary progressive themes such as gender subversion or LGBTQ+ identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Aníkúlápó have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on traditional family structures and marriage, with no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or critiques of the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Aníkúlápó portray gender?

Limited

The story emphasizes traditional gender roles, highlighting the male protagonist's journey within a patriarchal system. The Queen's influence is tied closely to her relationship with male authority figures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Aníkúlápó?

Excellent

The film features an entirely Black, Yoruba-centric cast, avoiding a color-blind approach. Skin color, language, and customs are integral to the narrative.

How does Aníkúlápó represent religion and culture?

Excellent

Yoruba religious practices and rituals are central to the film's world. Indigenous spiritualism and communal rites take precedence over Western or Christian influences.

Does Aníkúlápó include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Exceptional ethnic specificity through a Yoruba-centric cast and setting.
Strong assertion of cultural sovereignty by prioritizing indigenous spiritualism.
Effective decolonial narrative that challenges Western-centric historical drama.

Limited or Absent

Reinforcement of traditional gender hierarchies and patriarchal structures.
Lack of representation for non-straight-centered identities or LGBTQ+ perspectives.
Absence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

After an affair with a queen leads to his demise, an eager traveler encounters a mystical bird with the power to give him another life.

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