The movie plot was domiciled in both cosmopolitan Lagos city and Isheri - Osun, a fishing community in Lagos State, where the Osun goddess was being worshipped along with an annual festival in a pattern closely similar to that of Osun Osogbo festival.
This movie rolled out on a serious priestly Osun priest ministration and dedication of a newly born child Osundaisi to Osun river goddess.
Then the movie continued on a rather rib cracking comic note. Such as Okikiolas friend Daniel violent quarrel with fellow fishermen by the riverbank, Okikiola and his girlfriend Dunni being waylaid by jealous ladies with insults, a woman peeping on two lovers through a room window and collecting loads of yam flour on her face as a reward for her efforts. Fathia Balogun's acting the role of a typical Igbo woman gossiper as Òkìkí girlfriend mother plaits her hair. These comic scenes and more arrested and glued the attention of viewers on this epic movie.
What also cought the attention of viewers to keep watching were Europeans praying speaking in native Yoruba language at Osun goddess festival in same Isheri community. Ostensibly foreign delegates from European nations who also came for this same festival.
In as much as a fisherman Okikiola is the character the movie is named after, one can see two major acts featured all throughout the film.
The second being Osundaisi who was a notable act in this movie story. Actually Osundaisi now a grown up big guy in Lagos was the little baby being dedicated on the riverbank.
In this movie both destinies of Okikiolaand Osundaisi crossed paths in what this reviewer will rather call a love and romance tangle and conflict.
Okikiola the village averagely successful and envied by colleagues fisherman was in a romantic relationship with Dunni.
Osundaisi the big Lagos boy was in a relationship with another lady of Ebira descent in same Lagos. This conflicted with a vow made with ifa that he must marry an indegene of Isheri- Osun and none other place when he grows up. Osundaisi mother, herself an Osun priestess stoutly resisted this relationship and saw to it that in never materialise into marriage.
Then can we guess who Osundaisi's mother opted for an alternative? Okikiola fiancee - Dunni. Dunni with the support of her mother, out of lust and greed for material things and allure of Lagos goodies fell for Osundaisi's mother antics and she broke up with Okikiola.
In as much as Osundaisi would have none of this arrangee passi passi as Fela the Afrobeat legend will put this kind of match making from the village on account of Dunni's age, the die is cast. Okikiola has been jilted and broken hearted.
*JILTED AND BROKEN HEARTED OKIKIOLA LEFT HIS VILLAGE FOR LAGOS*
To put this romantic behind him, Okikiola on the invitation of a friend also headed for Lagos. Leaving his fishing business and customers behind at Isheri - Osun.
On getting to Lagos it took God and divine posterity for Okikiola not to be inducted into organized crime by his friend who invited him over to Lagos. Rather God in His infinite mercy and divine providence used the same wealthy woman that would have been his first victim in organized crime - a role acted by Adeola Agoro herself - to change his story and destiny for ever. Okikiola ended up managing a mega fish exporting company owned by this wealthy woman and and her husband - Kunle Afolayan acting the role.
The story did not end there. Destiny connected Osundaisi finally with the bone of his bone native of Isheri - Osun ifa insisted he must marry. And their story ended up in a wirlwind romance and flamboyant marriage.
Three life touching messages among many others from this film.
The new faces of young and upcoming actors mixed with older well known ones practically preached what this epic movie want to teach it's audience. Which is that the successful ones should empower the lesser ones to come up.
Ably demonstrated by Okikiola in this movie when he began to empower his colleague fishermen from the village who came to visit him in Lagos.
Adeola Agoro this movie maker also demonstrated this "young shall grow" spirit in her casts mixing up coming actors with well established ones in this movie.
The second lesson is the spirit of forgiveness and letting go of the hurts of the past which this wealthy woman acted by Adeola Agoro herself encouraged her protegé Okikiola to imbibe by empowering former colleague fishermen who has once mocked and offended him.
The third lesson is all inclusive unity of all tribes and races in one love irrespective of faith or religion.
Preached by this same wealthy woman(Adeola Agoro acting the role)to Okikiola and showcased practically real life by packaging this movie with all inclusive casts of both white and black races, tribes both Hausa Igbo and Yorubas roles in this movie.
Concluding on a serious positive note, nobody would have thought that Lagos State perceived as a mini European state with it's modern trends, gadgets and civilisation could still have gotten a community like Isheri - Osun that is rich in tradition and cultural heritage like other states. Really the only cultural mantra and trademark logo Lagos is known for is the eyo masquerade.
Madam Adeola Agoro in her movie Okikiola The Fisherman, brought out or do we say dug out this hidden treasure of tradition and culture in a community in Lagos State with this epic movie.
©Soji Omole
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