Efunroye: The Unicorn’: Nollywood actress, Faithia Williams, clarifies movie intent amid online backlash

Popular Nollywood actress Faithia Williams late Thursday disclosed the intentions behind her upcoming biopic movie titled ‘Efunroye: The Unicorn.’

The movie has gained a large reaction on Nigerian social media space, especially X (formerly Twitter), as some netizens have given different views about the history surrounding the movie’s main character, Efunroye Tinubu.

Tinubu (c. 1805–1887) was a prominent Yoruba businesswoman and political figure during the 19th century. She was famous for her political and economic influence in Lagos State and Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

In a tweet by the actress on October 22, 2024, she wrote, with the image of the movie’s cover, “Power. Trade. Legacy. She was more than a warrior, she was a ruler who rewrote history.”

Reacting to this, some netizens lauded the actress’ efforts to portray one of Yoruba’s powerful women in history, while others saw the biopic movie as unnecessary, alleging that Tinubu was famous for amassing wealth during the slave trade era, which was apparent at the time.

An X user, David Hundeyin, tweeting as #DavidHundeyin, criticised the movie, alleging that Tinubu was an “ultimate slave trader.”

His tweet, among others, read, “A deliberate decision was made to fund a Nigerian movie lionising not just ‘a’ slave trader but the ultimate slave trader, as in the Efunroye Tinubu herself. The one who decided she would rather sink a ship loaded with a cargo of kidnapped African human beings than reduce their asking price to the European buyers. That Efunroye Tinubu. This would be like getting Tyler Perry and Spike Lee to produce and direct a movie titled ‘Robert E. Lee: The Unicorn.’”

Also, the 2023 Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, wrote, “The Yoruba were the biggest victims of Madam Tinubu’s kidnapping, human trafficking and enslavement network. In the British attempt to end human trafficking and her ruthless opposition to it, she was exiled from Lagos. When Nigerians do DNA test like 23 and me, etc., they will see the number of unknown relatives they have scattered all across the Americas and the West Indies. They will realise how close and how deep this chapter of our history is. It is unfortunate that Nigerians are still dealing with a ruthless elite that amass their fortune at the detriment of their people.”

Amid the backlash on the yet-to-be-released biopic movie, the actress clarified that there was no political intention behind the movie production.

In a statement on X, titled, “My response to the reactions trailing my upcoming movie, Efunroye Tinubu,” the actress who has become a household name in the nation’s movie industry, appreciated the support that the movie had received.

She, however, noted that her reaction is due to the various “misconceptions” surrounding the movie.

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Her tweet read, among others, “With over six million views on my post, I do not take your support for granted—your interest and feedback are truly appreciated. However, the passion and emotions surrounding this project (especially on Twitter), while inspiring, have led to some misconceptions that I would like to clarify.

“Firstly, “Efunroye: The Unicorn” is not a promotional piece intended to glorify or whitewash a divisive historical figure like Madam Efunroye Tinubu, nor does it carry any political intent or affiliation. This film is purely a work of artistic interpretation and storytelling. As a filmmaker, my goal is to bring Nigerian stories to life on screen, and this is no exception.

“The movie is an attempt to present Madam Tinubu’s life in a balanced and nuanced way, showcasing her triumphs, challenges, and the complex legacy she left behind. It is not an effort to reshape or glorify the historical narrative. Like all historical figures, Madam Tinubu’s story is layered, and this film aims to capture both her strengths and controversies.

”I want to emphasize that “Efunroye: The Unicorn” is first and foremost a creative expression meant to entertain, educate, and spark thoughtful conversations. It is not a documentary or a political statement. As with any artistic work, it draws from history but also takes creative liberties to make the story more engaging for modern audiences. I believe that through this film, we can explore important parts of our history, but it is important to understand that it remains a work of fiction inspired by real events.”

She added that while the movie is still in its developmental stage, she remains “dedicated to ensuring that this story is told in the most authentic and impactful way possible.”

The Nollywood industry has been graced with some biopic movies which have been received by many movie lovers, including Ayinla Omowura, Basorun Gaa and Lisabi.