Afolayan speaks on Bimbo Ademoye, Kunle Remi’s characters in Anikulapo

Kunle Afolayan, the director of latest Nigerian Netflix film Anikulapo, has spoken about Arolake and Saro, the characters played by Bimbo Ademoye and Kunle Remi.

The protagonist of Anikulapo is Saro, a travelling cloth weaver who was murdered after having an affair with the youngest wife of the Alaafin.

A mystical bird brings him back to life, leaving behind a gourd with the power to raise the dead.

Speaking about the characters in a recent statement, Kunle said: “Once bitten twice shy they say but Anikulapo tells a story otherwise.Ever since it’s release on Friday 30th of September, the Netflix original – Anikulapo has been a sizzling sensation, bringing about various hot take.

“How does a man experience great success only to bring about his own downfall and how does a woman forfeit her place as the King of Oyo’s favorite Queen to lust and a one-night-stand-turned-affair with a stranger? There are so many arguments as to what these two characters did wrong and what they could have done better.

“It is quite intriguing that the story told in Anikulapo, set in 1702 is similar to the real life happenings in 2022 around the world.It shows that for one, it is a universal story of love and lust, exposing the weakness of man where sex, emotion, power, wealth and a frail mind exists. Some say Saro was a victim of circumstance but was he? Others say Arolake was the victim but do victims find ways to further victimize themselves or they find ways to seek healing?The internet is split in teams.

“Even though upon still, scum has no gender but Saro is the scumest of them all.”