Lasun Alagbe
Another Nollywood star, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, has criticised the choice of international actor, Idris Elba, as Okonkwo in the upcoming TV adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s classical novel, Things Fall Apart.
He says there are Nigerian actors who can play the role better as they are products of the tradition Okonkwo hailed from.
In an interview with Channels TV, Udokwu, Udokwu acknowledged Elba’s talent; he, however, stressed the importance of casting Nigerian actors in leading roles, especially in stories deeply rooted in Nigerian culture.
Okonkwo was an extremely masculine Igboman who was scared of failing like his father, Unoka, who was rather layback.
Although very hardworking, many may argue he was not a smart worker.
He was impatient – even if for a reason – just as he could not tolerated being seen as a coward, as evident by his killing of community-condemned Ikemefuna, a maid that used to call him ‘Father’.
Udokwu argued: “There’s this conversation about Idris Elba being cast to play Okonkwo in Hollywood’s make of Things Fall Apart.
