Bolanle Austen Peters, a renowned Nigerian filmmaker, has been at the forefront of telling stories that celebrate the rich cultural heritage and historical figures of Nigeria. In a recent interview, Peters shared her thoughts on why it’s crucial to highlight Nigerian heroes through film, and her inspiration behind her latest project, “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.”
THE NEED TO TELL NIGERIAN STORIES
Peters passionately explained the gap in the representation of Nigerian heroes compared to their American and South African counterparts.
“For me, growing up you hear a lot about American heroes, you hear about Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and Winnie Mandela. You’re asking yourself, ‘Where are the Nigerian heroes?'” she remarked.
Peters emphasized the importance of creating content that showcases these figures, saying, “A lot of our children do not have that historical perspective. They don’t get these stories, because we’re not producing enough of them.”
REINFORCING HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE
Peters also touched on the educational aspect, stressing that history should be an integral part of the curriculum in Nigerian schools.
“Settling in our history books, history is no longer something that is on the top of their agenda in schools as well,” she noted.
Drawing a comparison with education systems abroad, she added, “In the school abroad, you learn everything about the culture, the people.
So it’s very important that we begin to reinforce in the minds of our children that there are Nigerian heroes who paved the way, who have done great things and that these are people that they can also look up to.”
THE INSPIRATION BEHIND “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti”
The journey to creating “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” began with Peters’ stage production, “Fela and the Kalakuta Queens.”
Reflecting on this transition, she said, “Funmilayo came on the heels of me having directed Fela and the Kalakuta Queens on stage, and understanding Fela’s personality and obviously his siblings.”
Her curiosity about the matriarch of the Ransome-Kuti family drove her research.
“I began to ask myself, ‘Who is the mother that birthed all these phenomenally successful people?’ Then I started researching her and because of the relationship that I had developed with the Ransome-Kuti family, they were very excited to partner with us on this journey.”
Bolanle Austen Peters’ dedication to bringing Nigerian heroes to the forefront of storytelling is both inspiring and necessary. By focusing on figures like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, she not only honors their legacy but also provides role models for future generations. Her work underscores the need for more Nigerian stories in our media and educational systems, ensuring that the rich history of Nigeria is preserved and celebrated.