JAGUN JAGUN:THE MODERN DAY SATIRE

JAGUN JAGUN:THE MODERN DAY SATIRE

Written by: Awoko Emmanuel Iyanuluoluwa

Recently, a Nollywood movie titled Jagun jagun was produced by a veteran Nigerian actor known as Femi Adebayo. The movie trends based on the general perception that Yoruba movies are coming up. However, from my own perspective, Jagun Jagun is a current-day satire. The movie communicates a heavy approach to politics, power, subjectivity, societal influence, egocentrism, and all other salient issues that Nigeria is battling with.

In case you don’t have the full knowledge of what satire means, this is a short hint about it. According to Advanced English Dictionary, satire is the use of witty language in order to convey insult or scorn. Furthermore, literature emphatically broadens that satire uses irony in order to correct the ills in the society. While satire comes with the intent to correct, sarcasm shows itself with the intent to mock/ridicule the situation. Justifiably, Femi Adebayo uses Lateef Adedimeji to communicate the burden of the play at the resolution scene while along the line, other burdens were picked from some roles and scenes.

Typically and beyond the screen view, Ogundiji is a symbolic character and likewise, the rulers who roamed the surface of the villages. Also, Gbotija who later emerges as the hero in the play as well exhibits a great role. However, taking about each deed and role, Gbogunmi and Kitan are also depicted as victims of their society while Ogundiji joyously glorifies himself when he sees them fall.

To begin the analysis of each satire in the play in relation to Nigeria, I will be starting with the rulers in the play. About two or more characters are accused of illegally occupying a position/throne that they don’t deserve, however, through cheating, they have emerged as the “sitters” of these thrones. Also, about 80% of the rulers emit attributes that cannot be modeled after. All these notable actions are significant in Nigeria and they can be best related to Nigeria’s politics. Many of the controlling leaders of today are engrossedly satisfied with having power even when they don’t deserve the position. Particularly, it is satirical because Nigeria kept on being in the same shoe over the years, yet names and political parties are changing. The play, therefore, is perceived to be using the set of rulers depicted in satirizing a better political scene in our dear country because, in the play, each of these rulers failed in the system.

Another satire to examine is power. Ogundiji is alone best fit to examine the concept of manipulated power and in the cause of this, he influenced the lives of some characters negatively in the play. However, power can also be viewed from a good perspective in the life of Gbotija and Gbogunmi. Although, these characters at some point in time also misbehaved but despite their misbehaviors, both will be preferred because of their knowledge of considering humanity before taking decisions. To this, power at different central positions has always been getting manipulated. Related situations of excessive use of power in Nigeria can be seen in the way in which the masses are being treated. For example, the rise in school fees and the increase in the cost of daily living can be viewed as an act of abuse of power in Nigeria. In a country with an elected ruler, the expectation of the citizens is vested in him/her and if non-correlative result is seen, and negligence is in view, this calls for a check, right? Yeah. That is, only manipulated power can be checked when wrongly used.

Also, a dominant satirical effect in the play is subjectivity. In the movie Jagun Jagun , a large number of villages, kings, and youths are subjected to the threat of Ogunjimi. This scenario tackles the principle of godfatherism in Nigeria. In years past, every generation of rulers will always have someone whom they are subjected to. In the subjections to these so-called godfathers, every other of their arrangements always get disorganized and the noble cause of their service is always overturned. Repeatedly, citizens of Nigeria always appear as victims of the fast-growing and widely spread ailment.

Furthermore, societal influence is a lead satirical effect in the play. One of the soldiers was enrolled in an institute in order to get fully trained so as to deliver his society. However, the reverse is the case cause the society in which he found himself claimed his life along the line. Regarding Nigeria, the primary aim of our dear parents for sending us to school is so as to liberate them from the shackles of poverty but, much of the reward for their effort is not always realized. The failed system is depicted in a satire at this point. Besides a recent post have it said that corpers will be recruited into the army in order for graduates to run outside the box of their passion. This is evidently abnormal! The family, society, and personality all have a purpose, however, the environment hijacks their purpose and remodeled them to its satisfaction. Cases of such again are also visible during elections when politicians mobilize youths to cause havoc while they sit at home and enjoy.

Also, egocentrism can also be identified in the life of Ogunjimi. Egocentrism is also known as self-centredness and the character to this prime attribute is him. He uses others at the of preserving his name, throne, fame, son, and family. While he does this, living outside the circle is always irrelevant. This principle of self-centredness is tagged “my family and I” principle. However, this has continued the ravage the landmass of our beautiful country over time. The society, therefore, wants a leader that is not self-centered and with the emergence of Gbogunmi, he became a threat to the throne and his life was being sought to be killed. Egocentrism is a weakness in many of Nigerian leaders. The first primary aim of a leader is not to run after his pocket but to cater to the need of his subject and society. This is another satire.

Following the precept, another point in time arise as a satire in the play and this is the energetic awareness in the resolution part of the play. This could best be simply related to ENDSARS PROTEST OF 2020. After many days and years of toiling to survive in the movie, the immediate quickening for freedom was largely supported and at the end of it, the game turns out to be a win.

A slightly related satire to the latter part of the energetic awareness is war. War is defined as a state of unrest. That is, the tension all throughout the play was filled with unrest. Every character is always prepared for battle. However, as we all know, the state of unrest in Nigeria is not a physical battle, rather, it entails contention with oneself out of hardship. The hike in the price of everything has led to unrest and lives and property getting lost daily.

The chain of the satirical effects in the movie is interconnected and traceable to a source. And to this, another satire is identified in the love life of Kitan and Gbotija. The satire here is love and deceit. Many a time, we are always being used and particularly in disguise of love. However, we are later hunted in the end. Kitan who also acted as Agemo was deeply in love to the point that she hid the secret of her multifaceted evil identity from her lover boy. She knew the truth from the onset yet she never opened up and in the proceeding, she turned out to be an instrument of death for the one whom she loves. This is to say, the love shown during election propaganda oftentimes is only to play humans into its doom. This is a common satire whenever an election draws near. Series of gifts becomes the order of the day and this in turn claims the cherished votes of the naive ones who don’t know the power of their voice.

Lastly, death is also a satire visible in the play. Femi Adebayo establishes a critical didactic discussion in the play that no matter the level of wickedness done by any man, in turn, death will be the end. He further uses the narration to criticize the leaders who only they are superior without considering the aftermath of every man’s sojourn.

In conclusion, it is further important to stress the fact that the Jagun Jagun uses the element of satire, symbolism, imagery, metaphor, and anthropomorphism to convey its message. The script was solely written for entertainment but beyond the merriment that lies in it are important critiques to examine. In this were critics of power, societal influence, egocentrism, and many other underlying stances.

I just hope you will read this🤕