CLASSIC REEL: 'The Campus Queen'

 

Cast: Serah Mbaka, Sound Sultan, Khabirat Kafidipe, Segun Adefila, Tope Idowu, Abiola Atanda, Lere Paimo, Tunji Sotimirin, Princess Damilola Adekoya and  Hafeez Oyetoro

Year of release: 2004 

Director: Tunde Kelani 

Plot : A young student leaves a dubious student club for a more social conscious one  on campus. She then embarks on a mission to expose a corrupt military governor. 

Side note: This week's classic reel selection, though a millennial,  is in loving memory of  Sound Sultan (Abdul Ganiu  Olanrewaju  Fasasi); who passed away on the 11th of July, 2021. May Allah rest his soul in perfect peace. Amin. 

Serah Mbaka

The Campus Queen is a departure from Tunde Kelani's usual films, as it was a musical drama and  a  collaboration between Mainframe Productions and the Creative Arts Department of the University of Lagos (referred to as City University in the film)  where several scenes were shot. Serah Mbaka played the lead role of Banke, a strong willed Law  student who defects to the Silver Lines Movement, after her childhood friend Toks (Segun Adefila) tries to pimp her out to get money for the Heavy Weights club; of which he is president of. It is refreshing to see a lead female lead character who is not a skank that receives redemption in the end. Rather, Banke cunningly takes advantage of men's interest in her, without losing her self respect. However, she  finds herself in dangerous territory when she  and the Silver Liners seek to take down a corrupt military governor (Hostages alum, Tope Idowu) , only referred to as 'The Governor.'  Her little  'experiment' with the Governor  was not exactly realistic; how many guys, a soldier for that matter,  would have a live-in girlfriend and NOT have sex with her? 

The late Sound Sultan   made his acting debut as the charismatic Ladele, president of the Silver Lines Movement; which appeared to be some sort of student club/ fraternity  in battle with  the Heavy Weights' Club. Both clubs are a tad suspect- using blackmail to achieve  their ends- but at least the 'Silver Liners' have good intentions, compared to the Heavy Weights who paraded themselves like the campus mob; extorting money from the campus' taxi drivers and shop owners. Segun Adefila held his own as the villain Toks but we hardly see enough of him or more of the Heavy Weights' clubs activities besides their extortion antics or if they were ever punished for it. 

The Silver Line Movement on the other hand were politically minded and anxious for social change. The music numbers in the film add more to the Silver Liners'  aim and the film's political theme. 

Aside from the clash between the two clubs being presented, The Campus Queen plays out as the battle  of activists against corruption  and for democracy;  and how the goal is worth the challenges and risks. 

The film was written by  the late playwright and novelist, Professor Akinwunmi Ishola and while we see his message, The Campus Queen needed a bit more depth. It is an interesting watch yet seemed more like a filmed  play; without the stage. The story seemed a tad rushed and the continuity was not smooth; along with some of the young actors and actresses performances- they sounded as if they were reading from a teleprompter. If this was a creative arts student's final school project (and I mean no offence to Professor Ishola or Tunde Kelani), this would be a perfect example. At least we get to see  Hafeez Oyetoro, who provided the film's comic relief as the Governor's  cook, who Banke befriends. 

                                          

Trivia: 

-University of Lagos lecturers,  Dr Ahmed Yerima, Dr Tunji Sotimirin, the film's writer, Professor Akinwunmi Isola  and former Super Eagles' foward, Segun Odegbami made cameo appearances. 

-The Campus Queen's soundtracks, including its main theme,  were arranged and produced by Sound Sultan and eLDee, a former member of the Nigerian hip hop group, Trybesmen. 

- The  Governor's angry reaction to the Silver Liner's music show mirrored late Chief  Samuel Akíntọ́lá's (Premier of the Western region, 1960-1966)  reaction to Hubert Ogunde's play, Yoruba Ronu (Yorubas,Think!). When it was staged in Ibadan on the 28th of February 1964,  Akintola saw the play as a deliberate attack on him and his administration, causing him and several other dignitaries to walk out in anger.