JAGUN JAGUN: The Internal Wars as Insidious Chain Reactions of Self-Destructive Ogundiji

The Nigerian movie industry has grown by leaps and bounds, especially at the turn of this new decade. The emergence of better quality cinematic experiences with our films is an excellent testament to this. An example of this new turn is the subject of our discussion today, titled Jagun Jagun, which means The Warrior.

Jagun Jagun is a movie that caught my attention because of the integration of postmodern cinematic technology with the depiction of traditional Yoruba culture and essence. The special effects held my attention, followed by the characterization, setting, and plot. But our point of review is in the lead character and the prominent character in Ogundiji and Gbotija.

From the names of most of the characters, we can tell that the thematic concept and reality fragment of the entire film were centered on wars, fighting, and battles. But, to me, the movie was even beyond the physical actions we saw; it also spoke about the internal battles going on in the two leading characters in Ogundiji and Gbotija — Ogundiji was in a ferocious battle against his ego, admitting that Gbotija was the heir to his War Academy, and Gbotija’s internal struggle with seeking vengeance on the death of his Father.

Internal scuffles are one of the hardest to manage because only you understand them, and to settle it takes much mental power, for Ogundiji allowed his supposed immortal ego and historical exploits blindside him from seeing that Gbotija was a commander of forest spirits who were in charge of wood. This was why, in the opening scenes, we saw him remove a fallen tree from his path, and later, he saved Erinfunto, the wife to Ogundiji, from an attack that was caused by Ogundiji’s intoxication while enforcing his identity as the almighty. Remember also that his ego made him turn his back on his second in command, Gbogunmi, who did not attack the village of his wife’s people after his sister told him not to; by not attacking them, he went against the orders of Ogundiji.

Gbotija witnessed the death of his father and the desolation of his village; despite not knowing who commandeered the attack on his people, he made it his life ambition to learn how to fight war and avenge the destruction of his people and, most importantly, his Father. This became an internal battle for him to conquer the ability to fight like a warrior, leading him to the Ogundiji War Academy. In the academy, he quickly rose the ranks by fighting the status quo and ensuring fair treatment, which led him to come in close contact with Kitan, who became the ferocious Agemo.

The theme of internal battle was subtle, as we were all carried away by the actions of the war-themed film. But the internal conflicts were as essential and tangible as the physical ones that held us spellbound. Ogundiji could not check his internal excesses, leading him to irrational decisions. For me, I will say the Warlord suffered from insecurity of varying forms, and he was a weakling by making the soul of his supposed daughter his killing machine (Agemo was the most powerful character in the movie, not Ogundiji).

Ogundiji was so blindsided by waging an internal war against an innocent Gbotija that he indirectly killed Gbogunmi, Kitan, and himself in a bid to win the war against Gbotija, a war that he paid dearly with his life, thanks to his wife, Erinfunto.

Rating: 7

Connect with me on Twitter: @doyin.deji