Exploring The Depths of “Tokunbo“
“Tokunbo” is a Yoruba word that means “to come from across the seas.” This name is typically attributed to something or someone foreign or strange and also subtly hints at the dealings of the male lead, Tokunbo, portrayed by Gideon Okeke, in this thriller.
The Narrative Arc: Crime, Redemption, and High Stakes
The plot follows an ex-smuggler who, after his last rodeo, decides to leave the life of crime and do legitimate business instead. Life, however, has other plans, as he becomes a pawn in a bigger game and is soon faced with the task of saving his family no matter the cost, even if it means returning to his life of crime.
Ramsey Nouah’s Directorial Comeback
This gritty film is directed by Ramsey Nouah and written by Todimu Adegoke and Thecla Uzozie. Tokunbo is the third movie directed by Nigerian actor and director Ramsey Nouah, following Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story (2020) and Living in Bondage: Breaking Free (2019).
Ramsey Nouah took three years off directing and came back like a wrecking ball with this project, and the obvious growth cannot go unnoticed.
The Bumpy Start and Redemption: A Cinematic Rollercoaster
The first few moments of the movie are a bit iffy, as one can almost feel the writer’s hand in Tokunbo’s over-the-phone conversation with a client about how bad the country’s situation is: a rhetoric that isn’t foreign to Nigeria but is largely overused and maybe even becoming cliché.
The movie, however, quickly redeems itself with a car chase and comic relief.
“Baby shark doo doo doo doo.”
The movie picks up from there, and everything from the soundtrack to the cinematography, the performances, and the dialogue is just fireworks.
The symbolism of Tokunbo picking up a pizza box and the seeming importance of cryptocurrency in the movie is brilliant. (It isn’t certain if this was intended or if this is just reaching.)
Breaking Stereotypes: Gender Dynamics and Social Commentary
Ramsey Nouah also mentioned that he wanted the movie to address the issue of sexism and how mothers are usually pressured to choose between family and their careers. He attempts to break this stereotype with the character Fọláṣadé, brought to life by Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi.
The issue of sexism is mildly addressed but is mostly lost in the entire plot. Too much is going on for that particular issue to make a noticeable statement.
A Slice of Nigerian Life: Authenticity Meets Entertainment
The movie captures the experience of the common Nigerian. One detail that can be appreciated is being woken up by the prayer call at 5:30 a.m. from the nearest mosque.
Gideon Okeke’s performance as Tokunbo is stellar. He perfectly captures the crude and unfiltered facial expressions, lingual nuances, and body language of the character being depicted.
Final Thoughts: An overall thrilling and entertaining experience.
Overall, the movie manages to invoke different emotions in different instances. It’s entertaining, relatable, and altogether a good watch. Tokunbo gets an 8 out of 10.
Mediapeephole approves!
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