The king's horseman is here
He that is always well-adorned
A lover of all women
A lover of life A lover of all beautiful things
Enjoy forever the life of a king
Elesin
The valiant one
Who enjoys his life to the full
Our father's house
Is like that of Kings
The valiant one
Who enjoys his life to the full
Our father's house is like that of Kings
Our Elesin, we love you.
Our Elesin.
Enjoy your life our Elesin.
What are you ladies doing to me?
Surprise me, ladies.
We have witnessed this
Whatever one has witnessed Can never be truly forgotten
This we have witnessed
Elesin, we have witnessed this
Whatever one has witnessed Can never be truly forgotten
This we have witnessed
Elesin o. Keep enjoying like a king
Whatever one has witnessed Can never be truly forgotten
This we have witnessed
Elesin o. Keep enjoying like a king
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself...
Like Oyo enjoys its prominence in today's world
Elesin, continue to enjoy life
Like Oyo enjoys its prominence in today's world
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself
We'll carry our father to the afterlife
Whoever is unhappy should leave
We'll accompany our father to the afterlife
We'll carry our father to the afterlife
Whoever is unhappy should leave
We'll accompany our father to the afterlife
We'll carry our father to the afterlife
Whoever is unhappy should leave
Rejoice
Our father has stepped into town Our father has stepped into the market
Let's all rejoice
Rejoice
Our father has stepped into town Our father has stepped into the market
Let's all rejoice
How has the market been?
Greetings.
Elesin,
where are you going in such a hurry, like a cockerel without its adorned tail?
Going to where my cockerel doesn't need its adornment.
Such is life.
He gets a new bride and forgets his older wife.
It's not like that, Olohun Iyo.
My spirit lives in this market,
enduring both sadness and joy.
You see these women, packing up to go home?
Today will be the last time I'll see them.
I'm ready to come with you to the afterlife.
You just tell me, "Olohun Iyo, you'll accompany me on this journey".
And I'll follow you.
Thank you for your loyalty, but it can't be beyond this world.
This market is home.
I feel at home whenever I'm among these women.
I feel so much comfort here.
- Father, we greet you. - I greet you also.
Well done!
Tonight, before I go to meet my ancestors, I'll lay my head upon their laps.
Won't that be nice.
And then I will go to sleep.
That sounds like you.
Their sweat...
Their scent...
the smell of indigo on their clothes,
will be the last waft of air I breathe
before I go to my forefathers,
before I go to my afterlife.
Thank you, father.
We adore you.
Palmwine tapper. My greetings to you.
Greetings, father.
Thank you.
When the time is right,
you'll see me dancing on the narrow path
already taken by my forefathers.
My mind is made up and nothing will stop me from going to the afterlife tonight.
Are you sure that nothing will stop you?
Nothing will stop the King's horseman.
We hail you!
We know you will not let us down.
I am on a journey to meet my King and master.
We know you as a man of honour.
Thank you.
The world as we know it has an end.
Life is an honour,
and it ends when honour ends.
Oh virgin with the delicate eyes
What's that song I am hearing?
Oh virgin with the delicate eyes
It's your beautiful hair That makes us dance
Oh virgin with the delicate eyes
The near perfect eyes
Your teeth glisten white
Your buttocks is perfect
It's your beautiful hair That makes us dance
Oh virgin with the delicate eyes
It's your beautiful hair That makes us dance
Tell me, friends...
Oh virgin with the delicate eyes
- Am I still on this earth? - Yes.
Am I still in the beloved market I love so much?
Yes.
- Or am I in the afterlife already? - No.
Have I gone to meet my departed ancestors yet?
No.
- I'm still in the market, in the world as we all know it? - Yes.
Why these questions, Elesin?
You're still here on earth.
This voice you hear is that of Olohun Iyo, not that of an attendant in heaven.
If that is so,
tell me who is that beautiful goddess I see over there?
No, Iyaloja, I know all your ladies well.
Who is she? How come I have never seen her before?
Elesin. Elesin Oba.
Am I still amongst the living?
Yes, you're still amongst the living.
That beautiful woman just suddenly lit up this market like never before.
She's already engaged to be married.
She has a man to marry already.
Her wedding is any minute from now.
Why are you telling me this?
Elesin, this is not to offend you.
Today is your day, and the world is yours.
But, everything we do has consequences.
Who doesn't want to be remembered?
Don't you want me to enjoy my last moments on earth?
I would like to travel light.
What are you saying?
Allow me to travel light.
Let me enjoy my last moments on this earth
and leave my seed behind.
Iyaloja mother of many
Always nourish your thoughts within Discuss very little with people
If you have six secrets only share one
Because the ones closest to you Are the ones that may hurt you
Everyone smiles in your presence
But not many have your back
Iyaloja, mother, mother of many
We greet you
Elesin, you're the chosen one
You're the chosen messenger
Don't mind the ill-tempered ones You're the chosen one
Elesin, you're the chosen one You're the chosen messenger
Elesin is already on his way to the afterlife.
As much as it worries me, I cannot refuse his last request.
Iyaloja!
We have too much at stake, I will let him have his wish.
Iyaloja, this young girl is engaged to your son.
Didn't you tell him?
He is my son. He'll listen to my wishes.
His loss can be fixed.
- Elesin Oba! - Father!
You're the king's horseman of the ancient tribe of the Alaafin,
son of Atiba.
Oh Iyaloja, the honourable one with authority on everything.
The one who guides us all with her wisdom.
I am grateful.
I am unable
to match your grandeur.
I hail you.
- Whatever she says becomes law. - That is good.
What do my mothers say? Will you grant my wish?
It's good to empty your loins on earth into a home we know and love.
Travel light and keep your last seed with us on earth,
before you journey to the afterlife.
Iyaloja, the mother of us all.
We are delighted by your wisdom.
- Yes indeed. - Good mother.
- Elesin Oba. - Iyaloja.
You have always had a restless eye, lover of women.
I give my blessing.
Alright, take the good news to our new bride,
and get her ready for her wedding.
Elesin o.
What you say is what becomes law
Iyaloja, our mother What you say is what becomes law
Elesin Oba Enjoy the life of a king
Authority belongs to the father
Son of Alaafin of Atiba
Authority belongs to the father
Son of Alaafin of Atiba
You didn't want me to marry her at first.
Why? You're the one who wants to "travel light".
Why not, be warned.
But be careful
that the seed you plant does not come with a curse for our community.
What do you mean by that?
Alright, I refuse to be offended.
Why be offended, have I not granted your wish?
I will ask them to prepare your bridal room.
But these same hands will prepare your burial clothes.
- Iyaloja. - What is it?
Must you be so blunt?
Well, prepare my burial clothes.
But, the fingers of my new bride must caress my body...
Until I go to meet my ancestors in the afterlife.
Elesin Oba,
- you're such a rascal. - Indeed.
- Prepare yourself, Elesin. - Certainly.
As the parents of my son's fiancée.
I'd like you to take heart.
The ancestors have spoken tonight.
And we have decided to give Elesin his last earthly wishes.
He's getting ready to go and meet his ancestors.
Your daughter will be the one
to receive the seed that comes
with the strength and power of his lineage.
I would like us to honour it.
Mother, prepare your daughter to receive Elesin.
Father,
let us rejoice
that the will of the ancestors is done.
My Akanni,
you are my first born and I am your mother.
Look around you,
all that you see is yours.
Honour me
and trust our ancestors.
Tonight Elesin, a man of honour rides to go greet them.
Why are we all gathered here
It's to celebrate a wedding
Let the beads shake in music
Let the waist beads shake in music
Let the beads shake in music
We're here gathered to drink palm wine
The conversations we have Between you and me, should remain here
We're here gathered to drink palm wine
Who's the one bold enough to take me away from the fun of the night?
It's me, your friend.
- I just arrived. - Olunde.
The man who left us for England is already back, right on time,
without forewarning?
- Or are you a clairvoyant? - No.
I am just a doctor.
I heard that our King died last month.
Olunde, you know your father better than anyone.
Will only get into debts and more debts
He will get into debt and more debt
The market porter who wants to sue the King to court
Will only get into debt and more debt
Gingerly, we dress up our dear bride
Our darling wife
Gingerly, we dress up our dear bride
Let the elderly wife draw
The Amoke closer
Because you're the older one
You're the elderly one
Because you got here first
You're the elderly one
Because you got here first
Let the elderly wife draw the Amoke closer
Because you're the older one
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself
Like Oyo enjoys its prominence In today's world
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself
Like Oyo enjoys its prominence In today's world
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself
Like Oyo enjoys its prominence In today's world
Oh, the bridegroom of today's event
Continue to enjoy yourself Amoke's darling husband
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself
Like Oyo enjoys its prominence In today's world
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself
I'm inadequate in your presence
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself
Like Oyo enjoys its prominence In today's world
Elesin, continue to enjoy yourself
Amusa, greetings.
Please, get out of my way.
I'm here on official duty.
Where are you going, Amusa?
Inside there, because I know that is where he is.
Who?
The one that calls himself Elesin Oba.
Amusa, you don't understand.
It is not he who calls himself 'Elesin Oba'. It's his pedigree that calls him so.
Just as his father was so called, he also is so called.
Listen to me, there is nothing your white man can do about it.
Wait a minute,
isn't it the same ocean that touches our land here
that reaches the white man's land?
It's the same one.
Amusa, tell your white man,
tell him that he may hide our son
for as long as he wishes,
but when the time is right,
the same ocean that took him there will bring him back to us.
The British government says "enough".
An end must come to all these illegal activities.
So, who is going to stop it, Amusa?
Is it you?
You just don't understand. Tonight, our father...
Our father.
- Our husband. - Our husband.
Will show himself as being above all the white man's strange laws in this land.
Yes.
Look, nothing will happen tonight, or at any time.
You'd better not bite your tongue with all the English you are speaking tonight.
Our mother. Welcome.
Amusa.
Are you here to destroy other people's joy?
He can't destroy our joy no matter how hard he tries.
Iyaloja, I am glad to see you.
But you know me, you know that I am not a troublemaker.
But duty is duty.
I'm here to arrest Elesin Oba,
who is planning to kill himself in a way that contravenes the law.
Tell these women to get out of my way and let me get through.
What about you?
What gives you the right to prevent our leader from doing his duty?
Duty?
What kind of duty is that, Iyaloja?
What kind of duty?
What else is the duty of a man to his new bride?
Iyaloja, is this supposed to be a wedding?
Amusa,
whatever it is the White man has turned you to,
did he also prevent you from getting yourself a bride?
Doesn't your master have his own?
Go ask him and he will tell you.
- Iyaloja, this is not a wedding. - Really?
It may not look like a wedding to you,
but go ask your master what he would do
if he were to be prevented from doing the needful on his own wedding night?
Iyaloja, I said this is not a wedding!
Ah! Amusa, I now understand you.
You want to be the third wheel?
You want to see exactly how a man cuts the virgin knot?
Maybe his wives are still waiting for him to come and deflower them?
Iyaloja...
That's right!
Please tell your women not to insult me.
What a joker.
- If they do... - What will you do?
- I will cause trouble for them. - Oh please!
- Constables. - You are a joker.
See you, I thought you said you'll cause trouble.
Our mother.
Chase him!
Beat him well and good!
Beat him well!
What a joker!
What a joker.
Dear
Mothers
Behold
And receive it
This happy meeting of my body
And my soul
Receive it
Dear
Mothers
Behold
And receive it
This happy meeting of my body
And my soul
Receive it
You mother of beautiful maidens.
Here, have it.
This is not just virgin blood.
It is the union of life and the seeds of my passage.
It is my spirit,
the last from my body,
and the promise of a future life that I leave behind as I go to meet my ancestors.
The bride survives
Oh Ogun, you feed on dogs
Lakaaye, we have brought your meal
He who wants money will get it
He who wants children will get them
Because Ogun grants Money and children and joy
Lakaaye, my father
He's here and everywhere
Ogun is a deity, do not betray him
The time is near.
A great one has fallen
Greetings to our ancestors
A great one has gone home
The elephant has fallen and can't get up
The descendant of the giant Masquerade
He died an honourable death
A great Masquerade indeed
Our King has gone
Gone forever and never coming back
An elephant has fallen Goodbye to our great King
The King's dog is dead...
And the King's horse has followed its master.
The elephant has fallen
And can't get up
Asleep like the mountain
The elephant has fallen
And can't get up
Asleep like the mountain
Olajumoke's father
Has entered the cave in the ground
The elephant has fallen
And can't get up
Asleep like the mountain
Our wedding is not yet complete.
Not until I am dead is the occasion complete.
Wait with me until then.
You my praise singers, please do me the last honours.
Here is where
I've chosen to leave the world.
This is where I've known love and laughter
not in the palace, but in this market place.
Do me the honours.
Some people would prefer That the sun does not rise
But it rises anyway
In the eyes of others
The rain should not fall
But it falls anyway
One's destiny will always come through
My spirit is ready
to become the King's messenger.
I'm ready to head home to the afterlife
Elesin of Alaafin, do you hear me?
The night is here
And it's time to depart the earth
Elesin Alaafin, do you hear my call?
The night is here
And it's time to depart the earth
Softly, my King.
Softly.
If you cannot come,
tell my dog
I cannot wait too long at the gate.
The dog does not outrun the hand that feeds it meat.
When the horse throws its rider, it stops running.
Alaafin's horseman will not trust an animal
for his message between a King and his companion.
I say if you get lost my dog will find you
The Alaafin's horseman will never get lost.
I am ready to head home to the afterlife
Elesin knows the way to his final destination.
I have rescued myself from the world.
The night is almost here.
The elephant has fallen and can't get up
Asleep like the mountain
Elesin has failed us
We cry
Elesin has failed in his duty
We cry
Iyaloja warned Elesin About doing the right thing
Elesin has failed in his destiny
Elesin will not meet our dead king
We mourn restlessly Our King will haunt us
Elesin has failed us
We are cursed
Let me be!
The clothing of shame you have put on me is enough.
White man! Keep your hands off me!
Give me back my name, which you have stolen from me.
You nameless pale forest ghoul.
Leave me alone!
Child, do not let the sight of your father turn you blind.
I do not have a father you coward, eater of leftovers.
Yes, ghostly one.
Your twin brother up there engages my thoughts.
Is that so?
White one, this night is not peaceful!
Is silence the same as peace to you?
Don't you hear me?
I say this is not peaceful.
The world is not at peace.
You have shattered what is left of the peace in the land.
Hear me, there is no sleep tonight.
You did not save me!
You only destroyed my life, white man.
You stole my firstborn son away from me.
You sent him to your land to turn him into your shadow.
You stole from me
the child that was supposed to follow in my footsteps.
And when it was my turn, you prevented me from fulfilling my destiny.
Did you think well about these things?
These plans to destroy our world
are beyond your understanding.
Hear me, white man.
The world is set adrift,
and its inhabitants are lost.
We're surrounded by nothing but emptiness.
You have prevented me from my duty.
But I'm very sure that my son is a true first born.
I initially thought that he aligned himself
with the enemies of our race.
It is good to seek and learn the secrets of one's enemies.
But listen,
his spirit will punish you and your kind.
I do not want your consolation!
Do not console me.
I have lost a father's place of honour,
and my voice is broken.
I hear you, pale-skinned one.
I know who it is.
The odor of my shame has gone far and wide.
It needs no hunter's dog to find it.
She has found the hiding place where you kept me.
Why would I not want to see Iyaloja.
All my shame
is already laid bare.
Let her in. Let her come.
Honour?
White one, you want my word of honour?
I know you to be a man of honour.
I know that you searched her
as you would never dare touch your own mother.
What else is there?
Haven't you already taken all my honour?
Haven't you locked it up in that desk
in which you have written today's report?
You took the honour of my people.
Tied together in those papers of treachery that makes you a master in this land.
How boldly the lizard struts before the pigeon.
Yet he'd promised us a fight with the eagle.
I don't want you to take pity on me, Iyaloja.
You have a message for me or you would not have come.
Even if it's the curses of the world, I will listen.
I will tell the other chiefs
how you showed bravery in waging war against the white man
who took your side against death.
But only with words!
I more than deserve your scorn.
Go on.
I warned you
not to leave a cursed seed behind.
But you refused, you coward.
Who are you to want a self-replacement
when you yourself aren't ready to die?
My powers deserted me!
My charms and spells,
and even my voice, lacked strength
when I tried to summon it to lead me to the other side.
You have betrayed us.
We gave you all the required honours,
including my son's bride.
But you chose instead to feast on crumbs,
and not fulfill your duty to our king.
Iyaloja, enough. My shame is heavy enough.
You have not seen anything yet.
- I brought a burden with me. - And you have discharged it!
That was what you chose.
He who breaks precedent will face the consequences.
And you will face the consequences now.
- I wish I could pity you. - I do not need your pity or of the world.
Even I need to understand what is going on.
What a disgraceful
sight you now embody.
Did I not tell you that I came with a burden?
It's now on the way.
Elesin Oba, let me ask you a question.
Didn't they say a banana plant replaces itself with the offspring?
Or in your own reasoning, is it the banana that replaces its offspring?
Iyaloja, what is the meaning of all this?
I did not ask for a translation. I only ask a question.
Is it the banana plant that replaces its offspring?
Answer me!
No, a banana plant will always replace itself with the offspring.
Ah, so you know.
Some people exist only to turn the world upside down.
Elesin Oba!
Should I tell you what the gods have taken from you?
Ah Elesin, look at you now.
I can't imagine
a time in the past where you could be treated this way by anyone.
Now, look at what you have become.
I think you'd better leave.
White one,
you have a prince here, who came from your Homeland.
When he dies,
would you
have left his spirit to roam the surface of the earth?
Would you even consider burying him among us here that you consider subhuman?
In your land, have you no ceremonies for the dead?
Young man, I have not come to help your understanding.
This is the man whose weakened understanding holds us in your contempt.
You can ask him if you wish.
He knows the meaning of a King's passage, because he was not born yesterday.
He also knows the peril to our race when our dead father,
our intermediary, waits and waits,
knowing that we've betrayed him.
He knows
when the narrow gate was opened,
and that it does not wait
for despicable laggards.
He knows that he has condemned our King to wander in the void.
For the enemies of our world to mock.
Look, what we have asked of you is little.
Let Elesin go
and set our King free,
so he can rest with his ancestors in peace.
The messenger is nearby, on the back of the women.
This is the least of all his oaths,
and it is the easiest fulfilled.
The one we love is on his way To meet our ancestors
The night is here
The one we love is on his way To meet our ancestors
The night is here
The one we love prepares to head home
Give way and let them in.
To prevent one death, you will actually kill more?
What a great logic of the white man.
But have no fear,
your Prince will sleep peacefully, and so will ours at last.
And no one will ask you.
Servant of the White King,
just let Elesin fulfill his oath
and we will go home to pay homage to our own King.
District Officer, do not fear.
I have a message to send to my King.
There's nothing else to fear after that.
Olunde would have done it.
The chiefs asked him to speak the words but he said no,
not while you lived.
Even from the depth to which my spirit has sunk,
I find some joy
that I can still perform my duty to my departed King.
The night is here
The one we love prepares to head home
When fire dies It covers itself with ashes
The banana dies And replaces itself with its offspring
The night is here
The one we love
Prepares to head home
It is the burden that you prepared, white one.
But we come in peace.
Set me free. I have a duty to perform.
There lies the courier of my King.
Let me out! So I can perform what is demanded of me.
I must speak secretly as my father whispered it in my ears,
I must speak to my firstborn son,
and they are not words
I can shout to the wind and the night sky. Let me out!
They have slain the favorite horse of the King,
they have slain his dog.
They have carried them from house to house to receive prayers for our King.
But Elesin refused to leave.
Is it too much to ask that he speak heart to heart to the waiting courier?
Elesin Oba.
You see how even they have turned their backs on you
to prevent you from your duty?
Elesin Oba,
I call you this for the last time.
Do you remember me telling you that if you cannot come,
you should send my horse to come.
Has your tongue been uprooted from its root?
I said if there are rocks you cannot climb,
mount my horse's back so he can bring you.
Once, Elesin,
you had a tongue that darted like a drummer's stick.
I said if you get lost, my dog will track a path to me, his feet knew the way.
I said at last that if an evil hand held you back,
just tell my horse that I dare not wait too long.
Here lies the swiftest messenger of the King.
My companion, if you had followed when you should have,
we would not say that the dog has preceded its owner.
Indeed.
If you had left at the appropriate time,
we wouldn't now say that the horse has preceded its rider.
Had you lifted your spirit,
and raised the will to cut the thread when the drums summoned,
we would not say now that it is your shadow
that fell to take its owner's place at the banquet.
What else is left?
Talk to your shadow, which must now serve in your place.
Here lies your messenger,
the chosen companion of the King.
I cannot approach him now.
Please remove the covering.
I will send my voice in the depth of silence.
Look.
Your honour! The honour of your household
and of our race.
Your son could not bear to let honour depart from your home,
so he stopped it with his life.
Elesin, the son has proven to be the father,
and there is nothing left but infant gums in your mouth.
This is all because of your lust for women.
Elesin,
we placed the reins of the world in your hands, yet you watched it spill.
You sat with folded arms
while evil strangers tilted our world into the abyss of emptiness.
Your heir has now taken your place.
We are not gods to tell the future,
but this young shoot has replaced its parent.
And we know that this is not the proper way.
No, certainly not.
Our world is tumbling down in the void of strangers, Elesin.
Now, let us forget the dead.
Forget even the living.
Let us turn instead to the unborn.
The night is here
The one we love prepares to leave
The night is here
The one we love prepares to head home
Subtitle translation by: Anu Akiyode