Áfàméfùnà – An Nwa Boi Story

Kayode Kasum’s “Afamefuna: An Nwa Boi Story” stands as the first feature-length cinematic exploration of the ingenious Igbo Apprenticeship System (IAS)—a business framework with experienced owners taking on young male apprentices (referred to as “Nwa Boi”) who they comprehensively train in their trades for years before helping establish the apprentices’ own independent enterprises. Kasum adeptly blends this cultural exposition into an equally compelling human drama structured around a simmering love triangle that propels the film’s central whodunit mystery.

We open on clashing scenes of communal dancing at a funeral juxtaposed against the discovery of an unidentified corpse near an intense football match. Police promptly summon the titular apprentice, Afamefuna (Stan Nze), for intense questioning about the body from a wry detective, initiating an extended, irony-laden interrogation which efficiently establishes Afamefuna’s background and character while allowing for commentary on the fluidity of Igbo language and customs.

Through seamlessly integrated flashbacks, we trace young Afamefuna’s (Paul Nnadiekwe) origin, brought from Onitsha by his mother to apprentice under building machine shop owner “Oga” Mr. Odogwu (Kanayo O. Kanayo). Here Afamefuna meets his fellow apprentices, taking a particular liking to senior apprentice Paulo (Alexx Ekubo), who takes the newcomer under his wing. Yet we also see Afamefuna magnetically drawn towards Mr. Odogwu’s daughter Amaka (Atlanta Bridget Johnson) from their very first encounter, planting early seeds of a love triangle that will fuel much of the interpersonal drama.

Eventually the film pivots to exploring IAS customs and rituals in earnest through episodic sequences focused on the apprentices’ daily trade activities: attracting customers through adamant promotion, negotiating deals by building false familiarity, questionable profits skimmed off the top by enterprising Nwa Bois unbeknownst to their masters. Throughout these moments, Afamefuna repeatedly proves himself an exceptionally diligent and trustworthy apprentice, so much so that Mr. Odogwu shockingly graduates him ahead of Paulo despite the latter’s longer tenure, straining their once strong filial bond, much to Paulo’s entitled resentment. Spitefully, Paulo financially exploits Amaka’s naïveté before disappearing without notice, just as long-buried jealousies and affections between the three leads approach a boiling point, hurtling the film towards its emotionally cathartic conclusion.

With thoughtful direction from Kasum realistically capturing the beauty and hardships of Igbo culture, outstanding performances (particularly Alex Ekubo’s entitlement-dripping portrayal of the villainous Paulo), and careful pacing that keeps the over-two-hour runtime flying by, “Afamefuna” utilizes its central love-triangle spine to offer unprecedented insight into the intricacies of the IAS while crafting an equally engaging human drama filled with authentic characters. Explorations of supporting figures like Amaka’s subtly defiant cousin admit gaps for further cultural examination, but this remains an impressive work systematically unpacking a pivotal system in Igbo entrepreneurship and identity.