Sex, Nudity and Half of a Yellow Sun

Article written by Samuel Olatunji. Read and share your thoughts on the points he raised

Over the weekend in Lagos, Oscar nominee and BAFTA award winner, Chiwetel Ejiofor laid claim to the fact that Half of a Yellow Sun is not just a Nigerian story but an international story which has its implications and relevance across the world. The movie which was centered on love could not have left the original plot out which talks about the Biafran war. 

By now you probably have heard of Half of a Yellow Sun, but no one has told you about the nudity and sex scenes, by the way it was artistically done. Thandie Newton came out of the bath tub naked with her two boobs standing at alert, Chiwetel and Thandie Newton had sex and there was another sex scene in the movie, again all were artistically done. The question is, can Nigerian actors ever go all the way in movies like these people did (remember Chiwetel and Lupita in 12 Years a Slave)?

Toni Kan, a film critic and author said the sex scene was well done, ‘you can’t be in the bath tub and be fully dressed or start covering your body when your husband enters the room like we do in our movies, Nigerians would love it and after all Ghanaians have done more than that.’ He added that it justified the description in the book. Besides this is collaboration between Nollywood and Hollywood and certain things have to be made as real as possible.

A renowned journalist, Steve Ayorinde, said nothing is offensive, ‘part of the reason we don’t do well in our movies is because we don’t speak cinema language, and nudity in movies is given unnecessary attention, you can’t be in your bath tub and be clothed. Movies that win the Oscar are doing it professionally and the actors and actresses see it as their job and the press doesn’t make a big deal out of it. Also, our acts put restriction on themselves and film makers too and that would not have allowed them go that far. In addition, our movies are not professionally and maturely shot, we need to be lightened up about that and start being professional.’ 

Shaibu Husseini, a journalist and movie critic went on to say that the movie sure has to do with arts and it contributes and advances the story, he doubts if we could do it. ‘Thandie is a professional and convinced it would help the film, we are from a society where normal parts like that are daring and misinterpreted. It’s just an actress portraying her character. Biyi Bandele even played down on some of the descriptions.’

Written by Samuel Olatunji