GENDER ISSUES IN KUNLE AFOLAYAN'S FILM ANIKULAPO

Abstract Kunle Afolayan's fantasy epic, Anikulapo, takes viewers on a thrilling journey through a bygone era. While captivating audiences with its fantastical elements and action-packed sequences, the film also subtly weaves in social commentary on gender issues. To the best of the researcher's knowledge, there has been minimal or no analysis of the film Anikulapo using Marxist feminist perspectives, given its reliance on the Yoruba cultural belief system. This paper addresses the gender issues raised in the film using the Marxist feminist throbs of reproductive labour and the complex relationship between gender, class, and power in society as portrayed in the movie. In our findings, we see the oppression of women in a patriarchal society and how gender roles are rigidly established, with women limited to household responsibilities and males retaining major authority. Even for affluent women like Awarun, economic dependency limits their agency and upholds the patriarchal system. In conclusion, it offers a revolt for women in social justice and gender equality, in the way Arolake fights back to get her freedom and sanity.