A Review of “Afamefuna” | An Nwa Boi Story Movie

When you see an interesting movie you will surely know it from people review or say on the movie, most times scrolling through people whatsap status can bring some exciting things your way, while scrolling, someone mention this particular movie titled Afamefuna and how it is one interesting to watch and how it give more enlightment to the Igbo's market system, I was curious and I had to dust my abandoned Netflix account just to subscribe at least once this year and get to watch some movies.

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The name Afamefuna was giving that same vibes as Ikemefuna in things fall apart novel, the first few scenes was kind of confusing to me at first, it started with a murder scene of Paul death (Alex ekubo) then to Afamefuna's dad remembrance party (Stan eze) and the way they were spending money, I thought paul was Afamefuna house boy and he was killed for a reason while Afamefuna might have hands in his death (ritual stuff) bla bla, that was what I thought at first, I don't even now why they show that 2 scenes first or maybe to confused and to make us read different meaning to the story. Apparently, Afamefuna was arrest by Inspector Shenu and he had to following him secretly to the station so he won't disturb the party vibes or cause commotion which was really wise of him.

Getting to the station, and you know how police might be when they start interrogating someone about a murder case, I even thought he was trying to frame him because he is rich and also spending money lavishly (jealousy) but he was actually trying to know the exact thing that happened and Afamefuna had to come clean that he didn't kill him and also told us his own story. He lost his dad at a young age and his mum had to take him to a rich igbo man shop in Lagos to learn trade, according to them he had to leave home to feed home (A normal hustling boy way of life), on his quest to financial freedom as an apprentice, he met different boys working for his boss and as the new boy (jjc) he hand to listen to them and also he met Paul who was to show him around and train him. But after the boss warning to him to stay away from ladies, Afamefuna was admiring the boss daughter Amaka from afar and Amaka was in love with Paul who only love her for the other side benefit (Money and sex).

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Things went well and both were brothers and their boss love both, Afamefuna once help the boss out to sort and clear his seize goods from the custom and paul save the boss goods from some scammers who came to buy goods with fake money and according to the norms, paul senior Afamefuna and he was suppose to get his freedom before him but the boss gave Afamefuna freedom first with lot of gift which cause enemity between him and paul and he left angrily, betray the boss's daughter love and all but they came back together again in future when Afamefuna because rich but paul was wallowing in debt from some dangerous group who threaten to kill him. One thing lead to another, Afamefuna married Amaka but unknowingly to her, she was pregnant for paul before the marriage, paul found out and started blackmailing Afamefuna on 3 count. First he stole is freedom right, then his woman and now his son, and he collect tons of money in returns but he kept on coming back with the same blackmail until Afamefuna became angry and stop giving him money/helping him to pay his debt which lead to his paul death.

The whole movie gave me this insight about the igbo apprenticeship/market system, how they always build from scratch, have this customer/hospitality spirit, how they do sell goods even when they don't have the goods in their shop and all, there is no way you will see one igbo sellers without seeing others in that same environment, they know how to invest and focus on their business, business money is always business money. Like they said in the movie, if you reach a market and you didn't see any igbo seller there, run, such place isn't good for business.