"Palava", a Replica of Tuface Idibia's Life and Times

By Olumide Labulo 

"Palava" is a distortion of the English word "palaver" in Nigerian Pidgin English. Like there is a shift in the spelling, so is the meaning. "Palava" implies trouble or quarrel between two or more parties. It could also imply a complex situation where lots of things are happening all at the same time. This very last last definition is what captures the situation our brother Tuface is in right now as is funnily portrayed in the "eponymous" movie, Palava, released in December, 2022 on the stable of inkblot Productions in conjunction with FilmOne Entertainment. 

Starring Richard MoFe Damijo, Beverly Naya, Linda Ejiofor, Iyabo Ojo, Gideon Okeke, Bisola Aiyeola, etc., the movie tells the story of Osage, a.k.a Osa Wonder, a living legend whose life and career become suddenly resuscitated after an old song of his, Palava Dey, goes viral. This was exactly the same thing that happened to Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar in 2006 when Won Kere Si Numba Wa came out of nowhere after its release many years back. But unlike Pa Fatai, Osage is reckless with women, a profound quality he shares with our beloved Tubaba, Davido, Wizkid, Flavour, etc. You feel me? 

So, the streak begins again as he rides on his second wave of fame when we see him with his promoter's girlfriend backstage running things. As if that isn't enough, few days to his 60th birthday, another surfaces when a used-to-be staff of his accuses him of abandoning her hence, threatening the signing of a huge ambassadoral deal that is important to his survival and financial status. His kids won't have any of this because 20 years ago, his career ended for getting caught up in a controversy like this: he stole the wrong woman, Hajara Rabiu, a governor's daughter who later abandoned him to be with his best friend and manager. PALAVA! So they try to cover up his lapses by rising up to the occasion. The exact same thing Tuface's family is doing right now. First, they reported him missing and filed a petition with the DSS. Next, they allegedly contacted a blogger to help tell the world their son was hypnotized.  

The similarities between Osa Wonder and Tubaba are so striking that one will think they had him in mind when making the movie. Unlike Tubaba whose new wave of fame is on the threshold of his failed marriage to Annie, Osa Wonder's is on an old song. He presently has about 7 kids from different women, Osa has 6. While both share romantic connections with politically affiliated women, Tubaba seems to be confident that his is so deserving and won't bring him down like it did Osa Wonder. 

Palava isn't without pockets of flaws here and there. Some of the miscalculations gan sef will make you question how on earth they were missed. For example, when Charlie is making the documentary, she refers to their father's  heart attack as recent. Whereas, Imade says it's 10 years ago, the very reason she left her studies in the U.S to be with him. I'm just thinking if reviewers like us can be involved in the production process of a movie, there might not be lapses. Just saying. By the way, you gbadun the comparison?

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