Movie Review: The WildFlower Brings to Light Issues of Gender-Based Violence and Response in Nigeria

A Movie about the Realities of Sexual Violence faced by three women

The Wildflower; written by Niyi Akinmolayan and Mannie Oiseomaye; and directed by Biodun Stephen tells a riveting story which highlights issues of gender-based violence from the lives of three women: Rolake; Mama Olisa and Adaolisa. The three women go through sexual violence such as domestic abuse to rape and sexual assault.

Damilare Kuku plays the role of Rolake Dabiri; a young woman with a Master’s in Architecture who is eager to take up a role as a Personal Assistant to Mr Gowon Williams; a man whom she has great respect and admiration for.

Rolake looks up to Mr Gowon as a leader in her industry and is thus excited about the new position but she is not aware that her boss is a perpetrator and misogynist.

The other character Adaolisa Olisa, played by Sandra Okunzuwa was being verbally harassed by a neighbour and then lured into his household where there was a rape attempt.

Then, there’s Mama Olisa who is played by Toyin Abraham. Mama Olisa is a victim of domestic abuse: constantly being beaten by her husband up to the point that she is battered to her unfortunate death.

The Wildflower first came out in cinemas in 2022 but it is a movie that should be re-watched and discussed because it creates awareness of what gender-based violence is, the different settings in which it occurs, what it leads to, actions to be taken and the significance of speaking out.

Here is my take on some of the most important themes highlighted in the movie.

The Reality of Domestic Violence & its Effects

In Mama Olisa’s story, we see the harmful effects of domestic abuse through her marriage.

There’s a scene where her husband: King Jinmi enters the house. He is angry that his wife did not prepare food and so he beats her to the point that he leaves a scar on her face.

When Mama Olisa goes to her shop the following day, her customers notice the scar.

One of the customers: Rolake tells Mama Olisa that she should not accept this because it can set the wrong example for her children but Mama Olisa tells her that it is simply a normal misunderstanding between husband and wife.

Mama Olisa even goes on to say that it is her fault. That it is because women talk too much and that sometimes, it is best to keep quiet for your husband.

Mama Olisa’s response raises concern as to how Nigerian society reacts to domestic violence. The perception is that it is what husband and wife go through: a mere misunderstanding and women should not provoke their husbands.

There is even the aspect of victim blaming from the victim in response to what has happened to her. Whereas, domestic violence is not something that should be tolerated in a marriage and there is never any excuse for a woman to be beaten and attacked by her husband.

Through Mama Olisa’s story, we see a depiction of what can result from domestic abuse as Mama Olisa argues with her husband over a disagreement with her daughter. The husband then begins to yell at her and then beats her again but this time, he beats her to the point of her death.

Mama Olisa’s story shows the dangers of domestic violence. What happens when women are being beaten in their marriage. It is not something to be dismissed because it can unfortunately lead to the loss of a life.

Though Toyin Abraham’s role as Mama Olisa is based on a fictitious character, in Nigeria, there have been very real instances of domestic violence leading to death.

The late Gospel singer: Osinachi Nwachukwu died due to a case of domestic violence. She was a victim of an abusive husband: Peter Nwachukwu who was said to have been the one responsible for her death and not health issues.

Mama Olisa’s story in “The Wildflower” reminds us of Osinanchi’s unfortunate demise and it serves as a wake-up call to all women going through domestic violence in their marriage. Their lives are more important.

They should not tolerate or make excuses for an abusive man.

Traits of an Abuser in a Workplace Environment

Deyemi Okanlawon does a stellar job as viewers watch him with disdain in his role as Mr Gowon Williams.

Mr Gowon; the CEO of Ocean Heights Construction takes advantage of his assistants by forcing himself on them and then insensitively tossing money their way.

Through Deyemi’s role as Mr Gowon, there are many things we can learn from the character such as examples of verbal harassment in the workplace.

When Mr Gowon hires Rolake, he makes an inappropriate statement to her. He tells her that he likes her natural hair. That most women have “bone straight hair and fake bum-bums,” to which Rolake is uncertain of how to react.

Mr Gowon’s statement towards Rolake is an instance of verbal harassment in the workplace.

Mr. Gowon not only verbally harassed his employee but also, he raped her.

On a work trip, Mr Gowon barges into Rolake’s room while she’s getting ready to sleep and insists they work on a presentation. Then he becomes inappropriate with the way he interacts with her.

Rolake tells Mr Gowon that she’s not comfortable and she did not make seductive looks at him as he claims but Mr Gowon forces himself on her.

Rolake is unfortunately not the only girl that Mr Gowon rapes.

After her, he rapes yet another assistant.

In his office, the viewers watch him with contempt as he zips up his trousers and looks at his assistant dismissively.

He tells her to “get yourself some morning-after pills.”

The new assistant sitting on the floor cries saying: “You’re a sick man,” and he responds in a cold and calm tone that she should clean herself up and get out of his office.

Mr Gowon is an unremorseful man taking advantage of young girls as though it means nothing.

The Significance of Speaking Out and Standing Against Rape

Damilare Kuku gives a brilliant and heart-breaking performance as we watch her take on the role of a rape survivor.

The audience is moved by Damilare’s acting when we see her go through the effects of rape on a survivor.

After she was raped, Rolake has trouble sleeping. She is disturbed as she remembers the incident of the rape. The flashbacks come to mind as she turns repeatedly in bed and she recalls begging Mr Gowon to stop.

When she wakes up, she takes a shower frantically as a way to wash herself clean from what’s happened to her but while showering, she cries heavily because the traumatic experience still lives within her.

When Rolake comes out of the shower, she looks in the mirror and Mr Gowon’s voice is in her head telling her “you could have been more accessible but instead you chose to be stiff,” and in anger, she punches the wall on the mirror and in her pain, she screams.

In a video discussing her rape, Rolake states that she knows she looks a mess but she’s just trying to keep it together.

That she was raped and has been feeling helpless. Feeling like no one would understand, empathise or believe her because society has raised women to mute their voices but she refuses to be muted.

Rolake’s video makes an impact and is shared widely. Then, the media amplifies her voice and more women who were also raped by Mr Gowon speak out and Mr Gowon is taken to court.

Through Rolake’s video, it symbolises the importance of rape survivors speaking out and telling their stories because their voices encourage and validate other women who might have gone through the same ordeal.

Then, as Mr Gowon is taken to court and Rolake is put on trial, the audience gets to be educated on what rape survivors must do to obtain justice.

Though Rolake spoke out in the video on social media and that’s her evidence, she was being accused of defamation of character.

Rolake would have had more evidence if she had filed a police report or a medical report but she did not. Yet thankfully, another brave woman who was also a survivor of rape by Mr Gowon spoke out.

A Pastor’s wife shared a voice recording from the very day that her rape happened. This recording vindicated Rolake and proved that Mr Gowon is a rapist.

At the end of the film, viewers are brought to joyful tears as Rolake looks at the other survivor who provided the voice recording and she says “Thank You. Thank You,” with a hopeful smile.

How To Protect and Respond to a Girl Going Through Sexual Assault

Adaolisa, the daughter of Mama Olisa goes through a form of sexual assault and attempted rape from a neighbour who is known as Johntana.

During the movie, we see how Johntana verbally harasses Adaolisa by calling her a “stingy co,” implying that she won’t return his advances.

Then in the moment when Adaolisa’s mother passes away, she is vulnerable. She is crying and Johntana decides to take advantage.

He tells Adaolisa to come into his home and he attempts to rape her but she attacks him with a glass on his head and she runs away.

When Rolake gets to know of the attempted rape, she takes Adaolisa to a hospital where Doctor Naomi examines her and then recommends she takes some drugs: PEPL (post-exposure prophylaxis) medicine to prevent HIV after possible exposure.

Through Adaolisa’s story, we know what should be done when a girl has gone through a rape attempt.

She should immediately be taken to a hospital, assessed by a Doctor and then receive a medical report.

It was important for Adaolisa to have gone to the hospital because she was given drugs to prevent HIV.

Also, after she was arrested because Johntana’s mother said that Adaolisa attacked her son, Rolake and Doctor Naomi were able to release her because of the medical report.

Through this movie, we learn of what must be done to help rape survivors but it’s also a lesson on how to protect girls from perpetrators.

Initially, Adaolisa had expressed her concerns about the neighbour but she was still being sent to his house by her mother to get her money.

For one, when a girl does not feel comfortable with someone, she should always be listened to and then encouraged to keep away from that person.

Also, girls should always be aware of what is appropriate or not when it comes to interactions with others.

Then, it always matters to speak up when someone says something you’re not comfortable with.

In addition, if a girl has been sexually abused or there’s been an attempt to, she should immediately be directed to a medical professional for an examination and then report to the appropriate authorities.

In Conclusion

When you watch “The Wildflower,” you are made more aware of the different forms of abuse and sexual violence that women go through.

You are more enlightened about the physical and emotional effects of abuse and also, you are encouraged by the necessity of speaking out and knowing that everyone’s voice matters in standing up against gender-based violence.

In her video on social media, Rolake says that she will not be muted and as she says that, it is a loud cry to all who have gone through sexual violence and to all who have witnessed an act of inhumanity, do not let yourself be muted.

Speak out and declare the injustices of society and demand that evil will not continue to prevail.

If you live in Nigeria and you or someone you know has gone to gender-based violence, you can contact the Directory of Sexual Assault Referal Centres and here are some important Help Line Locations.