What Lies Behind the Seven Doors: A Story of Strife, Loss and Resilience

 

By Oludare Olufunmilola Priscilla 

Picture Credit: Technext.com

Imagine landing your dream job that sets you up for life with incredible benefits and unparalleled security. But there's one condition: to keep this position, you must secure six other jobs and secure the exile of an old and wicked manager from the company. Would you be willing to jump through these to ensure a lifetime of prosperity, or give up the promise of a beautiful life and let life decide what you get? Seven Doors is an embodiment of these same questions. Follow through to find answers.

Seven Doors is a 2024 Netflix series and Nigerian movie produced and directed by renowned actor Fẹmi Adebayo. Set in the remote town of Ilara, Ondo State, the series was released on December 13, 2024, to a warm reception from fans of Nigerian epic stories. Although the movie bears no resemblance to any historical event, it stands on par with its other epic plays, such as Jagun Jagun and Agesinkole, all of which were produced by Fẹmi Adebayo. 

The movie stars Femi Adebayo, Chioma Akpotha, Adebayo Salami, and Jide Kosoko, among other veteran actors and cast members. 

Seven Doors reflects the depth of the Yorùbá culture and profound ancestral ties which transcend many generations. This masterpiece is a classic case of the timeless Yorùbá adage which says that “Àwọn ńná ní àwọn ẹ̀sọ̀, àwọn ọmọ ní àwọn ìgbára” which translates to "The children taste the bitterness of a fruit eaten by their fathers; a reminder that the consequences of a person's actions can echo across generations. Other themes in the movie include love, inter-ethnic marriage, patience, endurance and betrayal.

The movie opens with Adedunjoye, a young man whose world revolves around his loving wife and children. Unlike other young men his age, he craves a simple life, inspired by a desire to love and care for his family. In his pursuit of the ordinary, Adedunjoye meets with a life-changing situation which throws him into a vicious cycle of strife, loss and resilience. Ilara had gone three years without a king. The power loop had enabled Ilara chiefs to exploit indigenes and hijack their lands. In consultation with the oracle, it was decreed that the next king would emerge from the lineage of Adekogbe, the very same lineage to which Adedunjoye belonged. Adedunjoye is reluctant to accept the offer as he is the only fit descendant for the throne. However, his wife encourages him to take a step further. Towards his fate, subsequent events unwrap his transformative journey from a devoted family man to a king and from a king to a fierce warrior, driven by the mandate to protect his family and kingdom.

While the chiefs of Ilara secretly conspire to crown Adeoye, a rival claimant from a different royal lineage, Oladunjoye ascends to the throne of Ilara, having met gods and mystical beings. But, he must face a new challenge: to lead a peaceful and successful regime, he must knock on seven doors, in other words, he must marry six other wives. However, Adedunjoye hesitates, avoiding the doors and the secrets they hold.

At the crossroads, he is confronted by Esusu, a force with a dark history, known for being wicked and vile. This leads to his exile from Ilara. Esusu was sought by Adejuwon, an ascendant of Adedunjoye and king at the time. Adejuwon makes a pact with him, trading the lives of his seven queens for the promise of a long life. However, when he falls ill, he curses Esusu, condemning him to become a deity worshipped with filth and curses. Four generations after the curse, Esusu’s spirit seeks revenge on Adedunjoye, a descendant of the king who cursed him. Relentlessly, Esusu torments Adedunjoye, claiming the life of his innocent daughter followed by the death of many other indigenes. Amid his struggles, the staff-bearer, in connivance with Ilara chiefs and Adeoye, attempts to confront him with the forbidden staff he must not see twice. One of the indigenes, Agunbiade, who had benefited from his benevolence tries to notify him but to no avail. Agunbiade dies in the king’s stead, allowing him to escape an untimely death. 

Adedunjoye is faced with an impossible dilemma. Seven doors; seven wives. Will he marry six other wives to appease the spirits of Adejuwon’s wives and conquer the age-long deity? Or will he condemn himself, his family, and the people of Ilara to a lifetime of torment at Esusu’s hands? With a click on Netflix, you can find out if this impending storm will ravage Ilara and its people. Intellectual property laws are not moribund, don’t be a lawbreake

r. Enjoy!