House of Ga’a tells the story of Bashorun Ga’a, a ruthless leader of the Oyo Empire. The film is streaming on Netflix.
Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers
Plot summary:
Ga’a and his sons took part in the battle against the Nupe people and upon their victory, Ga’a was named the Basorun of Oyo.
Ga’a took most of the credit for the victory while sending Aare Ona Kakanfo back to Ajase to be with his people.
Many rejoiced but some people weren’t pleased with this appointment. After Ga’a was named Basorun, he sat with the council of ministers or Oyomesi.
They were supposed to crown a new Alaafin or King but Ga’a wasn’t ready to nominate anyone.
Labisi was sitting on the throne and he made Ga’a the Bashorun but Ga’a refused to recognize Labisi as the Alaafin.
When messengers were sent, Ga’a killed them and sent back a message of compulsory suicide to the King.
Labisi had no choice but to accept, and Ga’a consolidated more power as the Bashorun. Ga’a remembered how his older brother was publicly humiliated by Labisi and this was his chance for revenge.
After their victory, Ga’a took a liking to Zeinab, a Nupe slave woman. She offered her body to him but refused to give him her heart unless he earned it.
Ga’a other wives despised Zeinab and constantly put her down when they got the chance. The Bashorun’s youngest son Oyemekun was courting Princess Abbonyin.
She was the daughter of King Abiodun who was an influential leader of the Oyo people. When Oyemekun was sent to Dahomey to train under his brother Olaotan, Agbonyin said she would wait for him.
Bashorun stopped his wives from killing Zeinab and announced that he would take her as a wife. Zeinab was touched by his admission and gave him her heart and body as he wished.
Ga’a appointed all of his family members to important positions around the empire so that he could control the empire better.
Awonbioju was crowned king, but Ga’a took much of his power away from him. When Awonbioju refused to prostrate before Ga’a, he was killed and his short reign came to an end.
The next king installed to the throne was Agboluaje, who contacted many seers to protect him from Ga’a’s wrath.
One of Ga’a’s younger brothers, Olubu, was a drunkard and an embarrassment to the Ga’a family.
When he tried to force himself on Agbonyin, she struck back. Abiodun went to Ga’a for justice and he had Olubu stripped of his titles and banished.
Ga’a’s other brother, Olokuye, took this opportunity to convince Ga’a to let him marry Agbonyin as a way of appeasing Abiodun.
When Oyemekun returned to Oyo Ile, he was devasted to hear that his beloved was going to marry his uncle.
During the celebrations, Agboluaje called for a battle between his best warrior and Ga’a best warrior for his entertainment.
Olaotan stepped forward but the King chose Oyemekun to fight his warrior, Idi Al-Farouk, a Nupe warrior who was sold into slavery.
During the fight, Oyemekun was about to lose but his older brother Onisigun stepped in and killed Al Farouk.
However, he lost his life too and Ga’a was distraught at losing one son and having another gravely injured.
Ga’a asks his seer, Sasa to come up with a way to get rid of Agboluaje but he says that the King has protective charms in place.
Bashorun Ga’a is hellbent on killing Ga’a and he lays a curse on him that kills him. Unfortunately, Ga’a is struck with an illness himself that doesn’t allow him to use his hands or legs.
Ga’a has his men carry him around like a king so that the public doesn’t realize that he’s crippled.
After Olokuye’s death, Oyemekun has another opportunity to be with Agbonyin who had one child with his uncle.
But Bashorun Ga’a says that he will marry Agbonyin and Oyemekun leaves the village. Abiodun is installed as the King, and there are many years of peace under him.
Sasa figures out a way to cure Ga’a but he says that it will involve a great sacrifice.
Ending explained:
Crossing the line
Agbonyin is found dead, and that is the sacrifice that Sasa claimed to cure Ga’a. This doesn’t go down well with Oyemekun.
He sneaks into the village and captures Sasa. Sasa says that it was either Agbonyin or Oyemekun who had to be sacrificed and it was for the greater good.
Oyemekun is filled with rage and he kills Sasa. Then he visits his father at night and attacks him but the guards come in and take Oyemekun away.
Putting up a fight
Abiodun hears that his daughter is dead and knows that Ga’a had her sacrificed for his strength.
He visits Aare Ona Kakanfo for support in fighting against Ga’a. Aare says that he is ready, but they must neutralize the threat of Ga’a’s son Olaotan the merciless.
They also agree that all of Ga’a family members must be eliminated to avoid the chance of someone returning for retribution.
They recruit Olubu because he was cast aside by his brother. During the festival celebrations, Olubu sneaks into the village and takes Olaotan’s helmet away so that he is defenseless.
The future of the empire
Aare and Abiodun storm the village with many soldiers. Aare faces off against Olaotan and kills him.
The soldiers kill everyone in the village, but Oyemekun escapes in the chaos. Ga’a is captured and taken before Abiodun.
Olubu believed he was getting the position of Bashorun but he was killed too. Ga’a is paraded before everyone and then burnt alive.
Oyemekun traveled to Illorin where he was treated for his wounds and then lived his life under a new name, Gbangbalasa.
Abiodun’s grandson lived with the King who ruled for many years of peace until his old age, although the Oyo Empire’s strength was diminished following the death of Ga’a.
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