The Mystery of Akudaaya in Yoruba Films: Interrogating Death and Destiny in Aye Loja, Directed by Seun Olaiva

The study of afterlife has remained within the mythic mode because its non-empirical but impelling nature. Many scholars insist that death cannot be annihilative and debate is intensified as Wole Soyinka proposes robust African perspectives on existential issues life death. Akudaaya (‘transmigrated soul’) describes people returning to after death, a phenomenon, which regularly explored in Yoruba films. This paper expounds mysteries surrounding this dramatic/filmic techniques deployed present phenomenon. It also addresses how films have presented phenomenon define relationship between destiny. With film directed by Seun Olaiya titled Aye Loja primary text, more information accessed through interaction with notable traditionalists, relevant works literature, religion philosophy were consulted. While remains mystery, discovered driven unfulfilled therefore seen metaphor for continuity measure conflict destiny mediated.