Single-motherhood and ethical dilemmas in A Tribe Called Judah

Abstract

A Tribe Called Judah is a Nollywood movie directed by Funke Akindele and Adeoluwa Owu, released to cinemas nationwide on December 15, 2023. It is a crime/family drama whose thematic preoccupation pertains to family and society life as seen in the current Nigerian society. A reflection of the different facets of the urban life and problems of the society, A Tribe Called Judah threats themes of family love, single motherhood, crime, gangsterism, and abuse among others. The thrust of this study underscores single motherhood and ethical dilemmas. Anchored on the tenets of liberal feminist theory, the study looks at ethical issues in the Nigerian society as it concerns single parenthood, while articulating through the filmic actions and storyline the place of family and the ultimate sacrifice Jedidah’s children have to make to save their mother. In its representation of single motherhood, A Tribe called Judah interrogates the societal values in the life of Jedidah and her five sons which one can equate to the wider Nigerian society representing five geo-political zones. It uses the film as a primary datum alongside other secondary materials to argue that parenting in the context of a single mother can be challenging and significantly shrouded with ethical challenges.