Night of the Kings 2021

At the notorious MACA Prison in Ivory Coast, the inmates rule the roost, creating their own unique set of commandments. One pivotal rule dictates that if the current Dangôro—essentially the inmate king—becomes too ill to fulfill his duties, he must take his own life. As the ailing Dangôro, Blackbeard, portrayed by Steve Tientcheu, faces increasing pressure from his ambitious subordinate Lass, he finds himself at a crossroads. Lass is desperate to ascend to the position of Dangôro himself, and pushes Blackbeard toward the ultimate sacrifice. In a bid to gain some time and appease the other inmates, Blackbeard promises to appoint a new Roman, the griot responsible for narrating captivating tales to entertain the prison population during the eagerly anticipated red moon.

Things take a turn when a new inmate, a thief affiliated with the notorious “Microbe” gang, arrives at MACA and is placed in Blackbeard’s cell block. After a conversation, Blackbeard elects him as the new Roman, thus beginning a remarkable tale.

As the red moon rises, all the prisoners gather excitedly around Roman to hear his story, with some even acting out scenes from it. Initially reluctant, Roman delves into the saga of Zama King, recounting the life of the rebellious leader of the Microbes. His narrative becomes increasingly intertwined with the harsh realities of prison life. During a meal break, he receives a dire warning: he must maintain the storyline until dawn, or face dire consequences. Embarking on this perilous storytelling journey, Roman crafts an embellished recounting of Zama’s early life—lost after his mother’s death, Zama is raised by his father Soni, a blind beggar who becomes an advisor to a local queen through deception.

Tragedy strikes as the story unfolds; Koby, one of Blackbeard’s close advisors, is murdered, throwing the prison into deep mourning. Blackbeard later holds a private conversation with Half-Mad, his second-in-command, who expresses his desire to be named the next Dangôro. Tensions rise when Roman implores Blackbeard to put an end to the storytelling tradition, but Blackbeard, determined to leave a legacy through bloodshed, remains unyielding, ultimately succumbing to despair by drowning himself in a water tank.

As Roman bravely continues to spin his tale, he narrates Soni’s escape from a failed battle and their eventual settlement in the slums of Abidjan, leading to Zama’s rise to power and subsequent demise during political upheaval. Just as dawn approaches, Roman cleverly spins the story’s direction, claiming a twist in the plot—evidence that Zama was a foundling. However, his efforts to delay his impending fate are nearly cut short by Half-Mad, who accuses him of stalling and threatens his life.

The atmosphere ignites into chaos as a brawl erupts between Lass, Half-Mad, and their factions. In a desperate attempt to control the uprising, the prison warden Nivaquine resorts to gunfire, tragically claiming numerous lives, including that of Half-Mad. As the first light of day breaks, Roman stands in the courtyard, a silent observer to the consequences of power struggles within the oppressive walls of MACA.