The Titled Man

In The Titled Man, Abalanze, a wealthy Igbo titled man also known as Odogwu, mourns his late wife and children who died in a plane crash. Pressured by tradition to remarry, he brings a village girl named Obunneke to his luxurious Lagos mansion. He enforces strict customs that require modest dressing, sexual intimacy only in the bedroom at night with lights off, no oral contact, and menstrual seclusion. Obunneke grows frustrated and befriends Kasala, a savvy Lagos woman also called Cara or Clara, who encourages her to wear provocative clothing and demand sexual freedom. Meanwhile Abalanze's friend Obinna visits with his own wife, leading the men to bond over tradition and the women to manage marital strains. Obunneke's rebellion intensifies when she dresses provocatively, argues about a euphemism for oral sex, and secretly arranges a male masseur for a home service through Kasala. Abalanze returns unexpectedly and discovers the masseur with his nearly naked wife, then threatens them with a gun. He uncovers Obunneke's ongoing affair with the gateman Akwara and learns that Kasala orchestrated a plot to kill him for his wealth. Abalanze pays Akwara to stay away and summons the village elders, known as Ndi ichie, to adjudicate the matter. At the same time Abalanze's sister Amaka suffers from memory loss after a traumatic event and her friend Tina cares for her, and Amaka recognizes Obinna from photographs hinting at a buried past connection. The elders convene at Abalanze's home where he presents evidence of Obunneke's infidelity and the murder plot. The elders are shocked and a cleansing ritual is performed with a chicken. Obunneke and Akwara are arrested, and Kasala quickly flees from the compound. With his marriage dissolved, Abalanze encounters Tina, who has supported Amaka, and he is struck by her humility, cultural respect, and kindness, qualities he prized in his late wife.