Area Mama is a story with universal lessons: One can never run away from the truth as evidenced in the personal experience of Adanne. She escapes an abusive husband but ends up in brothel servicing an abusive patron. Second, money can't bring happiness as Celia with all the fleet of cars and the mansion would come to find out that while she's away slugging it out like a man and trafficki ... » View full summary

Area Mama is a story with universal lessons: One can never run away from the truth as evidenced in the personal experience of Adanne. She escapes an abusive husband but ends up in brothel servicing an abusive patron. Second, money can't bring happiness as Celia with all the fleet of cars and the mansion would come to find out that while she's away slugging it out like a man and trafficking drugs between continents, the gigolo she leaves at home entertains prostitutes in her bed - monkey wok baboon eats. Lastly, the irony of Mama Gee stuffing her little cache with Naira made off of a stable of innocent girls, a table in front of her full of imported liquor, and drinking herself to death does not spell happiness. The first time Mama Gee appears in this movie, she's alone and she ends up alone at the end of the story. Area Mama isn't a redemption song for the African woman nor is it an advise for the woman in abusive marriage. To an extent, it tells the viewer the level Adanne falls from grace by following the footpath of Mama Gee and Celia; that running a brothel, no matter how lucrative, can be a lonely one. And the fleet of cars and a mansion bought with drug money buys Celia fake friends.