Akeem Lasisi
Dame Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, towered in humility on Wednesday when the World Theatre Day celebration was held in Lagos. It was organised by the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners. Many theatre freaks who gathered at the National Theatre, Surulere, for the programme had a bountiful harvest of performances but some observant folks did not miss the drama of humility and love that the woman demonstrated towards seasoned Thespian, Sadiq Daba.
Although she arrived at the venue with a mild entourage, she mixed freely with the crowd. While NANTAP’s leadership also appreciated her coming, she, at a point before the commencement of the performances that marked the feast, spotted Daba sitting a little distance away from her. She rose and went to him, and exchanged some pleasantries with the actor who felt honoured by the woman’s gestures. Perhaps Abimbola was meeting Daba for the first time after he recovered from an ailment that really tested his strength.
Beyond such a life episode, the World Theatre Day programme rekindled hope in theatre business in Nigeria. Several troupes thrilled the audience with performances that appealed to heritage, love and socio-political outlook of the country. Billed for action were the likes of Theatre Centrik, Ennovate Dance House, Footprints Arts Ambassadors, Kiniso Koncepts Productions, Ijolomo Dance Company, Art Castle Academy and Just Theatre House.
There were also Ankara and Black Playhouse, Tantoloun Productions and Queen Zionele. Among other memorable offerings at the show inspiringly compered by Efe Mayford-Orhorha and Alozie Kelvin Dede, Segun Adefila’s Crown Troupe of Africa reestablished its magic with a synthetic performance that took the audience through ages and spaces.
Apart from Daba, however, the event attracted top dramatists and film-makers that included Fred Amata, Sola Onayiga; a former president of NANTAP, Tade Adekunle; seasoned actor and producer Edmond Enaibe; founder of Bubbles Chidren Theatre and Bubbles Radio, Lookman Sanusi; as well as other practitioners such as Seyi Fasuyi and Yemi Oyewo.
But it was not all about acting and dancing as the officials also used the opportunity to speak on issues affecting the industry. While the Chairman of Lagos State NANTAP, Adeniran Makinde, called for the right policies that could resolve the challenges limiting success in the sector, NANTAP President, Isreal Eboh, called on his fellow apostles of the stage to remain firm in their commitment to outstanding productions.
He said, “Even at the risk of sounding repetitive, we cannot but appreciate the Nigerian theatre artiste who continues to practice and, though barely making a living, continues to grow and develop the Nigerian theatre space. This day is yours, celebrate and be the attention even if only for a day.
“Our stories must begin to reflect and address the present day realities and challenges confronting us. If our theatre cannot or would not confront the issues of hate speeches, electoral fraud and violence, the daily blood-letting across the country, extra judicial killings…, and we expect the same society to embrace us, then we will continue to live in self denial and delusion.
“We must rise above practising ‘court-jester’ theatre. We must turn our theatre into a trade that is craved because the people require it, demand it and need it, because it connects with them.”
PHOTOS: Daba, Fashola and Eboh
