Acclaimed scholar, writer and dramatist, Professor Bode Sowande, has cautioned actors who play roles that have spiritual or metaphysical energy against doing so without obtaining permission from the real owners of the heritage.
He said dramatising the spiritual or religious phenomena without carrying owners along amounted to invading their world, adding that such often had repercussions.
Sowande gave the advice last Tuesday in Ibadan, when he addressed members of the Theatre and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), at their ‘Academic Conference’ that explored various ways to better the lot film-makers.
According to him, the relative poverty that usually becomes the lot of those who arbitrarily or indiscriminately make use of the themes, stories, incantation and other spiritual materials is traceable to such invasion.
Besides, Sowande explained that refusing to acknowledge the powers behind some themes or stories can ignite immediate disruptions even in the course of a play.
The writer and producer of Flamingo and other Plays, Tornadoes Full of Dreams, Without a Home and Super Leaf said, “It is not only in Nigeria that you have plays with spiritual energy. So, always ask yourself: Am I looking for money or another thing? The actor who takes a strong role should realise what he takes. You should not take roles that you cannot carry.”
He recalled that before Duro Ladipo had to produce Oba Koso, the deceased dramatist made necessary preparations with Sango worshippers. This, he added, was part of what made the project a success.
Giving another example, Sowande recalled that at a time Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman was being staged in the US, the African-Americans who were beating the gbedu drum started feeling esoterically uncomfortable.
“Soyinka had to bring out bitter kola and put under their tongues. That was when the tendency stopped. So, the actor who takes a strong role should realise what he takes. Don’t take roles you can’t carry. There is role playing in our religions, meaning that everyone is an actor. Now, when you want to bring out some of this vibration, you need to carry the owners along.”
While one of the actors in the hall of the Mauve 21 Hotel, Ring Road venue of the event, Opeyemi Raji, also recalled the trauma he went through the day he had to wear a real mask in a play, Sowande gave another example of the day his play, Mummywater’s Wedding, was staged in Lagos.
“Soyinka was the executive producer. At the end of the play, a man in white agbada came to me and said, ‘Thank you. You did this for us. We are many in Lago,” Sowande added.
The well attended nd well structured conference was moderated by popular actor and lawyer, Tunji Bamisigbin, assisted by Femi Adebayo. Some of the movie makers in attendance were TAMPAN President, Bolaji Amusan (Baba Latin) Adebayo Salami, Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Lanre Hassan, Joke Muyiwa and Ebun Oloyede.
The younger generation idols in attendance included Odunlade Adekola, Muyiwa Ademola, Damola Olatunji, Yemi Amodu and Abbey Lanre. It had the blessing of the Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board, Alhaji Dayo Thomas, who was not only present throughout programme but also said the NFVCB would sponsor the publication of a book in which TAMPAN wants to publish all the papers presented.
Other resource persons it featured apart from Sowande were a Lecturer at the Department of African Languages and Literature, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Dr Oluwakemi Adagbada; artist, seasoned judge and film journalist/critic, Dr Shuaib Hussein; and Managing Director of FilmOne Entertainment, Moses Babatope.
On the use of incantation in films, veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, believes there is a way out. According to him, it may be wise to ‘manufacture’ incantation, rather than using the original verses.
“Lalude does this a lot. He creates incantation. Can’t we use the artificial?” Kosoko asked.
Sowande too does not see anything wrong in this. He said, “You can imitate reality. But do not play with the real thing. If you want to use the real thing, perhaps to educate your audience, get the owners involved.”
