Omo Odo: Segun Adefila, Kunle Afolayan eager to entertain theatre lovers at KAP Hub

Akeem Lasisi

Multitalented dramatis, Segun Adefila, is currently in high spirits. He and his popular Crown Troupe of Africa will stage a play titled Omo Odo, written by Bode Osanyin, on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22, 2024, at the KAP Hub, Allen Avenue, Ikeja. It is a product of a novel collaboration between the troupe and celebrated filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, who is the owner of the Hub.

As a matter of fact, lovers of the theatre have a huge experience awaiting them as both legends have invested great craftmanship in the project. The pedigrees of Afolayan and Adefila, as well as the evergreen artistry of the late Professor Osanyin, cannot but make the performance a memorable one.

On the choice of the play, Adefila says it is an honour in the playwright’s memory. He tells Phenomenal.com.ng in an interview, “My late teacher, Bode Osanyin, wrote the poem years ago. The versified play is being staged to commemorate the 19th year of the demise of the theatre legend. But that is not all. The highly philosophical and poetic play also speaks to humanity in highly resonating way. The messages it carries are culturally laced and philosophically illuminating.”

Although the Omo Odo (acted by Michael Richards) is, technically speaking,  the protagonist, Adefila, who is the director while Afolayan is producer, says more larger issues are in the lead.

He explains, “The question of whom the protagonist is problematic because it is a story of humanity. On the surface, one would quickly believe it is the titular character, Omo Odo, but then, the story is much deeper than that. The theoretical framework of the work is itself revealing. Theatre scholars who are conversant with the Aristotelian theory of classical (western) tragedy are aware of the points that suggest that the classic hero must be of noble birth or blue blooded. Though later dramatists dispelled this particular theory by making the hero of their works a member of the working class.

“A typical example of this can be seen in Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of A Salesman’ where the tragic hero, Willy Loman, is an ordinary salesman. Bode Osanyin in his characteristic pan African outlook also exhibited his decolonised worldview by making the tragic hero of this epic poem a servant. ‘Omo Odo’ is the Yoruba phrase for à domestic assistant or popular parlance, house help. However, Omo Odo is everyone of us as the work goes beyond its surface meaning. In the treatment of this play, humanity becomes the protagonist and the antagonist.”

His vison as the director is to highlight what he calls human navigation through the vicissitudes of life  as shown in the play.

“While the play may, on the surface, appear like treating everyday but grievous issues like child abuse, injustice and inequality, the work is engaged in such a way that the multiplicity of meanings in ordinary words are shown,” he adds. “The vision is to shed light on the need to continually and rigorously interrogate our actions and every other ones around and about us. But, in doing this, care has been taken to ensure that the entertainment essence of the art is not done away with. This explains why the production is enriched with a fine blend of music, dance, drama and poetry.”

The collaboration between the Crown Troupe and KAP has been applauded by many stakeholders. They see it as one that will deepen live performances while also helping in developing the talents of younger artists. Adefila says on his experience on the partnership: “The experience has been enriching and revealing in more ways than one. First and foremost, we all know that live theatre birthed cinematic art so Crown Troupe taking live theatre productions to Kunle Afolayan’s KAP Hub has been à rewarding experience as reflected in the openness and acceptance Crown Troupe got from KAP Hub. Our audience also get to see theatre in à cinema! Of course, the famous filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, himself is a practitioner and scion of one of the precursors of the Yoruba Traveling Theatre whose giant strides we are trying to emulate has proved his mettle.

“He is very passionate about theatre. As passionate as one can be. For instance, he has taken it upon himself to ensure that the venue is ever ready and, not only that, he designs the scenery himself. He sees things I miss sometimes. An amazing and rewarding collaboration if you ask me.”

Adefila promises the audience a very beautiful experience when the play is staged on Sunday and Monday, saying, “An experience not to be forgotten in a hurry. All they need do is show up. Ours is to ensure that we make it worth their while and efforts especially in these challenging times. They will feel the therapeutic power of theatre.”