…..as VC calls for peace across the globe
By SOLA BALOGUN
A Scene from the Performance
With a strong message for humanity, Ola Rotimi’s classic play mounted the stage recently at the main auditorium of Ekiti State University in Ado Ekiti. It was the command performance by the Theatre and Media Arts department to commemorate the 30th convocation ceremony of the university. The play which rekindled the exploits of the historic Kurunmi, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland also highlighted the themes of peace keeping and tolerance amid a turbulent world riddled with violence, war and insurgency.
The play opened on a celebrative note with Ijaiye people offering sacrifice to Ogun amid dances and merriments. Suddenly their hero, Kurunmi (Olamilekan Adeleye Ezekiel) was ushered in by guards. The great warrior stormed the stage, exerting his powers and announcing his rejection of a proposal that Alaafin Atiba of Oyo kingdom would be succeeded by his son, Adelu against Yoruba tradition.
Another scene
Atiba had said at a meeting that upon his transition, his son Adelu would reign after him but Kurunmi found this unacceptable, claiming he could not prostrate for the father and son as the generalissimo of the entire Yorubaland. Meanwhile elders and emissaries came to warn Kurunmi against his perceived insubordination, especially as he refused to attend the coronation of Adelu, the new Alaafin of Oyo. A deadlock ensued as Kurunmi received bullets and gunpowder from the supporters of Oyo kingdom.. particularly the Ibadan people led by Bashorun Ogunmola (Mustapha Opeyemi) thus signalling a challenge to warfare. Amid the option of war and a tensed atmosphere, the white missionaries visited Kurunmi to appeal for calm and patience but a fierce and rigid Kurunmi rejected the pleas, he preferred to send troops to the battlefield even as he was provoked by the Ibadan warriors who killed his soldiers on their way from Ilorin.
Eventually the war became inevitable and more casualties were recorded among Ijaiye warriors. With Kurunmi’s obstinacy and derailment of his soldiers at the warfront, more losses came the way of the Ijaiye people.The generalissimo’s refusal to toe the path of peace and embrace change eventually led to disaster as he lost many of his soldiers to the stronger and more fortified Ibadan warriors.
Meanwhile, upon losing his five sons in the war. Kurunmi realized the futility of his actions and opted to commit suicide through poisoning. Like other war mongers and traitors in history, Kurunmi plunged his people into tragedy and lost everything he had in the process. He regrettably instructed his remains to be buried near River Ofe where his soldiers lost track and fell to the raging swords of the Ibadan warriors.
Directed by Abdul Kadir Akinola and Emmanuella Bakare, the play which was stage- managed and choreographed by Gbenga Ayeoba provided a refreshing platform for the audience to savour the artistic splendor of the cast and crew in well-choreographed steps, movements and highly creative role interpretation.
The play also became strategic as it lent credence to the global condemnation of the on going war between the US-Isreal and Iran. In the words of EKSU Vice Chancellor, Prof Joseph Babatola Ayodele, the play became significant because it teaches everyone to accommodate peace. Said the VC. Let’s all accommodate peace….there can never be progress where there is no peace. The VC also commended Theatre and Media Arts department for the performance and promised his continued support in the areas of staffing and funding. Also Professor Modupe Olaniyan, Head of Department of Theatre and Media Arts called on leaders and followers to always embrace positive change.
Her words: ‘Life is a wheel of change and those who contend the wave of change may be swept off by the change itself.’ Also in attendance to grace the performance were principal officers in EKSU; Prof Yemisi Ojo ( Dean of Arts), Prof Lawrence Ademilua, Mr Ife Oluwole (Registrar), Mrs Modupe Aboyade (Librarian), Prof Williams Oluwole Adebayo (DVC Academics), Prof Michael Olufemi Oke (DVC Development), Prof Omotosho (Dean, Students’ Affairs), Dr Yetunde Fosudo, Commissioner in EKSEC, Prof Bifatife Adeseye, Prof Olaide Nasir, Dr Tosin Tume of the TMA department, FUOYE, Dr Lucy Onaivi-Odusina (Head of Department of Performing Arts, ABUAD), Dr Sola Balogun, Dr Toyin Bade Afuye Chairperson, Convocation play Production Committee) and Dr Femi Adeosun.