THEATRE, a collaborative re-creation of real life or imagined human experiences performed before a live audience in a specific place and one of the earliest forms of art, is now almost extinct despite the myriad of important functions it plays in the society.
Aside providing entertainment to members of the society, it is also one of the best conduits for cultural preservation and representation of people’s mythological worldviews. Through theatre, human conditions were once best recaptured and sometimes driven to help redress societal wrongs. By having an action live on stage against a thoroughly conceived setting, emotional interactions between a given performers and audience are simulated. Consequently, such contraption as provided by theatre, presents a viable opportunity for promoting social consciousness and ultimately social change.
In Nigeria, just like every other part of the world however, the rapid development of motion pictures has made demand for theatre almost non-existent. Also, the advent of internet and the constantly evolving sophistication of electronic entertainment media have further hindered the growth of theatre in the nation.
It is worthy of note that the remarkable height Chief Herbert Ogunde—the doyen of traditional Nigerian drama—took theatre, is now appreciated only in textbooks studied in universities. His legacy, which was perpetuated by the likes of Kola Ogunmola, Duro Ladipo, Akin Ogungbe and a host of other actors, years after his glorious stint, has almost completely thinned into oblivion. Sadly, theatre, in this part of the world, is now nothing more than a forgotten form of art.
Cognizant of this development and the importance of theatre in the society, the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism undauntedly initiated a theatrical renaissance in the state. Earlier, the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has embarked on the refurbishment of the June 12 Cultural Centre to host state functions and cultural events as well as be a symbolic representation of its intention to revive theatre in the state.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism thus put the intent into full gear by organising bimonthly presentation of stage plays at the Herbert Ogunde Hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre. Although, the theatre naturally has more appeal to the older generation, the ministry’s target with the initiative is to extend the audience to the younger generation. So far, impressive strides have been recorded.
Recently, a special stage drama “Yemoja”—an epic story which portrays the lives and times of Yoruba gods, such as Ogun, Sango, Esu and the likes—was presented to an audience with more youthful demography than adults. “Yemoja” turned out to be an exciting mythological, cultural and dramatic experience for the audience.
The Ogun State Head of Service, Mrs Modupe Adekunle who was at the presentation consequently observed, that the performance would remain indelible on the minds of the people that watched the play.
Corroborating this view, after the performance of “Yemoja”, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Yewande Amusan revealed that her ministry came about the initiative as a result of the dire need of putting life back into the dying theatrical stage performance and as a measure to preserve the Yoruba cultural heritage for the young ones.
In short, suffice it to say that if the determination shown so far by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is anything to go by, such initiative as the bi-monthly stage plays will go a long way to preserve and make the Yoruba traditions as well as its language an integral part of the formative years of the “leaders of tomorrow.”
In her view on the need to ensure preservation of theatre, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs Oyin Sodipo promised to keep packaging more programmes aimed at helping to revive the literary genre as a didactic tool to correct some of the societal ills for the betterment of people of the state.
Simbo Olayinka is the Information officer, Ogun State Ministry of culture and tourism.
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