Oluronbi: When theatre and strong counsel met...
It was the perfect mix of poetry, folk songs and well rehearsed theatrics, fully enhanced by appropriate costuming and light effects. The stage ambience and props couldn’t have been better- not with Iroko’s huge frame overlooking the little village where Oluronbi held sway.
Last Saturday at the Agip hall of the MUSON, Lagos, was magical- and so have been the previous shows, testified some guests who had come to watch the play for the second or third time. The popular Yoruba folklore Oluronbi was brought alive in a classical stage performance put together by AbOriginal Productions.
The play starred actress Iretiola Doyle as the great and mystical Iroko who solved all problems. It is to her that lead actress Oluronbi (played by talented Uzor Osimkpa) cried for the fruit of the womb and, out of desperation, makes the costly vow that set tone for the tragic element of the play.
Other members of the 70-man cast play were stage delights: from Kemi “Lala” Akindoju, Elizabeth Fagbeyiro, Esther Emem Isong, Segun Dada, Kehinde Ayeni, Folakemi “Myst” Kalejaiye to Utibe. The 3-man directed play comes up annually in Lagos.
Oluronbi tells the story of a beautiful and fearless queen who’s married as a fourth wife to an unassuming and contented king. After trying to get pregnant for years without luck, she seeks the mystical Iroko who loans her Abike (Iroko’s only daughter) for a while on the premise that the child would return at any time.
Iroko keeps her promise by showing up for her child on Abike’s wedding day. Oluronbi is devastated but her oath can’t be broken.
Apart from sending home the strong morale of never making commitments while desperate, it also queries parents on how they utilise the single years of the child (ren) before being married off. It particularly warns mothers (or fathers) to desist from building their worlds around children who will eventually grow up and develop minds of their own.
Oluronbi is perhaps Nigeria’s best Independence stage play. It was directed by Awoba Bob-Manuel, Bimbo Manuel & Olarotimi Fakunle
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