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Tunde Kelani’s
Mainframe Productions and the National Association of Nigerian Theatre
Arts Practitioners, (NANTAP), Lagos State chapter, will stage Dotun
Ogundeji’s ‘Yeepa: Solaarin Nbo’ as part of events marking Nigeria’s
50th Independence anniversary.

Translated into
Yoruba from playwright, Femi Osofisan’s ‘Who is Afraid of Solarin’, the
play is a satire on the state of the nation and is being bankrolled by
the Lagos State Government. It centres on the public complaints
commissioner, Solaarin, feared by corrupt leaders in the community due
to his uprightness. Politicians in the village become afraid when they
hear he is due to pay a visit, and set about cleaning up their acts.
But does he?

“We are witnessing
history with this production,” began Kelani at a meeting with reporters
on Thursday, September 16. “It is a synergy between Mainframe, Lagos
NANTAP and the Dance Guild of Nigeria (GOND). It is a total performance
that is taking theatre back to the basics,” he said.

Artists, Toyin
Oshinaike, Lara Akinsola, Ropo Ewenla, Kayode Idris, Femi Tade and
others will feature in the play directed by Niji Akanni and co-produced
by Kelani and Mufu Onifade, chair, Lagos NANTAP.

“This special
Independence performance is designed to capture the theatre of the 60s
epitomised by the travelling experiences championed by the likes of
Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, etc,” explained Onifade.

He noted that
during that era, “opening glee was an integral part of the main drama
presentation. The opening glee, a combination of dance, music and pure
entertainment must, as a matter of compulsion, precede a full-length
drama presentation.” He disclosed that an opening glee choreographed by
Segun Adefila and Adedayo Liadi, will precede the staging of ‘Yeepa…’

“The Lagos State
chapter of the Dance Guild of Nigeria will also present a stage
dance/musical performance of Hubert Ogunde’s ‘Yoruba Ronu’ and 9ice’s
new musical, ‘Petepete’. These two performances will be rolled into
one, thus emphasising the vibrancy and potency of opening glee as
prelude to a major performance.”

Justifying why a
satire is being staged to celebrate Independence, Kelani said the
original role of drama, apart from entertainment, is to stimulate
people and “stir their conscience.” He added that the producers hope to
initiate a process of “re-orientation. To say to Nigerians we can
gather our lives together” despite the destruction of the society. “If
we all decide we must stay together, we must not focus on the problems
alone but also the solution,” Onifade added.

Kelani also
explained why a Yoruba play was selected for a multicultural state like
Lagos. He said the late Kola Ogunmola and Duro Ladipo got Order of the
British Empire (OBE) awards for plays they staged in Yoruba language in
England and that the message is not limited by the selection of a
Yoruba play. “Personally, the English plays have never been successful
for me,” he added.

The command performance holds on Friday, September 24, at the MUSON
Centre, Onikan, Lagos, by 5pm. It will also be staged free of charge
for the public on September 28 and 29 at the National Theatre, Iganmu,
Lagos at 5pm.