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Students and staff
of the Theatre Arts Department of Redeemer’s University entertained
lovers of drama by staging the play, ‘Eshe – Dance of the Dead’ on
April 9. Performed at the university’s Bunmi Oyeyemi Julius-Adeoye
(Boja) Arts Theatre, the play was an opening to the institution’s
annual festival.

Written and
directed by John Iwuh, a theatre arts lecturer at the university, ‘Eshe
– Dance of the Dead’ is a tragedy about the after-effects of civil war
in Igbo land. Eshe refers to a funeral oration performed through dance,
a rite of passage for those who attain the age of 70 years before their
passing. Eshe is ranked among the ‘nkwa Ike’, one of the few age-long
traditions still surviving in Igbo land. The Eshe drummer is a
specialist who speaks through seven tonal drums to relay to the great
deeds in the lifetime of the deceased, which the first son proudly
interprets to an enthusiastic crowd.

The play centers
on a man, Chekube (played by 200-Level student, Bola Otusile), a
senator who takes advantage of his position to wrangle his way up
during his father burial. For him, the occasion serves as an
opportunity to attract political heavyweights, in order to popularise
and launch himself into big-time politics.

‘Eshe – Dance of
the Dead’ opens with Chekube seated in his parlour as he calls the
attention of his niece, Uloma (Adetutu Adenubi). When she answers the
call, he proceeds to teach her how to walk like a princess. He tells
her, “I did not feel the pride. It must echo with confidence. Run for
no one and your steps must be regal. It is your destiny, so do not
stutter.” Chekube asks after his older half-brother, Uloma’s father,
with no warmth or sympathy. “How is my brother? His condition getting
worse? It’s all right, my heart bleeds for him too, for every family
has Esau and Jacob, don’t you think? Let us face the brighter side of
life.” He sees the impressionable Uloma as just another took in the
fight for supremacy in the Eshe dance, which is the birthright of his
older sibling.

Enters Lolo
(Chinua Ezeiruaku), looking every inch a rich man’s wife in an
expensive outfit. She reminds her husband of visitors expected from the
village. Chekube is distrustful of the visitors and says, “Bring out
benches, for nobody messes my parlour with muddy slippers.” The greedy
chiefs who come to visit, do nothing to deter Chekube, a lastborn, from
his wrong-headed desire to have his way in the Eshe dance.

Chekube enlists
the help of an errant diviner in order to get his brother out of the
way. Uloma’s father, on the other hand, is not unaware of Chekube’s
selfish ambitions. Many intrigues have already been visited on the
family by Chekube’s mother; many more machinations will ensue before
the play is over, with tragic consequences.

The cast must be
commended for successfully dramatising John Iwuh’s complex play. The
staff members in the cast showed so much energy, they appeared as
youthful as their students. The props, stage set and scene transitions
were good. Though the play had a bit of comedy, the producers were
careful not to tamper with the important message. Lighting and sound
effects were also effectively deployed.

Bolarinwa Otusile
gave one of the more impressive performances, as Chekube. Kunle
Agbogunloko (as idibia), Adetutu Adenubi (as Uloma), and those who
played the three chiefs were no less remarkable. Lead drummer
Gbadegesin Adebayo, whose drum beats paced the scenes, created suspense
and cued the cast perfectly, rreinforcing the percussion tradition of
the Igbo culture.

The cast members
depicted their characters well and carried the audience along.
Chekuebe’s facial expressions and eloquence, pride, selfish ambition
and nonchalance were all well-conveyed on the stage. The chiefs
personified greedy elites who are always after their own personal
interests, to the detriment of the greater good. The costumes were also
a good showcase of Igbo culture.

“The turn up was
very encouraging,” Mr Agbogunloko said, after the performance. He added
that ‘Eshe – Dance of the Dead’ is a call to all to strive for justice
and fairness in society.