All set as Moremi The Musical goes on stage

Following the success of Kakadu the Musical, and Fela and The Kalakuta Queens, the House of Oduduwa Foundation in conjunction with Bolanle Austen-Peters Production (BAP) is set to stage the Moremi the Musical, the story of the Yoruba heroine, Queen Moremi Ajasoro.

The musical drama is a milestone on the heroine and huge effort being invested in the global promotion of the Yoruba cultural heritage by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

The stage play is an adaptation of the feat of one woman, who worked to save her people from oppression and marauding invaders.

It combines dance, enchantment, magic and sacrifice, as well as war gimmicks deployed by Queen Moremi Ajasoro to achieve her feat.

Billed to start showing at Terra Kulture Arena, Victoria Island from December 21 to January 2, 2019, the epic musical drama features Nollywood stars such as Bimbo Manuel, Femi Branch, Deyemi Okanlawon, Kehinde Bankole and Big Brother Nigeria alumni, Oluwabamike Olawumi well known as Bambam, among others.

The media show, which held on Tuesday, November 13, at the Terra Kulture, had in attendance the production team comprising Bolanle Austen-Peters Production (BAP) and members of House of Oduduwa Foundation, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Prince Jide Fadairo; the palace of Ooni of Ife led by Oba Adebisi Layole, the Alaraodaye of Ara-Ife, and Oba Fayemi Johnson Olumayowa, the Elerefe of Erefe-Ife, and the initiator of the project, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, Queen Moremi Ajasoro Global Cultural Ambassador.

According to Fadairo, producing the musical drama is one of the core projects of the House of Oduduwa, and the objective is the preservation of the Yoruba heritage.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Bolanle Austen-Peters Production (BAP), Bolanle Austen-Peters, said: “It is essential for us to know our roots and celebrate our history and heritage. It is therefore our desire to develop the Queen Moremi legacy into a musical drama that will preserve and promote history in the face of modernity.”

“The purpose and aim of this project is to keep our identity, values, history and culture alive especially amongst the youths, our upcoming next generation, starting from within Nigeria and progressing on to those in the diaspora,” she added.

Austen-Peters lamented that the removal of history from the school curriculum in the country had adversely affected children’s knowledge of culture.

Deyemi Okalawon, who is playing the role of ‘Obalufen’ said: “being called to be part of ‘Moremi the Musical’ is amazing. The role I am playing is a strategic one because Obalufen is a strong character and very aggressive.

“He had a warrior persona. I think it is a wonderful experience because what the film does is give you that special technique that you will not get on stage. On stage drama, you get different vibrant colours than what you feel on film,” he added.