By PRISCA SAM-DURU

Nigeria the Beautiful, a dance drama written by Odia Ofeimun and directed by Felix Okoro was, last  Saturday, performed at the Muson Centre, Lagos as part of the Hornbill Circle of six dance dramas aimed at re-energizing  the Nigerian stage.

Billed to take place every forthnight in which a unique dance drama sequence by Odia Ofeimun is performed to the delight of  Nigerians, the sequence commenced  on 29th July, 2012 at same venue, with the command performance of  Itoya: A Dance Drama For Africa, which tells the story of Africa from the trans-Saharan slave trade to the African Union.

Nigeria the Beautiful being the second in the series, narrates the country’s transition from Fredirick Lugard, the first colonial Governor General, to president Goodluck Jonathan. Others to come in the series are; A feast of Return, Madam Kofo’s Kichen, The Hawker and the Godfather and Under African Skies(First of the dance dramas which was performed at Sadlers Well in London in 1990).

Nigeria the Beautiful, employs very colourful costumes that portray richness in the cultural background of the three major tribes of the country in a narrative that traces the country’s transition  from the time of Lord Frederick Lugard, the first colonial governor general, to the current occupant of Aso Rock, President Goodluck Jonathan.

In line with Odia’s statement during the performance that the dance drama “is a deliberate reversal of received opinion which is loaded with paradoxes but much truism”, Nigeria the Beautiful unarguably, offers a distance from common view about the nation as home to a discordance of not only tongues that differ and cultures that are distinct from one another but where nothing works or anything goes. It is the height of exposition of  Nigeria as a country full of ironies of life.

The production was indeed loaded with paradoxes that served as an expose of  Nigeria’s tumultuous journey in the political history with much emphasis on how the country hurriedly got independence unprepared, and how the first civilian government collapsed and  also, how the army took over as well as the role of the various leaders, their greed and unpatriotic will to keep the country under their control regardless of how the masses fared.

It was an inspiring masterpiece that provided  unforgettable entertainment and education to members of audience whose minds were blown off with the colourful theatrical production.

It spotlighted the usually sung beauty in diversity and cultural differences of the people which make individuals like Odia Ofeimun still see something beautiful in the nation that is almost torn apart by corruption and violence.

The playwright in his usual manner, chronicles how the masses revolted several times and how they were brought to their knees by the powers that be. From the moment the stage was thrown open till when the curtain was drawn, Odia through a well organized and talented performers, as well as creative director that gave an endearing account of himself, recapitulated mostly, the pitfalls of the country which it suffered in the hands of unpatriotic leaders that have turned the once giant of Africa, into a failed state.

The aesthetically designed stage, proper lighting added to the exquisite dance steps of the artistes and humour especially during coup, however, put the audience in the right frame of mind,

According to Odia, “the programme was as part of a nation-wide campaign to give stage  drama the gravity and respect due to a cultural form that envisages bringing people together for self-empowerment and enterprise”. Our aim he said “is to spread a message of hope, believing that theartre can be used to promote development and to effect grand cultural renovations across the country”, adding that it is also comes as a strategy to galvanize a theatre-going culture that Nigerians can be proud of.