By Prisca Sam Duru

It took the simple cue; “Ladies and gentlemen, let the show begin” from the sonorous and inviting voice of culture activist, film critic, playwright and theatre director, Ben Tomoloju, for the Agip Recital Hall of Muson Centre Lagos, to come alive with a spellbinding theatrical performance of “The Rebirth”.

The 12th Macmillan Literary Night held at the Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre, provided the platform on which Nigerians in attendance, were stimulated on the need to positively chart ways towards rebuilding the nation.

This year’s edition themed, The Rebirth, was as interesting, entertaining as it was educating and the audience; Reverend Sisters and Fathers, Caucasians, Professors JP Clark, Femi Osofisan, the literati, thespians, and many others, left the theatre hall, charged with positive mindset towards repositioning Nigeria.

The Literary Events Committee comprising The Chairman, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel CON; Mr Yinka Olaniyan,Veteran Ben Tomoloju, Publisher and writer, Dr. Ogochukwu Promise; Founder of Crown Troupe of Africa, Segun Adefila etc, pulled the most pleasant surprise as rather than the usual poetry readings with usual faces, enacted an electrifying and scintillating dance drama which bore same title as the events theme, The Rebirth. The literary night was indeed, uniquely different.

The stellar performance featured poetry and allusions to the works of icons such as Profs Wole Soyinka, J P Clark, Christopher Okigbo etc.

Members of the Crown Troupe who made up the cast, were exceptionally outstanding in their performance and adding a touch of class and professionalism were Quintessential Taiwo Ajayi-Lycet who was the Priestess, and Ihria Enakhimio (Poet).

The drummers were on fire, classically letting out electrifying sounds such that an audience member confessed he felt like storming the stage to dance.

The Rebirth which was created by the trio of Ben Tomoloju, Ogochukwu Promise and Segun Adefila, chronicles events and actors that shaped the history of Nigeria. The trip down history lane records that from birth, the country is crisis-ridden.

“It is beset with problems of betrayal between supposed kinsmen, political intrigues among groups and individuals and subtle or obvious xenophobia within the polity. Sadly, the crisis are resolved on adhoc rather than enduring basis.”

It upholds the need to quash the jinx that haunts the nation and ensure transformation through revitalising ritual of rebirth. The play brings to the fore, how leaders fail to provide good governance to the people.

They make promises to better the lives of the masses and raise the country to an enviable position, during campaigns but end up doing the opposite once they get into office.

Regrettably, The Rebirth presents the retrogression the country keeps experiencing despite installation of democracy. It however, calls for urgent need to eradicate poverty and other vices plaguing the nation so as to improve its global ranking.

The drama however, came to a climax with an exotic dance by Taiwo with the actors after the cast adhered to the pleas of the priestess, to rebuild the nation. There was no better way to end the show than Taiwo’s dance with the rest of the cast.

Documenting the nation’s history through a fussion of comedy and tragedy, got the audience responding with deafening laughter accompanied with applause and aahhh! where appropriate. Scenes that captured the Aburi Accord and Udoji Award all found a place in the drama.

Also, scenes that revisited June 12, Late Moshood Abiola’s death; blunders as well as the height of authoritarianism during late Abacha’s regime and his death, elicited the most response from the audience. Each scene ushered in by drum beats, had unique dance steps, gesticulations and corresponding costumes.

The setting of the stage, lighting and accessories were faultless. It was all congratulations galore to the entire team with many suggesting the dance drama be released into the movie market so as to reach a wider audience.

The Chairman, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited, Bode Emanuel, in his opening speech, said that the theme of the 12th edition “Was borne out of a high sense of national consciousness coupled with the uncompromising belief that the multifaceted obstacles hampering our development will give way to someday to regeneration of positive values.

He maintained that “With the insurgency threatening the unity and peace of the country, politicians heating up the polity, unbriddled corruption, lingering poverty, growing unemployment and an overwhelming uncertain future, all is not well with Nigeria”.