Chams Theatre

Audiences trooped out in large numbers for the English and Yoruba theatrical performances of Ogboju Ode or The Forest of a Thousand Daemons in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Ife.The enthusiasm, interest and subsequent appreciation of the performances underscored the fact of the Chams Theatre Series helping to fill a gap in the cultural life of Nigeria. According to Mr. Demola Aladekomo, Group Managing Director, “The Chams Theatre Series is a strategic intervention and contribution of Chams Plc to the rejuvenation of the Arts and stage culture in Nigeria. It is also a means of promoting our culture and re-orienting Nigerians to the values that we hold dear. We believe those values should prompt action in our society.” The Ogboju Ode performances are “the beginning of what we envisage as a long journey of discovery and sharing”, Aladekomo informed guests. It was a great beginning indeed. Extensive reportage and reviews in the media confirmed the strong interest presentation of the plays elicited with local and international stakeholders of the company. Culture and Tourism minister Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode wrote in to offer official Federal Government recognition and support of the effort by Chams plc to provide corporate support for the revival of theatre culture in Nigeria. Chams Plc sponsored production of the plays after acquiring the rights to the works of D.O. Fagunwa from the family of the late author and the D.O. Fagunwa Foundation. Fagunwa’s daughter was a star guest at the Lagos performance of the Yoruba adaptation on Sunday, September 14 at the Muson Centre. Other guests included Chief Segun Olusola, Chief Mrs. Derin Osoba, Rev Olu Odejimi, doyen of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Rev Ola Makinde, Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria. There were also Mr. Tayo Aderinokun, MD of Guaranty Trust Bank, Ahmed Yerima, Tani Obaro, MD, SystemSpec, as well as other major players in the banking, financial services and oil and gas sectors. Town met gown in Ibadan as the civil society joined the academia to watch presentation of the play. The audience spilled over and actively participated in the presentation. Diplomats and members of theNational Assembly joined a large number of stakeholders in theinformation and communication technology world to watch the performance at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. By the time, it got to the Ile Ife on September 24, enthusiasm and interest was at fever pitch. Not surprisingly, the eager audience crashed through some doors to ensure space in the Ododuwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University. There was standing room only as the hall was brimful. The Chams Theatre Series has the rights to the five works of Fagunwa and would sponsor one play each year. Aladekomo said the firm has also acquired the rights to works by writers from other parts of Nigeria in order to broaden the appeal as well as showcase the universality of positive values shared by Nigerian communities. Professor Femi Osofisan of the University of Ibadan, wrote the English adaptation while Professor Akinwumi Isola of the Obafemi Awolowo University wrote the Yoruba adaptation. Speaking on the significance of the performances, Prof Femi Osofisan, a former General Manager of the National Theatre, asserted, “By selecting this work, Chams is rendering an immeasurable service to the preservation of our culture, at a time when our country like others in the socalled Third World are faced with the menace of globalisation. Certainly, such projects as this will help the process of our cultural rebirth. Fagunwa has shown us that we have our own folklore and fables, our stories and saga and heroes as authentically rich, and enriching, as any other in the world repertory. With him, we can also stand up and announce that we are also part of the ancient heritage that first gave meaning to humanity.”