By Wole Balogun, Ph.D
Recently, students of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), staged an engaging performance, Ray Emeana’s Ebubedike. The play relays a touching and tragic story of a very powerful wrestler, Ebubedike, who happens to save his community, “Umudara” from being enslaved by another powerful wrestler from a neighbouring community, “Azarubo” Ebubedike defeats Azueruala and perished his inordinate ambition to make the people of Umudara his slaves eternally.
Ebubedike is rewarded with a crown of the Eze udo the first of (Igwe) Umudara.His rise to the throne becomes miraculous as he belongs hitherto, to the dregs of his society, a slave, though brave, powerful and popular wrestler. Ebubedike is not only physically strong , he possess also, fetish powers that fortify and empower him to be an undefeatable wrestler.
However, the unbeatable wrestler unfortunately, has evil tendencies. He is dictatorial, arrogant and destructive. He has no respect for human life and is equally greedy. These negative traits drive him to commit several atrocities. He turns “Igu” who resists his covetous desires to take over his land, into an insane person and sends Ezewanyi the female Dibia who fortifies him to defeat Azueruala to an early grave. Ebubedike’s greedy and dictatorial nature pushes him to oppress the people who made him their king, causing pain and sorrow to them. When the angry youth in the land dare to challenge him, he uses his evil powers to send them into a state of stupor. His excesses reached its unbearable stage when he locks the effigy of his people’s ancestors (The elders) inside his palace, this turns out to be a grave abomination which made the palace chiefs to invoke the spirit of Ezewanyi whose powers as a spirit being overwhelms that of Ebubedike as the despotic wrestler king is defeated shamefully before the people of Umudara who rejoiced greatly at last.Thus, the play admonishes all powerful men to be wary of abusing their powers in order to prevent an inevitable downfall, as nemesis could haunt them.
Directed by a 400L. Amarachi Grace Okeanu. The performance of “Ebubedike” thrilled the audience who constituted members of the University community. The audience had a great time watching the performance as they reacted spiritedly to the great acting skills displayed by actors who realized the performance. Oluwakemi Gbemikan a
300L. Student who played Ebubedike, displayed excellent acting skill in interpreting the role of Ebubedike. Her excellent handling of the role led to a creative deconstruction of some aspect of the play. Ebubedike is actually a man in the original text by the playwright, but since a lady played it, Azueruala, played by a 400L part time student “Opara Jonathan” mocks Ebubedike as a woman presented by the people of Umudara to challenge him in the wrestling match. He would have mockingly rejected the duel had the people of Umudara not called him a coward. An insult which makes him accept to fight Ebubedike and gets defeated by a woman he mocks. Opara Jonathan equally interpreted his role as Azueruala excellently as usual.
Other actors who played one role or the other were fantastic as they gave the audience a highly thrilling and engaging show in compensation for their money. The audience equally rewarded them with great applause subsequently during the performance.
toThe student crew members include, Okeanu Grace Amarachi, (Artistic Director/ Choreographer), Ojo Eniola Olajuwon, (House manager), Usamot Khaerat Ayomide, (Publicist), Babatunde Tomiwa Isaac, (Stage manager), Olaosebikan angel oluwapamilerin
(Costumier/make up Artist), Enilolobo, Ifeoluwa Adeniran, (Media Director), Shotinwa, Olamilekan Oluwasegun,
(Set designer), Owoyomi Jeremiah, Abimbola, (Light designer) Adeosun Abdulrahaman Adeshina , (Business manager), Ajayi Joshua Ifeoluwa
(Dramaturge/ Music director) , Ogunsusi Oluwaseun Samuel , Production manager and Ayoola Rebecca
(Props manager).
The names of actors and their roles are, Gbemikan Oluwakemi __Amakiri/ Ebubedike, Opara Jonathan (Azueruala Daberechi ( Eze wanyi), Ini Emmanuel, (Chief Onuoha ), Olukowade Oluwashina (Chief Agiriga ), Rasaq Olamide (Nze Uche), Ibitoye Sharon (Nze Igwe), Ibitoye Savior ( Mazi Uga), Taiwo Sharon ( Chief Nwoye ), Ogbuwala Stephanie (Ebubedike’s bride), Uyi favour ( Obidiya), Adetunmbi Eniola (Lolo Uche), and Olamide Ibrahim (Igu). The Dancers are
Olusola Hannah, Adeyeye Oyinkansola and George Feranmi. Oladejo Olabisi played woman 1 as Forumsho Nifemi played woman 2. Ezewanyi maidens were played by Igboanugo Amaka, Faro Esther, Mock wrestler, Nwakanma Kelechi, Uwomaro Simon and Owolewa Samuel. The youths were also played Adeyeye Ademola, Forumsho Oluwapwlumi and Adisa Ayomide.
The class examination/project was supervised by dutiful lecturers who are Associate Professor Mike Adeoye,
Mr Nsikan Bassey , and Mr Tochukwu Emeziom.Astute Coordinators, assigned by the management of the Department , including the HOD, Dr. (Mrs.) Tume worked with all the students’ groups in realizing great performance artistically.
