By Wole Balogun, Ph.D
For those who are unaware of the heroic roles many African women in position of authority have played in history, Akinwunmi lshola’s Madam Tinubu presents an enlightening narrative. The play centres around one of African amazons, Madam Tinubu, who deployed her wealth, courage and influence as a traditional chief in achieving patriotic exploits for Lagos.
The history of Madam Tinubu is re-created in the play in focus which was performed spiritedly by students of Theatre and Media Arts department, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on the department’s proscenium stage. The students’ treatment of the play brings to the fore, Madam Tinubu’s feminist exploits which saved several young women from chauvinist male folk and more particularly, the patriarchal hegemony that undermined women in the African society of those Yester years.
Set in 19th century Lagos, African earliest civilized city and South West Nigeria, Madam Tinubu relays the story of the eponymous heroine who is respected by other chiefs in the palace where Oba Dosunmu, then monarch of Lagos, presided over the affairs of Lagos. Oba Dosunmu was assisted to ascend to the throne of Lagos monarchy by Madam Tinubu, his aunt. Madam Tinubu wields enormous powers as a spiritually powerful woman, influential trader and traditional chief in the palace. She detests injustice and unleash terror on anyone who attempts to undermine the female folk or cheat fellow Lagosians.
In no time, her overwhelming influence threatens the colonial masters, as represented by the trio of Mr Campbell, ( A white man), Mr Adejumo (A Yoruba man who studied abroad) and Vikiansony (A Yoruba man, who tries so hard to imitate the white ways) these three were making surreptitious moves to rule Lagos by proxy then in order to exploit Lagosians in commercial activities. Oba Dosunmu also feels threatened by Madam Tinubu’s overbearing influence in Lagos. He feels that his powers as the Oba is being usurped by Madam Tinubu who strode Lagos like a collosus. So he falls for an evil plot by the colonial masters to get rid of Madam Tinubu from Lagos.
Having been led by the nose by the tricks of the white men, Oba Dosunmu unfairly orders his aunt to quit Lagos in seven days. An unyielding Madam Tinubu resists the plot to be disgraced out of Lagos. She declared to Dosunmu and other palace chiefs that she would not obey the king’s order and storms out of the palace to their dismay. The chiefs advise Oba Dosunmu to tread with caution and instead, invoke traditional means of handling Madam Tinubu as she is a very influential and deep rooted member of the Ogboni cult of the land, a powerful traditional institution that binds all of them spiritually.
Iya agba, seeming head of the cult of elders, is summoned to the palace. She is accompanied by a group of women initiates who prevail on Oba Dosunmu to renege on his order to banish Madam Tinubu. The women force Dosunmu to withdraw his order by unveiling their white wrappers while facing the king and his chiefs who quickly turned their backs to prevent themselves from witnessing the abominable! This is one of the primordial rituals exhibiting the power of women to have their way even with the most rigid of any traditional monarchy in such African society.
Meanwhile, Madam Tinubu makes a detour by preventing Dosunmu from finalizing his retraction of the banishment order. She offers to quit Lagos for peace to reign. She reveals that all she wanted to achieve was for everyone to see through the deceit of the white men who want the soul of Lagos through cunning and mischievous plots. Madam Tinubu departs on an emotional note as Oba Dosunmu and other palace chiefs weep, pleading with her to stay. Thus, the performance ends on a note of the triumph of Madam Tinubu’s resilience, courage and liberation of his people from the traps of deceit designed by the cunning white men.
The student actors did an excellent job in playing their roles. Olowolanade Grace and Aluko Joanne, who co- played Madam Tinubu were exceptional as proudly noted by Senator Babafemi Ojudu who was special guest of honour at the performance. Ojudu praised the artistic prowess of the students describing their performance as “meeting world standard”. He also said to Grace after watching her performance on stage that he believed “Madam Tinubu has reincarnated“ He went ahead to announce a plan to invite the group to stage same performance at the palace of the Ewi of Ado, Oba Aladejuyigbe, traditional ruler of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State Capital. Senator Ojudu urged the students to keep the artistic spirit up assuring them that great success await them in the nearest future.
Members of the crew include, Omokunga Daniel Ireayomi (Artistic Director & Music Director), Alonge Kolawole Daniel
(Stage Manager), Adebambo Oluwajuwonlo Oluwaseyifunmi, (Production Manager), Emiola Adeoluwa Nathaniel (Publicist), Olorode Itunu Elizabeth (Costumier ), Babajide Adenike Glory (Dramaturge ), Akinbode Paul-Macaulay Feranmi , Oyebanji Hafsor Ayomide (Business manager) a Abiodun Fathia Omodunbi
(Props Manager ), Rotimi Hameed Femi
(Set and light Designer), Olagbenjo Oluwapelumi Racheal (House Manager)and Oladele Stephen
(Media Director).
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
The cast list are
OLOWOLANADE GRACE – MADAM TINUBU (main cast)
ADEKANYE JOHN ( Tinubu’s husband)
ALUKO JOANNE (double cast)
YUSUS OLUWATOBI ( Campbell)
UMMUNABUIKE FAVOUR
ALONGE JOYCE( Tinubu maid)
OLUBIYI PECULIAR( Mr turner)
JUDAH VICTOR
OLUKAYODE OLUWATOYIN( member of orchestral )
YUSUS SADIYAT ( Tinubu maid)
BITOLA TOMILOLA( Ogboni women )
ALAWADA SIMI ( fishermen dancer)
YUSUF IDAYAT ( chanter 1)
OLUWASUGUN GLORIA ( old woman)
AMOS VICTOR ( Dosunmu’s guard)
ADEDIPE SAMUEL ( Dosunmu)
ATAYI ALICE ( ogboni women)
OLUWAFEMI ERISEYI
ADEKANMBI TOMISIN ( Tinubu’s maid)
OMILUDE MUINAT( costumier)
YUSUF ADERONKE ( Tinubu’s maid)
ADEGOKE PHEOBE( member of orchestra)
ADEDIRAN EDEN ( Mrs Adeyeye)
ADEDIRAN VICTORIA ( costumier)
GARBA ABDULBASIT ( Mr vikiansony)
ABIODUN AYOBAMI
OMOTOSHO JOHN ( white cap chief)
OGUNKAYODE EUNICE
UZOMEFUNA BENJAMIN ( mr sandman)
ADEGITE PRAISE ( ogboni women)
FADIPE KEHINDE
ADEDOYIN BOLUWATIFE
ADEBAYO ESTHER
AKPAKA VINCENT ( Eyi dancer)
OLAJIDE PRECIOUS( lead orchestra)
AMANDA VINCENT
AKPALAKO FAVOUR ( fisherman dancer)
OMOTOSHO OLAMILEKAN ARIBANUSI VICTOR( palace guard)
ODENIYI TIMILEYIN
ADELAKUN TIMILEYIN ( chanter 2)
OGEBE JOYCE( member of orchestra)
JOSEPH MAYOWA
ADEKUNLE OYINDAMOLA
PIUS JOY( Iyaloja )
YUSUF OLUWATUMISE
OLUWOLE PRECIOUS
OMOJOMO MERCY( ogboni women
OMOGBAYI IFIHANOLUWA
AMOZUGAN BLESSING( police Officer
OMOTOSHO ANJOLAOLUWA( white cap chief MBA CHRISTIANAH ( Eyo dancer)
