Oya: A Lesson in Reciprocal Love
By Wole Balogun, Ph.D
The recent performance of Lekan Balogun’s culturally rich play, Oya, was a lesson in reciprocal love, especially among the married. The play was performed in high spirit by students of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on the proscenium stage of the Department.
Oya, as a performance was a successful exhibition of great talents by the students who dished out thrilling, refreshing and excellent theatrical experience to the teeming audience. The play recreates the myth of the love triangle among three Yoruba deities, Oya, Ogun and Sango. Oya was a river goddess, and a beautiful and highly intelligent lady who married two great Yoruba deities, Ogun, god of iron and warrior who delights more in war, and Sango, god of thunder, and a king who emits fire from his mouth whenever he is angry or wants to fight his enemies. In the treatment of the myth in the performance in focus, Oya becomes dejected and greatly unfulfilled as a newly wedded wife of Ogun because her husband neglects her emotional desires, especially in fulfilling his conjugal duties.
Ogun rather chooses to fight wars, fulfilling his state duties of protecting the people at the expense of allowing his pretty wife, Oya, to enjoy the conjugal bliss that comes with fulfilling the passions of a woman in love. A dejected Oya laments her marital woes and frustrations while Omiran eavesdrops her and takes advantage of it. Omiran informs his friend and master, Sango, that he has found a beautiful and well endowed woman for him to marry. Sango is elated but cautions Omiran to be sure Oya is not under the protection of a man. Omiran allays his fear, saying she remains a lonely woman already abandoned by her husband. Thus, the coast becomes clear for Sango to woo the river goddess and beauty, Oya, excellently played by 300L Amarachi Maduwuba.
Sango, handsome, powerful and romantic, does his best to convince Oya of his immense love for her. He tells her his love was not only for her beauty but also her amazing intelligence. Oya is though touched by the depth of Sango’s feelings, as evident in his romantic words, but she restrains herself from being recklessly unfaithful to her husband. However, the stage was set for the river queen to make her choice from a lover who could fulfill her passions and an absentee husband who disrespects and insults her feelings.
In the midst of this confusing moment in Oya’s heart, Sango returns home after a long time of warring and Oya is temporarily relieved, she demands that Sango fulfills her desires by performing his conjugal duty but the arrogant and grumpy warlord again defies Oya and insults her feelings, describing her rightful desires as “miserable passions”
Now greatly enraged, a scorned Oya aims at taking revenge on Ogun. She gives her heart to Sango who becomes elated and fulfilled for winning the beauty queen’s heart. And instantly, they become lovers. They equally discover that they both have extraordinary powers that are complementary, while Sango could summon thunderstorms, Oya could complement this by inviting an accompanying rain as the river goddess. This strange but complementary features draw them more closer as they seal their fate by consummating their union. An earlier dream each of the couple has, signifying their inner passions for each other, further reinforces their love affair as they become undaunted in having each other forever.
However, trouble came knocking when Ogun finds out of their secret love affair. He fumed in immense anger and challenges Sango to a duel. Such a duel would have probably resulted into a tragic end of both gods but for the timely intervention of Orunmila, a Yoruba god of justice and fairness, who prevents them from fighting over the beauty queen and gives Oya the opportunity to explain her strange action and seeming marital infidelity against Ogun. Oya spilled the beans, saying it was too late for Ogun to have her back in his life, as she now has in her womb a foetus already planted by Sango. She adds that while Ogun neglects and insults her feelings, Sango fulfills them and seals their relationship with a baby growing now in her womb.
Having lost out and counselled strongly by Orunmila, not to fight, Ogun decides to exile himself and move far away to an unknown place so he could forget easily his shame in losing Oya to Sango, a more romantic and consenting man.
The performance was a huge success and the audience had a greatly fulfilling time. Directed by Dorcas Olusesan, a 400L student of the department. Other crew members included, Stage manager/Dramaturg: Adediran Oluwasegunfunmi, House manager: Oyelayo Abdulahi, Choreographer/music Director: Joseph Alice Uka, Publicist: Akinsola Adetutu, Business manager: Muniru Kehinde, Media director: Olalekan Damilare, Production manager: Ojo Francis, Costumier: Ismaila Lucky, Light designer: Ilorin pelumi, Set designer: Odafi Praise and Props manager: Awe Favour.
The main cast include Amarachi Genevieve Maduwuba (Oya), Kolawole Daniel (Ogun), Rasaq Olamide (Sango), Ayoola Praise (Omiran), Nwapku Precious (Arewa), Dairo Gbenga (Orunmila) and Miller Samson (Sangobiyi).
The message inherent in Oya as a play is clear, a woman’s heart is delicate. When she gives it to you, you must cherish it, handling it with great care, love and pampering, otherwise, a more romantic and caring man could snatch it from you!
The performance was supervised by dutiful Lecturers of the department who include the Acting Head of the Department (HOD), Dr. Tosin Tume,
Mr Emmanuel Kalu (Artistic Supervisors), Associate Professor (Mrs) Lilian Bakare and Mrs. Onyinye Aneke (Project Supervisors) and
Mr. Adedayo Haastrup and Mr Emmanuel Kalu as Project Coordinators. Astute coordinators including the HOD, Dr. (Mrs.) Tosin Tume worked with all the students groups in realizing great performances artistically.