Ahmed Mohammed-Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer, National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), on Friday said that the troupe had bounced back after six years of inactivity with a stage drama titled ‘Strings’.
Mohammed-Ahmed told NAN in Lagos that it was a thing of joy for the group to re-group after six years of inactivity.
“I feel excited and elated that NTN is coming back to life after six years of non-performance or any activity.
”The `strings’ performed today ( Thursday night) shows the cultural diversity of Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, ‘Strings’ brings to the fore the need to reflect on the shared humanities and intercultural affinities among Nigerians through a Folk-Musical performance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the performance was held on Thursday night at the Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage Street on Victoria Island, Lagos.
It was a performance of emotion of a rebirth by the NTN of a Folk-Musical Drama written by Michael Anyanwu.
`Strings’ according to the synopsis, is a metaphor for different threads of social, cultural, political, religious and ideological inclinations and values that bind together Nigeria’s diverse heritage.
“It is a Docu-drama that recounts the socio-political travails of Nigeria from the year of her amalgamation in 1914, through the pre-independence waves of nationalism, the immediate post-independence crises, the civil war, the military era and the present democracy.
“The message of `Strings’ calls for a need to reflect on the shared humanities and intercultural affinities among Nigerians.
`Strings’, a 43-man cast, was written and directed by Michael Anyanwu, the Director of Drama and member of the management of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
The Docu-drama had artistes such as: Soibifaa Dokubo, a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt as the storyteller; Florence Richards as Flora Shaw/Lady Lugard; Olu Okekanyin as the Oba and Eric Obinna as the Obi.
Others are : Friday Ahiaba as King Tor, Efezino Ovie as Lord Lugard; Pontus Jesse starred as Obong; Adedamola Oyewo as Funmilayo Kuti; Katherine Ikpa as Tarka; Tina Omamofe as Lecturer and Emmanuel Adejumo as White Expeditioner.
Mohammed-Ahmed said that the National Troupe was resuscitated to show Nigerians the path to glory through dance, drama, music and other artistic creations.
”I am happy because Nigerians can come to watch NTN after six years of inactivity.
“We are having a rebirth nod and I want to show Nigerians that we are going to sustain this momentum although it was not easy to re-assemble the troupe because the group was at its lowest ebb.
“I took over the mantle of the troupe about a year ago and I immediately set out the mandate and expectations,” he said.
Mohammed-Ahmed said that the mandate of the NTN as set up by Decree No. 47 of 1991 was to celebrate the cultural heritage of Nigeria through artistic performances, adding that the mandate would be realised in no distant time.
“We have a mandate and the consciousness of Nigerians. We are not just entertainers, but government image makers; we need to speak to the consciousness of Nigerians on issues that are affecting us as a nation.
“We want to use arts to address those issues around us and also show our children the path and their history exactly. That is what the performance `Strings’ is telling us.
“Our children must know their history; how and where they are going to set a better agenda for the future.
“On our own part, we realized that most of the artistes in the National Troupe have been disengaged, so I am working with the relevant government agencies to see how we can have the group back,” he said.
In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr. Ifeoma Antanwutaku, said that the culture of Nigeria had served as a veritable springboard in stirring up diverse artistic expressions for social mobilization.
The Writer and Director of `Strings’, Michael Anyanwu, said the Docu-drama had been able to tell the history and emergence of Nigeria as a nation at once.
He added that everyone could have different interpretations according to his conscience.
One of the casts; Soibifaa Dokubo, the storyteller, called for the preservation and more appreciation of arts and the artistes.
Another cast, Olu Okekanyin who acted the Oba, said that arts being one of the oldest professions in the world, needed the requisite investment in Nigeria to make it grow and to encourage the younger generation.
NAN reports that some of the guests at the Docu-drama include: the General Manager, National Theatre, Iganmu, Prof. Sunday Ododo and the former Artistic Director NTN, Deputy Director NTN, Dr. Husseini Shaibu. (NAN)
