The story of Igue: Benin annual thanksgiving live on stage at MUSON November 24
By Editor
AHEAD of this year’s celebration of Igue Festival, an annual traditional festival of the Benin people in December 2024, the Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE) is re-enacting this historic event through live theatrical performance. The stage production titled Igue – the Annual Thanksgiving Festival of Benin Kingdom, written by Omorodion S. Uwaifo, will be staged at Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos on Sunday, November 24, 2024. It will be the first theatrical production of ACERE, a non-governmental and apolitical organisation dedicated to the cultural and economic growth and promotion of Edo. Teh show opens at 4.30pm while the red carpet and meet/greet starts by 3.30pm.
The performance as stated by the playwright, Uwaifo, an engineer-turned-playwright, with many titles on Benin dramaturgy to his name, chronicles, ‘‘the events that birthed Igue, dating back to earlier than 1441. The occurrences defined the life of Prince Ogun, crowned Oba Ewuare I, and eulogised as Ogidigan, for his triumphs as warrior-king.
“He renamed Benin Edo to honour his saviour of that name,” according to Uwaifo. “He built the inner moat and walls of Benin City. He created guilds such as Ikpema for drummers, Owina for artisans, Igun Eronmwo for bronze and brass casters and Igbesanmwa for elephant tusk carvers.”
The playwright, who is a co-winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Ltd, further said of the dramatic piece, “Igue is also a human story and the basis of the annual festival of thanksgiving by an adoring people of Benin Kingdom since his (Oba Ewuare) reign as Oba.”
This historic piece that defines the enduring and fascinating culture and traditions of the Benin people will be directed by Segun Adefila, drawing on his wealth of experience as a dedicated artist and one of Nigeria’s leading live theatre directors, to breathe life into the piece that promises to be quite entertaining and revealing. Adefila will bring on stage a talented ensemble of artists who wil utilise all of the elements of live theatre – music, dance, and storytelling as well as costumes in a very colourful and enchanting manner to bring alive this epic drama of communal festivities.
The Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE) is a problem-solving, development-focused and progress-fostering platform that is apolitical and non-religious. ACERE seeks to positively transform Edo State in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), thus enabling a resurgence and modernisation of Edo State while its vision is to be the catalyst for social/cultural advancement, and rapid human and economic empowerment of the state.
Omorodion. S. Uwaifo
