Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, vibrated with the sounds of drums, ranging from bata, gangan, omele, dundun, ekiri, and jembe, in the performance of the prolific “Drum” play “Echoes of the Drums,” written by Ola Awakan. The 200-level students of the Performing Arts Department captivated the attention of students and staff for almost two hours with their exceptional performances at the popular, “The Pit” Theatre Hall.
According to reports, the performance was a part of a practical participation and production workshop organized for the students and it stood out because of the unique use of drum instrumentation and dance in storytelling to convey messages as well as its display of rich yoruba culture through song, costumes and rich dialogue.
According to Dr. Olusola Adeyemi, Head of the Department; “Echoes of the Drums encompasses unity in diversity, love, affection, cooperation, steadfastness, and the divine power embedded in drums” .
“With what I’ve watched on stage, it was a great performance, and indeed, the students impressed me. They’ve unanimously improved in their arts, and this gladdens my heart,” Dr. Adeyemi said.
Mr. Femi Jacobs, a lecturer in the department and production supervisor, commended the students for their good delivery of the play. “The students made a brilliant effort. I’m so proud of them. The triplets in the play were not drummers, but I challenged them, and they delivered.”
“The production showcased the students’ talents, highlighting their ability to work together to bring the story to life. The play is a metaphor that holds great relevance to society, and I must commend the playwright for a great work done in coming up with the script,” Mr. Jacobs said.
Messach Ilumo, the lead director of the play, stated, “It was a remarkable journey, and it feels good seeing the hard work and numerous days of rehearsals come together. We started rehearsals in October last year, and despite the challenges faced, the cast delivered a fantastic performance beyond my expectations.”
Honest Wisdom, Tijani Ifeoluwa, and Durowoju Akorede, who played the roles of Awogbola, Ayanlade, and Onilude, respectively, expressed their views: “It was challenging for us, taking on roles that involved drumming, as we were not drummers. However, through the support and encouragement from the production crew, we brought the art to life, dedicating ourselves to the craft, which eventually reflected in our performance.”
The stage award-winning play, Echoes of The Drums was written in 2005 and published in 2024 to commemorate World Drummers Day. The play advocate for unity, peace, cooperation, cultural preservation, and the potency of drums.
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