Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
It was a nostalgic feeling on Wednesday at the Redeemer’s University, as prolific playwright, Prof. Ahmed Yerima, reinvented the early life of the first couple of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch and Mrs. Folu Adeboye.
Adeboye and Folu, who watched the two-hour drama and dance at the varsity auditorium in Ede, Osun State, stayed dazzled as students of the school retold the story of their ministry, marriage and impact in penetrating dialogues.
But the high point of the play, which was among activities commemorating the Ninth Convocation ceremony of RUN, was the panegyric of an Ilesha lyricist who combined beautifully with the drummers, to dig into Folu’s roots.
Mummy GO, as she is fondly called, danced to the stage before nudging her husband forward to join in the dance.
Adeboye, in his remarks, described the performance as “thoroughly researched,” commending Yerima and his team for a job well done.He said, “I have written two plays myself. I must note that this play was thoroughly researched and I appreciate it. It was an excellent job. I pray that your life will not lack organisation in Jesus’ name.”
Yerima said the play, which was primarily to celebrate Folu, was written by the Director of the RCCG Drama Department, Segun Adegbiji.
The former dean of the College of Humanities and member of the Governing Council of the varsity said the play was built around the childhood of Folu before she met her husband because little was known about her.
He said, “Mummy GO is a public figure, but she has cleverly hidden her personal history to allow her husband’s history to shine. And she has become a beautiful attachment to her husband’s history. The challenge of the play was writing a play that will concentrate on her history and not that of her husband. They are, however, so inseparable that it was difficult for us to do. I had to go to Mowe to buy CDs of her speeches, and get Mp3 of Daddy GOs poems to know them beyond being the owners of the school and our spiritual parents. I had to go to Ilesha and later Ifewara to get more pieces here and there. It took us more time to do the research than to rehearse.“The play shows that people have challenges. And in their biographies, they didn’t hide that fact because they also said they were so poor that even the poor made fun of them. They have never hidden the fact that they are human beings with trials and difficult times of life. The message therefore, is that if I can also follow the way this people followed and accept Christ, I can make a difference.”
The writer of the play, Adegbiji, attributed its success to team work and the Holy Spirit, adding that Folu, who envisioned the varsity, deserved a lot of accolade.
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