Donate
Contribute
  • About us
  • Contribute Content
  • Donate
Friday, March 5, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
The African Theatre Magazine
  • Home
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The African Theatre Magazine
  • Home
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The African Theatre Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Queen Moremi the Musical Immortalises Traditional Legend

Franklin Ugobude by Franklin Ugobude
January 7, 2019
in Reviews
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsapp
Queen Moremi the Musical Immortalises Traditional Legend
Queen Moremi the Musical Immortalises Traditional Legend
Queen Moremi the Musical Immortalises Traditional Legend
Queen Moremi the Musical Immortalises Traditional Legend
Queen Moremi the Musical Immortalises Traditional Legend
Queen Moremi the Musical Immortalises Traditional Legend

The story of the little known heroine

There are a couple of names that are in popular culture today but little or nothing is known about them. One of these names is Moremi, whom a lot of people know was a queen but nothing is known about her life. To them, she was a heroine  whose name was plastered on their sportswear for the annual inter-house sports competition or even on the block of flats in their school hostel for identification. For others, Moremi as the gigantic statue which happens to be the biggest in Nigeria that was erected in the city of Ife in 2017 by the traditional ruler, the Ooni, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi. But ask what she did, and you’re guaranteed that only a few people would know. It is the story of this great woman that is told in Queen Moremi The Musical.


Moremi was a hunter from the city of Offa and became a citizen of Ile-Ife by virtue of marriage. In the 12th century when she lived, Ile-Ife suffered constant attacks from raids from the people of Ugbo tribe who kidnapped the women and children from the city. The people of Ile-Ife, on the other hand, went from sacrificing everything they had, from animals to virgins but the attacks did not end. They lived in great fear of the Ugbo warriors and it seemed like a great prayer to make before starting the day: that either one of them or their family members do not fall into the hands of the Ugbo warriors. Moremi, on the other hand, decided to take a bold step. She was going to find a way to defeat the monsters and liberate Ile-Ife and her marriage seemed like a price so little to pay for this. She makes a pact with the river goddess, Esimirin and eventually emerges victorious. In the long run, Moremi gives it all for Ile-Ife and pays a price not many would want to.

The Production

Bolanle Austen-Peters production which seems to have successfully hacked the musical theatre game in Nigeria produced the Musical. In recent times, the production company has made a little shift from fiction stories to telling stories of legends, with productions like Fela and Kalakuta Queens which was on stage last year.

Photos by BAP Productions

Moremi, features a cast of Nigerian legends in film and theatre like Bimbo Manuel, Lala Akindoju, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Femi Branch, Kehinde Bankole, Deyemi Okanlawon and Ayoola Ayolola. Tosin Adeyemi. The actor who plays Moremi delivers an energetic performance that leaves the audience with goosebumps. Tosin’s prolific performance of the musical number where she’s paying homage to the gods and the synchronised movements where she’s leaving her husband’s house and her stage presence easily make her the star of this two-hour show.

Like many other plays by BAP productions, the choreography is top notch with ace choreographers like Paolo Sisiano, who has worked on previous productions such as Wakaa and Fela and the Kalakuta Queens ensuring the movements are as beautiful and flawless as can be. Then there is the music. According to the director of the play, Bolanle Austen-Peters, they sent a musical team to the House of Oduduwa in Ile-Ife, an organization concerned with the promotion of Yoruba culture to create the musical score from scratch and this shows in the play. It switches between Yoruba folklore to captivating solos and even a little infusion of the modern genre all making it a pleasant sound to the ears. This effort is carried on to the set design as it blends well with the scenarios depicted and the costuming, which screams attention to detail from the fin-like details of Esimirin and her maidens to the scary looking face masks of the Ugbo warriors.

The story of Moremi’s is one of unimaginable sacrifice and one that every Nigerian needs to know. This production does a brilliant job of juxtaposing this 12th-century story with all the glitz and glamour of musical theatre thereby, creating the riveting play that it is.

Photos by BAP Productions
Photos by BAP Productions

Qeeun Moremi The Musical premiered in December 2018 to January 2019 and will most likely be back for the Easter holiday in April 2019.

Photos by BAP Productions

Franklin Ugobude

Franklin Ugobude

Franklin Ugubude works in Online Marketing and spends his time watching TV shows, reading books and listening to music. He's an ardent lover of the arts and culture. Frank has contributed to The Guardian Nigeria, BellaNaija, Pulse Nigeria and others.

Related Posts

Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nell featuring Sandra Prinsloo and directed by Lara Foot (Photo by Eye Poetry Photography)
Reviews

Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nell, a story of tragedy and pain

February 25, 2021
49
Fantastic Mr. Fox at the National Children’s Theatre (Rebecca Hearfield)
Reviews

Fantastic Mr. Fox wows audiences at the National Children’s Theatre

January 16, 2021
132
Angola Camp 13 written and directed by Sello Maseko at South African State Theatre (Photo by Itumeleng Khumisi)
Reviews

Angola Camp 13 is an all-powerful musical and choreographic masterpiece!

January 7, 2021
221
Next Post
Black Privilege

Black Privilege

What people are saying

More Reads

  • People
  • Opinion
  • Festivals
  • Reviews

Popular Reads

  • Uganda's Theatre pioneer Elvania Namukwaya Zirimu

    Uganda’s Elvania Namukwaya who Broke the Glass Ceiling of Theatre

    772 shares
    Share 577 Tweet 81
  • Robert Serumaga: The Pantheon of Uganda’s Theatre in the ‘70s

    200 shares
    Share 80 Tweet 50
  • 10 Masterpieces in Ugandan Theatre

    550 shares
    Share 449 Tweet 42
  • Namasagali College: How the School Became Uganda’s Arts Hub

    376 shares
    Share 281 Tweet 40
  • Rose Mbowa of ‘Mother Uganda’ and Her Theatre

    303 shares
    Share 216 Tweet 36

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by @AfriTheatreMag

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

  • To everyone performing this weekend, break a leg! 

Follow us @afritheatremag
For more African Theatre content.  #TheatreInAfrica #TheatreMeme #castlist #auditions #Techweek #lines #leadrole 
#director #directors #theatrememes #theatre #production #broadwaymemes #gainwithmchina #bway #musicalmemes #theatrelife #gainwithmtaaraw #acting #stagemanager #rehearsals
  • The African Theatre Magazine brings the women making waves in African Theatre. Some of these are well known names but others are names you will wish you had read and known about yesterday. Read more on our website link in bio. 

#TheatreInAfrica
#WomenInAfricanTheatre #Women #theatre #gainwithmchina #africanwomen
  • Unpopular theatre opinion. 
.
.
.
.
Follow us @afritheatremag
For more African Theatre content.  #TheatreInAfrica #TheatreOpinion #unpopularopinion #castlist #auditions #Techweek #lines #actingtips 
#director #directors #theatrememes #theatre #production #broadwaymemes #gainwithmchina #bway #musicalmemes #theatrelife #acting #stagemanager #rehearsals
  • The #TheatreTerm for this week is; GREEN ROOM 

Follow us @afritheatremag
For more African Theatre content.

#TheatreInAfrica
#WorldTheatreDay #GreenRoom #learn #theatreart #art #prop 
#theatrememes #theatre #broadway #theatrelife #broadwaymemes #gainwithmugweru #gainwithmtaaraw #acting #rehearsal #theatrenerd #broadwaymusical
  • #AfricanTheatreCompanies this week we take a look at Troupe Lampyre. 🇧🇮

The Troupe Lampyre is a French-speaking theatre company from Burundi  established in 2006. It is based in the capital Bujumbura, where they perform regularly. Freddy Sabimbona, a Burundian Playwright and actor, is the artistic director of the troupe.

The Troupe Lampyre  has set itself the goal, as a public interest association, to: train in acting, directing and scriptwriting in order to support amateurs towards professionalism or strengthen the capacities of professionals and thus contribute to improving the quality of shows presented to Burundians. Raise awareness among young people about artistic expression, their culture and the values ​​of social cohesion, peace and development that it conveys. 

The Troupe Lampyre brings a modern, young and humorous theatre to the stage.  With many in-house productions, Troupe Lampyre  has reached a wide audience and has made guest appearances in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. 

Here are some of the productions done by the Troupe Lampyre since its inception; Patrice Faye’s Un jeune homme responsable s
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇿🇦

The Market Theatre presents Pass Over Directed by James Ngcobo. 

Pass Over explores the unquestionable human spirit of YOUNG BLACK MEN. 

Date: 26 Feb - 28 Mar 2021 
Venue: John Kani 
All shows start at 18:00 pm 
Limited Capacity ⚠️

Get your Ticket here bit.ly/PassOverTickets
#TheatreInSouthAfrica 🇿🇦
#TheatreInAfrica 
#PassOver #sa #markettheatre #gainwithmchina
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇧🇮

Buja Sans Tabou presents Kati by Iwacu Dance Company. 

Date: March 5th and 6th 2021 
Time: 18 pm in Buja Sans Tabou
Price: 5 000FBU | 10,000FBU  for creative support 

#TheatreInBurundi 🇧🇮
#TheatreInAfrica
#Kati #burundi #bujasanstabou #gainwithmchina #danceproduction
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇹🇳

Théâtre National Tunisien presents Martyr 
Directed by Fadhel Ja aïbi.
 
🗓️ Friday, March 05, 2021 at 16
🗓️ Saturday 06 March 2021 at 16
🗓️ Sunday 07 March 2021 at 16
📍 Location: Fourth Art Hall - Paris Street Tunisia
💸 Price: 20 D // 12 D for students - tickets are sold at the fourth art hall window
📞 For reservation: 71351783

#TheatreInTunisia 🇹🇳
#TheatreInAfrica
#Martyr #nationaltheatre #gainwithmchina
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇹🇳

Theatre pole and theatre arts of the Opera-Tunisia Theater presents Don Quixote  on March 4th and 5th, 2021 at the Young Creators Theater in The city of culture.

Produced by Théâtre de l
  • #OnTheAfricanTheatreStage this week. 🇹🇳

El Teatro التياترو presents Bird logic play in Altatero space. 

About the text: Bird logic by Farid Al-Din Al-Attar
Dramatorgia and Directed by: Novel Ezara
Date: 
⏱  Friday at 17:30
⏱ Saturday at 17:00

Follow us @afritheatremag for more african theatre content. 
#TheatreInTunisia 🇹🇳
#TheatreInAfrica
#BirdLogic #tunis #gainwithmchina
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Become a partner/Sponsor our work. Email tuvugafritheatre@gmail.com

© 2019 - The African Theatre Magazine - Developer.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Donate

© 2019 - The African Theatre Magazine - Developer.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In