ONLY recently, legendary playwright, Fred Agbeyegbe, became the first playwright Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) honoured in its pet project known as 'Living Legend Series'. NANTAP's aim is to celebrate Nigerian theatre icons from 70 years and above.Last week, it was the turn of Moses Olaiya Adejumo, also popularly known as Baba Sala, the celebrated father of Nigerian comedy, who pioneered the Yoruba comedy theatre ofthe '60s and '70s. Venue for the celebration was the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.Elder Adejumo is a renowned theatre practitioner, who took his craft through the stage, television, celluloid film media and magazine publishing. He appeared frequently in Atoka magazine, which published numerous plays by famous Nigerian theatre companies. Adejumo was a strong force in the evolution of the Yoruba traveling theatre, which laid much of the foundation for today's Nollywood industry.Adejumo worked alongside the late Hubert Ogunde, Kola Ogunmola, Duro Ladipo and Oyin Adejobi. He remains a household name in Nigerian theatre practice, having contributed immensely to theatre development in the last 50 years. According to the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni, 'Adejumo is regarded as the father of Nigerian comedy because he successfully created and actualized a comic character called Lamidi Sanni and inspired many other comedy characters such as Baba Suwe, Baba Mero, Baba Wande, Papi Luwe and many others who followed in his paths. He was a friend of the former Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who ensured that his theatre company got regular performance slots at state functions.His television drama on NTA, Ibadan, was a popular hit in many homes. A Yoruba from Ilesha, Olaiya was regarded as a genius in comedic performances, although he started as a highlife musician. He established a musical group known as the Federal Rhythm Dandies and mentored the juju music maestro, King Sunny Ade, who later became a musical legend. The late Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love) was also a product of his mentorship. Olaiya received a national award from the then Military Head of State, Obasanjo'.Chairman of NANTAP, Lagos chapter, Mufu Onifade, said at the investiture of the Grand Living Legend of Nigerian Theatre on Baba Sala, 'It is necessary to celebrate and honour Olaiya for his industry, his dedication to theatre practice, his evolution of comedy in Nigeria. His excellent leadership qualities in theatre practice are unquestionable'.Further, Onifade described Olaiya as the doyen of comedy in Nigeria. He went further to praise his artistry, 'his creativity and dedication to the development of the theatre which are responsible for the height he attained in the theater industry. He is multi-talented: a musician, playwright, and actor, set designer, artistic director, comedian, theatre manager and entrepreneur. His place in the history of Nigerian theatre cannot be ignored'.In his goodwill message, Prof. Ahmed Yerima of Redeemer's University recounted his first encounter with Baba Sala, when he said, 'It was through Prof. Wole Soyinka that I first met Moses Olaiya. It was one evening in 1979 at Oduduwa Hall when, after Baba Sala had come with his drama group to perform a play titled, Kase Kuro. In class the next day, wanting to show off my newly acquired knowledge of world theatre history, I had mentioned how similar the twisting ridiculous funny plot, the over decorated and exaggerated costumes of Baba Sala himself reminded one of the French comic character Harlequin or his Italian counterpart, Pedrolino and how the other stock characters in Baba Sala's play reminded one of the other stock characters of the commedia dell'arte comedy tradition of the Italian theatre.'Obviously pleased, I was promptly asked by Soyinka to write a paper on the topic. This started the development of a fuller interest in the works of Moses Olaiya, the famous Baba Sala, whose genius and major contribution to the Nigeria theatre is yet to be fully noted and celebrated, because while other great early Yoruba theatre practitioners like Huber Ogunde, Duro Ladipo and Kola Ogunmola developed the serious tragic genre in Nigerian drama, Moses Olaiya led the development of the comic genre both on stage and in film'.Born in 1937, Moses Olaiya Adejumo, an Ilesha man, was surrounded by the folklore and other traditional entertainment forms such as the chants, music, dance, and mimetic representations of his society. Even though he loved dramatic performances, he chose to be a musician because of the popularity and fame it gave the lead musician at the time and its immediate financial benefits from performance bookings. But because he was a Federal Health Officer, and could not travel like the Yoruba professional theatre practitioners, he formed and called his music band Moses Olaiya Federal Rhythm Dandies, playing mainly juju music at parties and some clubs.National president of NANTAP, Greg Odutayo, also congratulated NANTAP Lagos and the Pa Olaiya. He praised the Living Legend Series as a fine initiative that would contribute to the growth of theatre in Nigeria and encouraged the Lagos chapter to continue the project.It was a day of encomiums for the man who took comedy to every part of Nigeria. One such adulation came from Amb. Segun Olusola, who was the father of the day. He was full of praises for the organisers and described Olaiya as one who more than deserved the honour done to him. He also encouraged NANTAP to continue the good work.
Click here to read full news..
