Entertainment
A play on the life and times of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, is to be staged in January, according to Ola Awakan, the playwright.
Awakan, on Tuesday, said that the play would be staged by Artswax Communications and the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) in Abuja, Bauchi, and Lagos.
Awakan said that the family of the late prime minister had endorsed the play.
According to him, the endorsement was given during a courtesy visit by the production team of the play to the family house of the late prime minister in Bauchi.
He said the courtesy call was to seek the blessing and endorsement of the family on the project.
“The visit to Bauchi was to see the family members of the late prime minister and inform them about our intention to bring on stage the life and times as well as legacy of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
“We went to get the endorsement of the family as we also embarked on some research exercises to enhance the accuracy of the story we want to tell.
“And we were warmly received and project endorsed,” he said.
According to him, the team was received by the sons of the late prime minister, Yakubu Tafawa Balewa, Usman Tafawa Balewa and Haruna Tafawa Balewa.
Yakubu Tafawa Balewa commended the initiative by Artswax Communications and the National Troupe of Nigeria, to use live theatre to tell the story of his father.
He said that the play would make good reference material in the future.
“It is a good thing for reference. For the future, it is going to be of great importance. The project will enlighten people more about who he was.
“The family is glad that you are embarking on the project and we are in support,” he said.
Also, Usman Tafawa Balewa said that the project was a beautiful idea as many people would be enlightened about the legacies of the late prime minister.
“In the play to be staged, there are many aspects about the late prime minister that people do not know. People watching the play will get enlightened and the young ones might imbibe what they have learnt there,” he said.
The last male child of the late prime minister, Haruna Tafawa Balewa, said:”It is a very laudable programme that we are really in support of.
“This is like an awareness. This country needs people like you to bring back the history of our past leaders for this generation to know about them and learn from them.”
The team also visited the Ajiyan Bauchi, Alhaji Bala Ajiya, a senior Councilor at the Bauchi Emirate Council, who applauded the project and gave his endorsement. (NAN)
A.I
Dec. 4, 2024
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