Kakadu: Re-Uniting Nigerians

Kakadu The Musical, a music, dance and drama production that tells the story of Nigeria at a time when young Nigerians lived as one and in search of the “Nigerian dream” will be premiered on 9 May at the AGIP Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos. It is a tale of love, passion, friendship and the absence of tribal boundaries that are the bane of Nigeria’s woes.

A Playhouse Initiative concept, Kakadu The Musical will see many youths perform acts which are similar to those which were evident at the real Kakadu Nightclub after Nigeria’s Independence in1960.

Described  as ‘the journey to lay the ghost of disharmony to rest’, Kakadu The Musical is Nigeria’s story in a nutshell as Uche Nwokedi, the Managing Director of Playhouse Initiatives puts it.

“Kakadu The Musical is a metaphor for Nigeria at a time when the possibilities were infinite. It is a story told through both the drama of the period and the lens of the music of the time. It is an original concept production; a completely home grown and produced initiative of the Playhouse, with a fresh and fully Nigerian cast,” Nwokedi explained.

Veteran actor, Nobert Young, who also featured in the production, explained that he accepted to be auditioned for the production because of its concept. “I came for the audition because of the concept. It was quite emotional for me as a person and I believe that the times of good Nigeria will be brought back and everybody will live in harmony and peace once again.”

Other cast in the production include Ben Ogbeiwi, popular TV comedy actor, Tom Godwin and Haji Bello.

Kakadu The Musical is set in the post independent era of Lagos. It was the place to be, the place where it was all happening. You could not come to town and not go to Kakadu to party. The Kakadu club saw the likes of musical greats like Victor Olaiya andVictor Uwaifo perform live.

Tunde Lardner, the son of Kakadu Nightclub’s proprietor, recently told journalists the amazing story of his status as the only surviving member of the defunct night club which held sway in the 60s.

Lardner reckons that it was such a surprise when he learnt that the nightclub would be resuscitated via the initiative of Playhouse, an organisation renowned for mentoring and harnessing youths’ talents through its forthcoming Kakadu The Musical.

“Honestly, I was moved to tears when I saw clip of the performance. Memories of the past rushed back in a wave as I remembered what the nightclub used to be back in the days. As the only surviving member of the nightclub, I’m very honoured to be a living witness of this great project,” Lardner added.

Kakadu is set to thrill. It is a dynamic and ageless production, with music from different genres that will resonate with all demographics. For the youth, it is an untold lesson in history, for the middle aged, an answer to many questions yet unanswered and for the advanced in age, a question of the possible return of harmony.

Chike Kani Omo, the director of the production, said “Kakadu was the place to be, the place that knew no colour, race, tribe or ethnicity; the place of unity in post independent Nigeria —  Lagos city. The Kakadu heritage and times recorded performances from almost all Nigeria’s musical greats, even international acts.”

The cast, according to Omo, are young minds from various tertiary institutions in the country. He explained that it was a daunting task for the production crew as they had to get people who could dance, act and sing simultaneously.

“The production consists of young, promising and multi ethnic cast which we did not get easily because we needed people who could dance, act and sing simultaneously. There were auditions before we got them. Kakadu is set to educate, provoke thought and perhaps erase ethnic lines, ending tribal wars. This story is told through drama, music and dance, and revolves around the lives and passions of different friends from different backgrounds, all in pursuit of unity,” he added.

—Damilare Okunola