24th March, 2024
By Taiye Olayemi
The Guild of Threatre Arts Drummers (GOTHAD) is set to stage the “Echoes of the Drums”, a play written by Ola Awakan, in commemoration of the World Drummers’ Day, on April 4, in Abuja.
The play centres around the need to embrace love and unity and explore the nation’s cultural diversities.
Awakan disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos during the presentation of a preview for the stage production of the play.
He said that Nigerians must realise the importance of drumming to nation-building.
According to him, drumming allows for tourism development, cultural renewal, drum education, development of unity, harmony and peace as well as encouraging communal living.
He said the wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, would be the special guest of honour at the World Drummers Day commemoration.
According to him, the ceremony will also feature the launch of a published book.
“The play will be exhibited at the National Universities Commission and the book will be reviewed by Dr Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).
“The book is an attempt to make people realise that drums are beyond what people feel they are, drums have inherent spirit in them.
“The book was written in 2005, it won a prize in 2015 and in 2021 an excerpt of it was performed by GOTHAD, which was the first time the play went on stage.
“In 2022, the National Troupe of Nigeria produced the play in commemoration of the 62nd independence of Nigeria.
“After the play is staged, I will embark on what I call “global drumication”, which I coined to educate Nigerians on how drums can be veritable means of communication. So, we will be taking the play to Nigerian universities,” Awakan said.