7th September, 2024
By Richard Elesho
Environmental safety seems to have caught the attention of the youths as students of Kaduna State University have staged a play on the need to protect the environment. The play titled ‘Muhali’ graced the stage courtesy Thespian Family Theatre & Production. The theatre group collaborated with the institution as it is doing with about 20 others nationwide. It is part of Thespian’s ‘Kumuniti Theatre Project’ through which it is winning souls for the environment. It particularly targets youths and other stakeholders in and around higher institutions.
The project had debuted with Bakare Ojo Rasaki’s ‘Ekun Omi’, which was staged at the Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State. It has been to the University of Port Harcourt with ‘The Flood’s Fury’ and to the University of Abuja with ‘Echoes of a Dying Earth’, among other universities.
‘Muhalli’. Muhalli is Hausa word for “the environment” and is also the name of the community in which the events of the play unfold. It recounts the story of a farmer, Sani, who faces a lot of challenges that are related to the environment in one way or another. But, at the end, with the support of a young doctoral researcher on environment named Danladi and the Maigari (traditional leader) of Muhalli community, he is able to galvanize the entire community into finding ways to tackle some of these environment-related challenges through the instrumentality of Theatre for Development (TfD).
Muhalli is a collection of three independent but mutually related stories that focus on different issues on the environment. The three stories – ‘Running out of Time’, ‘My Dear Wife’, and ‘Action Time’, address issues of lack of proper waste disposal outlets, tree felling, charcoal business, floods due to drain blockages.
With the Head of Theatre Arts Department, Professor Yusuf Shamagana, as the coordinator, the play was directed by Daniel Elisha while Patricia Peter was the stage manager.
On the goal of the project, Thespian Theatre’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ayo Jaiyesimi, says it is in line with the functionality of the arts, especially in Africa.
Jaiyesimi adds in a statement: “For over 20 years, THESPIAN Family Theatre & Productions has been dedicated to using visual storytelling to drive social and behavioral change through community-focused initiatives. This season, our spotlight is on the environment, a critical issue that demands attention. We are aligning our focus with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and zeroing in on SDGs 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 13, 14, and 15.
“The environment plays a vital role in our lives, and it is our responsibility to care for it and maintain ecological balance. Despite measures and propaganda, apathy remains a significant challenge. Therefore, we have taken a personal approach to address this issue. We are engaging with the community and community groups through workshops, readings, stage plays, competitions, and roadshows to reinforce government efforts and global interventions.”
She explains that the creative sector, particularly the performing arts, has the power to inspire social change by presenting vivid pictures of current situations, the need for change, and the benefits of collective action.
“We are collaborating with 14 universities in 2024/25 to drive awareness and social change. These universities will participate in workshops, scriptwriting, and performances to showcase environmental issues and promote sustainable practices,” she further notes.
