Absence of mobile theatres cause of decline in morals— arts promoter

A promoter of arts and culture, Mr Tope Babayemi, has attributed erosion of moral values among Nigerian youth to absence of mobile theatres.

Babayemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that a mobile theatre touring the country on regular basis would go a long way towards promoting and preserving the nation’s numerous cultural values.

“There is a correlation between the demise of travelling theatre in Nigeria and the decline in our moral and value system.

“In the last thirty years, with a prolonged period of military rule, political instability and the dearth of travelling theatre, the morality and value system of our people has collapsed.

“It is those travelling theatres that went from school to school, from town hall to town hall; in the south west it was Ogunnde, Ogunmola and others.

“Those plays that they took around the schools and around town halls were based on moral and they actually helped to reinforce moral codes.

“With the decline of travelling theatre and the rest of it, the only influences that young people are under are the box – TV, that’s their only source of entertainment.”

According to him, “so, foreign media, foreign culture and foreign styles have taken over. Now, our children are sagging, tattoos everywhere, all those are foreign derived influences.

“They will continue to predominate until we begin to reinforce our own values and the best way to do that is through the arts and culture.

“That is the political advantage of having a vibrant cultural promotion agenda and a touring circuit in Nigeria.”