Theatre Review: ‘Tafawa Balewa’, A Biography of Nigeria’s First Prime Minister

Last Sunday, ‘Tafawa Balewa: Golden Voice of Africa’ premiered at the auditorium of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja.

An autobiography of the Nigeria’s first prime minister, the production is an adaptation of a play of similar title written by Ola Awakan, and directed by Denja Abdullahi.

It follows the life of Balewa, from his student days to early teaching career and local progressive politics in Bauchi, and northern Nigeria, to his assumption of office on Independence Day. The play further looks at events leading up to the military coup ousted his government, eventually leading to the civil war.
Abdullahi’s choice to kick off the production with Balewa’s inauguration registers to the audience that air of hope and possibilities felt by the citizens on his assumption of office. However, that hope dwindles as corruption, nepotism, economic downturn heightened by new levels of poverty and power tussles between south-western political elites, exacerbate the political unrest in the country.

High points of the production include the narration and flashbacks used in moving the plot forward. Narrations interspersed between scenes fill the audience in on the events that couldn’t be seen, as well as the flashbacks that highlights Balewa’s time school days and early political career in Bauchi, then northern Nigeria.

Projected interior furnishing complement the costumes, and the local games, to create an authentic northern culture and some sort of wealth rather than opulence that works with the minimalist production. Likewise, the short dance sequences introducing each scene helped sustain the excitement for an audience unaccustomed to plays’ with over an hour and thirty minutes runtime.
Conversely, the production failed to deliver on the promised climax resulting from the political clashes and tensions depicted in the country, but abruptly petered into a dirge. There is also the disconcerting look of watching grown, bearded and muscled men playing high school student.

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While Husayn Zaguru as Balewa shared similar dark complexion and wiry appearance as Balewa, there was no particular standout act from the (16 men cast) production, that saw a good number of the cast play recurring characters, whilst also assisting in scene transitions. Same goes with the lighting which was of poor quality and one-dimensional (did nothing for the production).

The above notwithstanding Tafawa Balewa makes a credible historical reference for its viewers, and sadly a commentary on how far back, everything wrong with the nation – corruption, ethnicism, political unrest, violence and – has persisted till date, with no solution in sight.

Tafawa Balewa is the second of Awakan’s Artswax Communication ‘Tales of Legends’ (the first which was ‘Abibatu Mogaji’ written and directed by Prof Ahmed Yerima) which aims to highlight the contributions and achievements of prominent Nigerian heroes both dead and alive, as well as educate and empower Nigerians with their socio-political history, and re-highlight key cultural and moral values.

The production is scheduled to premiere this Saturday in Lagos, then Bauchi, and other northern states including Kano and Kaduna.