Ogwu The Musical: Stage play, campaign against drugs, substance abuse

On the evening of 15th June 2024, I was at the arts theatre of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria, watching a stage performance titled ‘Ogwu The Musical’.

The musical focused on the adverse effects of drug abuse and addiction, an intricate problematic surge yanking deeply into our society. Excellently portraying themes of addiction, superstition, toxic parenting, obsession, feminism, love, peer pressure, domestic violence, toxic masculinity, misogyny, substance abuse and many more, Ogwu The Musical revolves around the story of Ogwu (Saheed Oluwatimileyin Azeez, Abubakar Khalid, Isah Benjamin Unekwuojo, Ndah Friday), a young man who loses himself to drugs in the university, his downfall and the effects his actions have on everyone around him.

The play was produced by the 200 level students of the Theatre Arts Department (Tracie Chima Utoh) “Our Wives Have Gone Mad Again,” Ahmed Yerimah’s Yemoja, Adukwu Martins’ “Narrators tale,” Faith .O. Salami’s “Our World,” Ikwuji Blessing’s “Letter to Mama.”) following an original story by dynamic Author, Actor, Applied Theatre and Musical Theatre Director, Alidu Ojonugbede Samuel (Paul Ugbede’s “Our Son the Minister 2019,” Esiaba Irobi’s “Nwokedi" 2021,” Tewfeeq Al-Hakim’s “Sultan’s Dilemma 2023,” Alidu Ojonugbede Samuel “Spark to Blast” 2023.)

Alidu also directed the play with Critic, Theatre Music Director, Applied Theatre Facilitator and Researcher, Peter Ogohi Salifu (Yerimah’s Ameh Oboni, Osofisan’s _Morountodun_, Rotimi’s _Kurunmi _Grip Am_, Obafemi’s _Dark Times are Over), with Adejoh Edebo Happiness and Saheed Oluwatimileyin Azeez as student directors.

This musical joins the likes of Saro the Musical, Moremi the Musical and it is safe to add Hamilton, as a game changer, an innovative production that will forever redefine what will come after it. Unlike most of its predecessors however, Ogwu The Musical was written by fast rising Award-winning Creative Artist and Thespian Davidfnycountry Austine Ogbadu (BOM PIC Screenplay Inaugural 2023 contest winner, 26 intellectual Ink magazine 2023 winner, Dear Immigrants, What is Justice, Jobless is not, Pain, I'm in love), who wrote the music, lyrics, and book about the musical while serving as a composer for majority of the musical numbers and as an assistant director.

Ogwu The Musical mirrors a journey using twenty-three original musical scores from introspection and challenge to resolution and closure. Attempting to tell an original story with such a new spin, while trying to address a dilemma especially one that guy at is as well known as one of the major cankerworms chewing into our society was a risk but Ogwu The Musical exceeds its own acclaim, this is because it is no news that Children and adolescents are heavily exposed to substance use in popular music. This exposure varies widely by genre. Substance use is frequently motivated by peer acceptance and sex, and it has a highly positive associations and consequences, the crew and cast of this production decided to use music to contrast the narratives and did it beautifully, hence garnering the kind of hyperbolic praise that no production can possibly live up to.

Sticking all through the play to Brecht’s Epic Theatre, with the use of Scenic designs, light, actions on stage, costumes, makeup, stage business, and stage hands, all done by 23THA PAAU 2023 and her Directors, Ogwu The Musical also using characters like Baba G (Yakubu Jonathan, Hassan Sani, Abdullahi Samson, Bashir Suleiman), Steep (Kingsley Ephraim, Victor Akande), Dealer (Abah Victory, Lawrence Crystal, Meridiya Haruna, Jessica Oyikene), Hoodlums (Ndah Nurullahi, Ocheje Sampraise, Agbaji Anointed, Samuel Oluwatobiloba Dennis, Ilebaye Joy, Ogbeha Bethel, Obite Veronica Ahubi, Friday ThankGod Monday, Deborah Maji, Ugwu David, Ubah Monica Gloria, Suru Eneye Emmanuel), Dealer’s Encourages (Benjamin Peace, Nuhu Yusuf Mighty, David Patience Rabi, Olatidoye Bolaji Olawale, Okita Linda, Monday David).

Dancers (Amos Benedicta Nwokili, Prince Isaac, Julius Gilbert, Yahaya Ojochenemi Medinat, Ohiomanuwa Precious, Ajodo Deborah, Stephen joy Ojimaojo, Ameh Enyojo Mary, Ocholi Patience Edeje, Adejoh Mary, Ojo, Deborah Miracle, Bello Ogidi Ene, Adejoh, Happiness Edebo, Otebe .I. Janet, Sunday Joy Ojochide, Okpanachi Pauline, Hauwa Ize Suleiman, Ezeuko Divine, Ogbaje Grace, Danjuma Blessing, Nwali Success Ebuka, Mohammed Fatima Omaojo, Okorie Oluchi Blessing, Meseru O. Christiana, Makanjuola Kehinde), Ensemble (Agbana Omowumi Faith, Peter Blessing, Amechi Melissa, Daudu Jessica, Michael Irene, Moses Goodness, Razaq Binta, Emmanuel Favour, Ibrahim Sikirat, Theophilus Blessing, Al-Hassan Sumaiya, Ilasu Halimat, Shaibu Victoria, Amupitan Folashade, Emmanuel Stella, Ilasu Hafsat, Danjuma Abdullahi, Yahaya Hadiza, Emmanuel Melody, Usman Zainab, Murtala Aisha, Methuselah Faith, Uzochukwu Favour, Haruna Favour Eleojo, Aruwa Vanessa, Hassan Sumaiya, Ilasu Halimat, Shaibu Victoria, Amupitan Folashade, Emmanuel Stella, Ilasu Hafsat, Danjuma Abdullahi, Yahaya Hadiza.

Emmanuel Melody, Usman Zainab, Murtala Aisha, Methuselah Faith, Uzochukwu Favour, Aruwa Vanessa, Ibrahim Antonia, Samuel Janet, Osho Favour, Alhaji Ketim, Edeh Victoria Ajuma, Yongu Raphael, Obaje Hannah, Jacob
Divine, Emmanuella Ojochide Yusuf, Dansuma Maria, Musa Joy, James Oyikene Jessica, Ugbaje Vivian, Ijaja Faith Ojochenemi, Abejirin Isaac, Olorunfemi Precious Olayinka, Iliasu Usman, Danjuma Sule, Isaiah David, Adejoh
Ojonugwa Mary, Moses Jonathan, Miracle Garuba Ajogwu, Akor Isaiah, Abdulazeez Abbas, Philip Canaan Ojochegbe, Samuel Oyinbo, Eric Moses, Akande Victor, Olorunmola Solomon, David Patience, Akpai Abubakar, Abdulwahab Salifu, John James, Zakari Idoko Joseph, Ibrahim Solomon.

Bello Onyioza Mercy, Okita Linda Eje, Salifu Williams, Obaje Grace Ojonile, Sekeri Joseph Unekwuojo, John Deborah, Abejirin Isaac Bamidele, Ahmadu Abraham, Yahaya Sediq, Alfa Aidetu, Adah iko-ojo Agnes, Edih favour
Chioma, Sabo happiness, Isaac Ojoarome ThankGod, Solomon David Ibrahim, Yunusa Abdulfatahi, Idah Joseph, Osas Imma, Abdullahi Lawal, Hassan Sani, Barnabas Benjamin, Abdul Wahab, Abba Emmanuel Eniola, Alabi
Abdulazeez Adinoyi, James Emmanuel Onimisi, Ojo Deborah Miracle, Nwali Success, Bello Mercy, Abbah Victory, Iliasu Hafsat, Ocholi Patience, Nwokili Benedicta, Ibrahim Anthonia, Olushola Victoria, Alabi Omowunmi,
Ismail Hafsat, Oyinbo Samuel), portrays the consequences of excessive substance use; these consequences were most commonly social, sexual, financial, or emotional.

While using Characters like Christopher (Jacob Martins, Ehimare Ehi-ejianreh, Prince Isaac and Samuel Dennis), Priscilla (Zainab Usman, Ejila Bethel, Okunoye Sharon, Benedicta Amos), Rahimatu (Peter Peace, Benedicta Amos, James Gift, Aruwa Vanessa, Ogbaje Grace), The NDLEA boss Brig. Gen. Mustapha Achonu (Ekele Peace, Bello Mercy Oyionza, Abuh Akpai), And his Officials (Omasayin Iyanu, Garuba Miracle, Gloria Monica Ubah, Aidetu Alfa, Omosayin Iyanu, Usman Iliasu, Maji Divine Peter, David Monday, Abdulahi Lawal Samuel, Olorunmola Solomon), Aminu (Covenant Enoch, Tenuche Yahaya Onimisi, Iyanu Omosayin, Bashir Suleiman), Achenyo (Robinson Choice
Osesoje, Hafsat Ismail, Ugwu Charity, Achobe Inikpi Augustina), Scorpion (Olorunjuwon Abigail, Maji Divine, Ojo Mercy, Lamin Momoh), Girl (Ibrahim Antonia, Omale Peace, Amos Victory), Boy (Dodo Israel, Amupitan Godspower, Sani Zekeri) we, the audience were taught that prevention begins with the awareness that the problem of drug and alcohol abuse exists in our culture and that every one of us can make an impact on this problem within the family unit and other close social networks with the show of more empathy, abstinence among others either by generating discussions among their families and friends or within their community by making charitable donations to organizations fighting addiction.

Discussions of drug and alcohol use and abuse can be difficult, but with the use of music, this creative Musical play has indicated that other forms of entertainment should be considered useful tools to help education and communication about these life-threatening issues. Everyone could identify at least one memorable scene within the play, and nearly all believed that the scenes were life-like, if not for the captivating portrayal of the Epic Theatre.

From what I witnessed, this revolutionary show will be momentarily well known for its strong campaign and advocacy on drug abuse and addiction, and, will shortly become an essential aspect of Nigerian life and Theatre. This is because of its unique blend of Broadway with soundtracks of all genres of music including Nigerian/African popular music and one of the most inventive librettos ever written. The result is that nearly every song in the show worked as a complex original concert, layering harmonious
contemporary music with the musical, using Brecht’s epic theatre, leaving us breathless and wanting more. In less than ten minutes, the entire hall exploded with applause.

This is because the arrangement of the music itself in Ogwu The Musical tells a cohesive story, beginning with the introspective “Say no to drugs” transitioning through the upbeat musical numbers, and concluding with the
contemplative “Loud” “Actions have consequences,” “ “Be ready tobe Stressed,” “The world is not your friend,” “Dilemma,” and “Kush.” infused with different contemporary dances. The cast and crew revealed that the
entire project came together in seven weeks, with rigorous rehearsals and that despite the tight timeline, the Producers and Directors created a safe and supportive environment, allowing everyone to be their most authentic and vulnerable selves, depicting the effects of alcohol and drug abuse.

Listening to a musical is an interesting experience and this musical play, Ogwu The Musical is a project that feels both timely and meticulously crafted and with its triumph certainly is going to create all kinds of original ironies. This wasn’t a regular performance. It was applied arts and campaign against drugs and substance abuse – a very topical issue.