Connect with us

Entertainment

AUGUST MEETING! Drama on women empowerment to tour Nigeria next month

Published




To promote women’s empowerment and the advocacy for their rights on the grounds of equity, the Drama, “August Meeting’’ will begin a tour of major cities in the country next month.

The play, rooted in the events of the Aba Women’s Riot of 1929, was premiered in February in Lagos and it sets out to ask: “Aftermath of the Aba Women’s Riot: Where Are the Women’’.

For those born after the early days of Nigeria’s experience of colonialism and those not conversant with the country’s history, they will be at home with it when the drama begins its tour from Lagos on Nov. 18.

READ ALSO! IT’S AN ASSAULT ON ORGANISED LABOUR! NLC threatens to drag FG before ILO over ‘No Work No Pay’ policy

In the Aba Women’s War, the women of Oloko then in the region of Aba, but in the present Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia, rode the waves of rebellion and victory to take charge of their lives after fighting the British.

MORE READING!  Actor Lege Miami, Eniola Badmus trade words over private matchmatcking

Sparked by a dispute that occurred on Nov. 18, 1929, between one woman, Nwanyereuwa and Emereuwa, a man who worked for the Warrant Chiefs on imposing tax on the women of Oloko, which was traditionally wrong.

“The Women’s War remains an important historic event that speaks about the underestimated strength of women who came together and showed courage, bravery, rebellion and even sacrifice while fighting an oppressive system.

“In the aftermath of the war, which ignited the revolution in the defence of women’s rights in Nigeria, the August Meeting was inaugurated,’’ the Producer, Chioma Onyenwe said in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

She noted that the fight for women empowerment was unending and the advocacy of women’s rights on grounds of equity and equality was still crucial as demonstrated in the lack of inclusion of women in Nigerian politics.

MORE READING!  Military frees abducted Lagos editor Segun Olatunji

Onyenwe said that these were depicted in the play written by Paul Ugbede, produced by Chioma Onyenwe and directed by Kenneth Uphopho.

The August Meeting takes a critical look at the steps taken by the women of Oloko after the war for total liberation.

READ ALSO! SANGO DOES NOT STRIKE WITHOUT A REASON! Residents panic as thunderbolt kills man while cutting down iroko tree in Ondo

She said that the play highlighted the story of the women of Oloko and their leader Nwanyereuwa as they demanded control over their lives and battle age-old customs that relegated women to the background.

MORE READING!  Nationwide blackout imminent as national grid collapses

The August Meeting examines themes that are extremely topical such as gender equality, women participation in politics, monopolised power, women as second-class citizens, motherhood, family and domesticity.

It highlights the problem with patriarchy and the need for women empowerment.

The production boasts of top-class actors such as Gloria Anozie-Young who plays Nwanyereuwa, Bella Rose Okojie, Ijeoma Aniebo, Inna Erizia, Odera Orji and Deola Gimbiya.

The August Meeting will open in Lagos on Nov. 18, Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 in Abuja, Nov. 27 in Nsukka, Nov. 28 in Enugu, Nov. 29 in Awka, Dec. 1 in Owerri and close in Aba on Dec. 2.

(NAN)

Advertisement
Comments



Trending