Emeka Moses
Sowande to deliver lecture
Activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State will kick off next week with Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, making a return to the department where he served for so many years, including being the Head of Department.
Also, another icon in dramatic arts, Prof. Bode Sowande, is billed to deliver the anniversary lecture in a series of activities that will continue till early next year.
Briefing newsmen in Ikeja, Lagos on Friday in conjunction with some prominent alumni of the department, the Head of Department, Dr Mrs Toyin Ibifarin, appealed to alumni, corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to support the department and help restore its lost glory.
Former students of the department present at the event included Prof. Ahmed Yerima, who was among the first set of students, Mr Yemi Sodimu, Mr Yemi Solade, Mr Segun Aina Arinze, Dr Adeboye Ola among others.
“We shared the same birthday with the departments of Music, Fine Arts and Linguistics. Because we did not want divided attention when some of those departments started marking their anniversaries, we shifted our own. It is the alumni that are powering the programme. We thank God for the legacies of 50 years.
“We want a turnaround for the department and we want the department to be celebrated too. Prof. Wole Soyinka will next week come over to flag off the celebration. There will also be a home coming event that will last for three days. Already we are making contact with old students and well-wishers to come to our aid,” she said.
Among areas where the department needs assistance include an upgrade of the library, improvement of the pit theatre, a bus , broadcast operation equipment, toilet facilities and a general facelift of the departmental building.
The alumni expressed their readiness to contact other alumni, corporate bodies and friends who could come to the aid of the department.
Reminiscing on their days as students, Yerima and others said they were grateful to their teachers and mentors who taught them.
They recalled how they started their journeys as actors and theatre practitioners and expressed their readiness to contribute to the growth of the department .
