OAU’s 49th Convocation Play ‘Madam Tinubu’ Thrills Audience with Historic Power, Politics and Resistance

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           Ezekiel Ogunniyi & Tosin Olawuyi 

The Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), on Thursday night staged its annual convocation play, with a stage drama titled "Madam Tinubu," drawing a packed audience, to the Oduduwa Hall as part of activities marking the university’s 49th Convocation Ceremony.

The two-hour performance, which ran from 7:35 p.m. to 9:35 p.m., transported the audience into pre-colonial Lagos, narrating the fierce political life of Madam Efunroye Tinubu— the famous 19th-century merchant, power broker, and resistance figure. The production spotlighted her unusual political dominance at a time when women wielded little public authority.

The play, directed by lecturers in the department, including Toyin Ogundeji, Babatunde Allen Bakare, and Gabriel Otsemobor, presented a layered portrayal of Madam Tinubu, delving into her political strategies, controversial business dealings, and her eventual exile. 

The performance urged the audience to re-examine Tinubu beyond the label of an antagonist, inviting them to confront the complicated moral struggles that shaped her decisions.

Through her clashes with British officials—represented by the character Mr. Sandman—the drama underscored the calculated infiltration of pre-colonial Nigeria by colonial forces, often aided by local collaborators. One of the play’s most striking lines, “the most enlightened African has become our worst enemy,” drew murmurs from the hall as it highlighted the themes of betrayal, power, and resistance.

Speaking after the performance, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, appraise the Department of Dramatic Arts for sustaining its long-standing tradition of staging a convocation play each year. He commended the cast and crew for what he described as a “rich, culturally grounded and intellectually stimulating” production. He also acknowledged the dignitaries present.

The 49th Convocation continues through Saturday, 13 December, with the conferment of more degrees, an academic lecture, and award presentations.


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