Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has extolled the virtues of the legendary Moremi for her courageous act and leadership roles that saw the triumph and sustenance of the Yoruba race till date.
He said the Moremi story would continue to be relevant in modern day life of every Yoruba, saying that without the Moremi story, there wouldn’t have been a Yoruba race.
Oba Ogunwusi, who spoke on in Lagos on the next production of “Queen Moremi The Musical”, said he will be the first to campaign for a woman president so long as such woman is detribalised and generally accepted by Nigerians.
He stated that such female presidential candidate should be an embodiment of true Nigerian.
“If I don’t believe female leadership in Nigeria, I will no champion this Moremi course,” he added.
He added that the significance of the Moremi story propelled the House of Oodua Foundation to undertake the initiative of producing a musical on the life and times of Moremi, a great amazon, who was a great inspiration.
“The story of Moremi is beyond race, but it is to encourage women to add value to the society. Women are to me the best thing God created. They gave back everything you give them in multiple. If you give them seeds, they bring forth children that will develop the nation.
“So, we have to nurture women in the society as their roles are not enough. That’s why we are bringing the Moremi story back. It is also very important to tell our story. Moremi is a goddess of liberty, the basis of her belief, which is the foundation United States of America (USA) was built. For us, we are out to uphold our heritage and culture,” the monarch said.
Speaking on the second Queen Moremi The Musical created by Princess Ronke Ademiluyi and produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (Terra Kulture), Oba Ogunwunsi said the foundation is working on plans to take the production round schools across the country.
He added that the promotion of the musical would not be limited to the country, stressing that it move to countries such as Brazil, Cuba and United Kingdom as soon as sponsors are available. This Easter season, it will show at Terra Kulture Victoria Island, Lagos from April 18 till May 5.
“Theatre industry is on the decline. So, with this production, we are helping to revive theatre-going culture. And with adequate funding, such productions can be taken abroad thereby fetching the nation foreign earnings…”
“We are glad that already, lots of schools are replicating the Moremi story in their theatre presentations,” he added.
“Queen Moremi The Musical” made its debut last December and it was sold out.
Source: The Nation