When I arrived at…, by Dr Emman Shehu
The University of Nigeria Nsukka for postgraduate studies, I had no inkling I would be involved in a theatre production that would make me almost a cult -hero.
Playing the lead role in Ngugi’s THE TRIAL OF DEDAN KIMATHI was a huge challenge combining it with postgraduate work. But the dedication including researching the Mau- Mau uprising and Kimathi’s life, made all the difference.
The production became so popular that a nationwide tour eventually materialised with rave reviews in several publications. The best review was certainly the one by Niyi Osundare which was published in the now defunct “West Africa” magazine.
One of the stopovers during the tour was in the fledgling Federal Capital, Abuja at the behest of the now late General Mamman Jiya Vatsa . He had recently returned from a writing programme at IOWA , and was working towards setting up an International Writers Village. This would lead to part of his run in with IBB. The Abuja performance went really well and Vatsa was effusive in his commendations, particularly for the director, Dr Ossie Enekwe. Both had been friends through the Association of Nigerian Authors engagements.
READ ALSO: Why Good Friday Matters, by Emman Usman Shehu
Thus Dedan Kimathi became my new name on campus with the inevitable dreadlocks.
Ngugi was supposed to be around for a conference at that period and the cast eagerly looked forward to having the playwright watch the production. The trip never materialised for some reason.
Ngugi has left behind a rich corpus of literary works.
Dr Shehu is the Director, International Institute of Journalism, Abuja.
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