The story
The Plot
It’s 1897. The Benin Empire is thriving. In response to an attack on a British expedition, against Oba Ovonramwen’s wishes, The British attack the empire, and the entire empire is under British control.
Iyase, the King’s General, seeks the Aruosa stone, to fight against the British. The stone was a gift from Osanubua which has been protected by a chosen group of priests. Iyase Believes that with the stone, he would free the empire from the attack of the British and then rule the empire instead of Oba Ovonramwen.
The group of priests know that this is a bad idea. They hide the power of the stone using a forbidden form of magic, in a young baby called Osamede. Benin is taken over by the British and Iyase is Imprisoned.
21 years later, The British control over the empire is in full swing. They have taken over the mines and have put the citizens to work. Osamede is grown, stubborn, and impulsive but she has a low tolerance for injustice. Osamede works at the mines and is not happy with the way the citizens are being treated.
Her defiance to the status quo puts a target on her back and one day, after her work in the mines, she is targeted and attacked by a superior soldier from the mines. In trying to defend herself, her hidden powers are unleashed and the soldier is decimated.
OSAMEDE
Once this power is released, Iyase, who has been in prison, is released and he begins his new quest; to find Osamede and retrieve the powers of the stone for himself. Osamede, now a fugitive must learn her true nature and control the power of the Arousa stone as it seems the fate of the empire rests on her shoulders.
Osamede is a riveting story replete with royalty, patriotism and self-ambition rendered within the grand and outstanding cultural glory which is synonymous with the Benin Kingdom. Blending antiquity and modernity, the musically-infused stage play imparts salient messages to the contemporary audience by stirring up thought-provoking life lessons as it navigates the enduring themes of nationhood and social justice, love and sacrifice and the battle for self-actualisation against the backdrop of our rich heritage.
The intriguing and captivating stage play masterfully weaves the traditions of old with the ingenuity and advancements of the day to create a spellbinding tale that delves into the discourse of societal issues and percepts and rouses the bold spirit against status quo.
The stage play, which has held at the Muson centre for two consecutive years with 12 shows to date, has been the viewing delight of over 2,500 attendees of varying age demographics with notable testimonials about the cast’s outstanding performances, the cultural display, show quality and timely relevance of the message.
The stage play, which has held at the Muson centre for two consecutive years with 12 shows to date, has been the viewing delight of over 2,500 attendees of varying age demographics with notable testimonials about the cast’s outstanding performances, the cultural display, show quality and timely relevance of the message.
Theme and music
The movie has an ambitious theme of Reclaiming Africans’ Glory and restoring our identity. An In-depth look at an empire lost, destroyed and its identity stolen by the British. The culture and the identity of the Benin people seemed to be brutally muffled and so the film ignites a quest to reclaim the glory of the Benin empire and a reminder that Benin was once a city with the most sophisticated architecture, it was culturally sound, and innovation was at its peak.
There is also the exploration of Man’s inhumanity to man – The British invasion of the Benin empire and the inhumane treatment of the citizens in order to move precious materials from the land. The film also shows how the oppressed become the oppressor in a bid to be free of the oppressor. We can see this with Iyase’s character, who will go to any length to retrieve the power of the stone for himself and destroy anything or anyone who stands in his way.
The Hero’s Journey; The most important theme is Osamede’s journey of self-discovery and self-development to become the one leader that would change the course of history for the Benin people. Sometimes one might not be prepared for what they are called to do, would they accept and take on the responsibility or would they run away from fate? Osamede learns to accept her true nature. Leadership is experienced and not given.
The film will explore Benin folk songs from the early 1900s. The drum percussions and native sounds of the Benin people will help to evoke the right emotions in each scene. There will be a general overarching theme for the film that will eventually branch into two sub-themes; One, for Osamede and the other for Iyase. There will also be other music pieces to help elevate each scene’s mood.
