OVONRAMWEN NOGBAISI. By Ola Rotimi

For sheer grandeur, pageantry and the like, this play is really engrossing. Here we relive the erstwhile glory of a powerful monarch/monarchy - another historical drama by the awe-inspiring Ola Rotimi. The whole ambience here reeks with grandeur and dignity. A superb work. We tend to forget that in the "good old old days" - a time when the wonders of modern science were almost non existent- the world still ambled on, even in Africa here, with strict hierarchy, social classes, mores, pomp et al in most societies no matter how rudimentary. Imagine the rustic world of Thomas Hardy's novels in the Europe of yore - was it not very interesting in its own way? In this particular play, the stirring music and drums, the theatrical truculence and menace, the rich, profound conversations - all recreate a glorious, dusky kingdom.

-         - Paul Lothane