Musings from the Stage - Wakaa the Musical

If you happen to be in Lagos, Nigeria, in April 2017, and you haven't seen Wakaa the Musical, you should. It is a very beautiful piece, and it's showing every Sunday in April, and during the Easter holidays too. Here's my take on it:
Plot ✓
Cast ✓
Dialogue ✓
Music ✓
Lighting ✓
Costume ✓

There was no boring moment from the beginning to the end. And at the end, the audience had no option but to give the cast and crew a standing ovation.

And it got me thinking...
Nigeria is a paradise managed by demons. Yes, a paradise - our climate, our natural resources, and our skills and talents. But it appears that the place is populated with demons of different grades across strata, and animals in human skin, with only a few mortals sprinkled between, and no angels. 


The characters in the play are so familiar. I know some of them; you probably know them too - so many Kikes and Rexes, gold diggers. While we want to blame those in government, I've been thinking, what about us? Are we really any better? In our little places of power, what do we do? What do we do when we are gatekeepers of resources?



I'm full of more questions than answers. But what I am sure of is that we need to stop our wakaa wakaa and like Tosan, we have to individually say "Enough!", regardless of whether the consequences are penury, prison or death. 
Because, the other option is only a slower death with an end more painful and brutal, whether in this world or in the world to come.
Because, maybe, just maybe, our lone voice will echo loud and far. And maybe other humans will hear and join us. 
Maybe the Darwin's theory of evolution will become reality, and some of the animals will metamorphose and become humans. And maybe, just maybe we will WIN!

Wakaa also got me thinking about the dynamics of love. I still haven't figured out why sensible men get enamored with foolish and wasteful women. Why does common sense not attract common sense often. That, I think is the tragedy of love!


PS. I would love to read your thoughts, especially if you've seen the piece.





Comments

Purplerain said…
I have never been interested Waka the musical, but after reading this, I wish I had gone to see it. beautiful post and amaze-balls pictures :)
19 April 2017 at 08:42
Efadel said…
You can still go to see it. It's showing on the 23rd and 30th of April, 3pm and 6pm on both days.
21 April 2017 at 04:13
Oche Chidi said…
If I was in Lagos I'm almost certain I wouldn't have attended or even have heard of it(not too much of a fan of such). In any case my issue with plays like such( forgive my generalization) is dat it's just an act. D same people who make a lot of noise of what's wrong wit Nigeria and parrot how to put d country right are failing in their own personal lives. I've always believed dat Nigeria's problem is both a Leadership and a followership problem. After all leaders are d reflection of a peoples' paradigm. Just a personal word. Haven' t u also wondered why intelligent, beautiful, sensible and sometimes godly ladies get married to vain, purposeless and vision less men? It beats me too.
25 April 2017 at 05:12
Efadel said…
True, Oche, we have both "leadership" and "followership" problems. Like I mentioned in the piece, it seems as if Nigeria is populated with demons and animals in human skins, and it's not just the leaders. It is the people. But we don't need perfect people to get it close to right. We just need humans - thinking, feeling, God-fearing humans. And maybe if you put one piece right, and I put the other piece right, maybe we just might get more people to put their bits right, and maybe commonsense will win.
As for the matter of godly ladies getting married to vain, purposeless and vision-less men, I often wonder too. Could it be because opposites attract?
25 April 2017 at 08:31
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