THE VILLAGE HEADMASTER

Ambassador Segun Olusola (right,with the late Elder Steve Rhodes) created the Village Headmaster.



Let me take it from my last blog and thank Chief Segun Odegbami for reconciling our warring dribblers, Etim and Jay Jay. The Big Seg simply put 1 and 1 together, and got Oba Dapo Tejuosho to issue a royal order on the two combatants, and in a jiffy two multi-million lawsuits had gone for good. Isn't he simply mathematical ?


After my Valentine (mis)adventure last year I really needed something different for a change this time around. Fortunately the call of duty took me to Ibadan during the period, and I couldn't have asked for anything better; no need for making up excuses at the home front, and an all expenses paid time to booot!. Despite the menacing presence of military armoured tanks all over the once very peaceful city, we still managed to catch good fun, particularly at an open space joint called ina straight (!!!).I remember a memorable scene when some teenagers alighted from a jeep, and pronto jumped on the next available seats , took off their shirts (all of them !) and commenced operation !



Oh I meant ; commenced serious igbadun ! Ibadan kini s'ow ooo ? S'ow s'or jare !



The evening before, I had an issue with my val: She couln't understand why I wasn't going crazy about some soap opera on TV.Truth is I really don't watch TV that much any longer; especially the drama or soaps as they are called. I had to explain to her that I've seen it all - I mean the best of Nigerian drama. After over one hour of reeling back from my memory the best of Nigerian TV, she gave up the fight.Now she's dying of hunger for vintage drama, truly made in Nigeria.



In the 1970s and early 80s we had not the luxury of satellite TV; even coloured TV for that matter. In fact there were just four or five TV stations in the whole country, but believe me TV was awesome. For the purpose of this write up I'll restrict myself to the drama programs. They were few but extremely entertaining and intensely addictive.



The Masquerade from NTV Aba, with Chief Zeburudaya alias 4.30, Giringory Akabogu, Clarus and Apena (played by the legendary singer Christy Essien-Igbokwe) was comedy at its best. Benin's all-time unforgetable export was Hotel De Jordan. There was also this Baba Sala show in Ibadan featuring the indefatigable Okondo. Icheokwu was there too, and Jagua,etc etc. Cockcrow At Dawn,featuring the unforgettable Bitrus and that exquisitely beautifulf damsel who played his mother, came a little later and was immensely popular as well.



However, the most popular TV drama ever on Nigerian television was the Village Headmaster, created and I think also directed by Ambassador Segun Olusola, the highly respected afficianado of the arts in this country. This was art at its best.



Village Headmaster was a simple but ingeneous script built around a cosmopolitan Nigerian village with all shades of characters and mountain-sized egos. The King was therefore always busy calming hot nerves and solving all manners of disputes. I think the whole thing can be better illustrated if I take the lead characters one by one.I however warn that everything I write on this topic is entirely based on raw memory: If you spot any gaffes, please let me know.



HEADMASTER (initially played by Ted Mukoro,then by Femi Robinson,and finally by Justus Esiri): A perfect gentleman and an urbane character.He brought a touch of civility and western decorum to the series.



BASSEY OKON (Played by Jab Adu): One of the most popular characters,he had a provisions shop which invariably was patronised by everyone in the village.This gave him a feeling of being very important .His trademark exclamation of 'chei,chei ,chei !' was a big hit with us kids back then.



CHIEF ELEYINMI (played by Late Oba Funsho Adeolu): For many people this was the funniest character.Eleyinmi was proud,arrogant and brash.You dare not cross his path ; lest he confers on you an ignoble label that will hunt you for life; e.g. 'hunter of rats and rabbits'!



GARUBA (Joe Layode): A senior teacher in the school, but prone to drinking and a rather unending personal crisis.



COUNCILLOR BALOGUN ( Wole Amele): Was very popular for his boldness and confidence, and the fact that he was a thorn in Eleyinmi's flesh.



GORIMAPA (sorry I can't remember his real name): This late addition to the cast became an instant hit with his clean-shaven head which the ever witty Eleyinmi dubbed 'sahara desert'! Till today the slang Gorimapa is used to describe bald-headed people.



AMEBO (Ibidun Allison): This is the most popular social expression that Village Headmaster bestowed on the Nigerian society: Amebo, gossip,gossip,gossip........



SISI CLARA (played by the series' creator's late wife, Elsie): Typical calaba woman; combining the best of womanhood with a spirit of entrepreneurship ,self assurance and dignity.



OKORO (Jimi Johnson) : Another late entrant,but immensely popular character. It took me and many others many many years before realising that Jimi Johnson isn't an Ibo man afterall (in the case of Bassey Okon the name 'Adu' gave him away ). That tells you the quality of acting on display.



KABIYESI ( Dejumo Lewis): The graceful and reverred monarch; loved by all, and who somehow managed to find the solutions to every conflict.



I also remember Lakunle Ojo,Boniface (Asuquo Ukwuak),teacher Oghene (Melville Obriango) and Chief Kokonsari.

I use this medium to pay tribute to these great actors who really brought fun and laughter to millions of Nigerians.Above all I salute the creator of the program Ambassador Segun Olusola for his ingenuity. And to the dead among these great heroes I wish a peaceful rest.



Maybe Laspapi or someone who knows him will read this post: Please try a stage version of this great drama. And since Segun Olusola is still alive, he can do one of two things or a combination of both : Re-invent the programme with a new cast; or take advantage of technology and make a compilation of the original series in DVD format (we won't mind the 'poor' picture quality;not at all !).This I assure,will sell in millions.



My fear though is if the tapes are still available.NTA please prove me wrong.