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Itura has been on-air since October 2022, and even though it’s set in the colonial Yoruba kingdom, years before Nigeria’s amalgamation, there are lessons from the show that will resonate with viewers and are still valid in 2023. Since series aren’t created solely for entertainment purposes, it is refreshing to find that this cultural show with an incredible storyline about the fight for Ibaokuta’s throne is packed with wisdom.
Here are some of the biggest lessons from the 260-part series:
1. No one ever likes to give up power easily: most Nigerians can understand it, especially since most of our presidents have had two tenures, and those who haven’t still tried their best to make it happen. It is also the same with political parties as they all do everything they can to hold on to the regions they are strongest in.
2. Every hidden truth will come out eventually, just ask Aduke and Omiwumi. No matter how long you hide a secret, one day, it will eventually come out in the open, especially when it adversely affects other people.
3. The ruthless always wins: This may sound like a wrong lesson, but there’s truth in it. At the end of the day, people who are willing to do almost anything with barely any boundaries for what they want often win, even if it is for a short time.
4. Musicians with great talent like the Amuludun Troupe will always have great social influence: The same way we have stars like Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Niniola, and the likes now; the people of Itura had the Amuludun crew. And just like these aforementioned superstars, their leader, Ayanniyi wielded great social influence and so did his wife, who was the crew’s star dancer.
5. People will do almost anything to make money: In times of great hunger, panic, or poverty, those who lack will do almost anything to make money. Without the confirmation of this fact, there’d be no dustbin carriers, prostitutes, thieves, or hawkers. They will each tell you they are doing what they can to survive, albeit some more legally than others – Dehinde and Ajangbadi come to mind.
6. There will always be false prophets: Awojide was a great priest for a long time until he soiled his hands by sleeping with someone else’s wife. He lost his ability to hear the gods afterwards and began to bear false witness. His daughter, Omiwumi took on the horrible trait from him when she became Iya Orisa after his death. Even in the world today, there are people who give fake prophecies and encourage their followers to do silly things like drink bleach to watch away their sins. Sigh!
7. Your gifts will always set you apart just as they did for Yewande, Iya Onidiri, Ayanniyi, and Adisa in their different fields of visions, hairdressing, drumming, and sculpting. These characters’ gifts opened doors for them that they would have had to fight years to walk through. Just as it happened for them, anyone with great skill, zeal and wisdom to show it off in the right places, as a chance to do exceptional things.
8. When nations fight, the biggest victims are the poorest people: During the Oyo and Ekiti Parapo fight, most of the Yoruba kingdom paid dearly. Ayedade became a shadow of itself and Ibaokuta spent many moons in famine and unrest. Every time two countries in the present world fight, it’s often the citizens that bear the brunt while the leaders championing the war stay hidden safe in the fortresses.
9. Love can change a man, but it’s only his choice to change. When Omooba Sijuade realised he was head over heels in love with Omosewa, he became a different man in certain aspects of his life. He stopped womanising and learned to be more respectful and for the first time in his life, he learned to put someone else’s needs before his. Still, at his core, he was the same and he only made a conscious effort to be better for his love. Every woman trying to change a man with love must remember this key lesson – love can change a man, but only if he wants it to.
10. If the ruling class continues to oppress the poor, they will eventually revolt: The people of Ibaokuta resulted to protests many times when things got too difficult and demanded better treatment from the leaders. At a point, the poor stole from the rich to pay taxes and created a rebel force called ‘The Ominira’. The same has replicated itself globally in the past few years with multiple protests where people are demanding more from leaders. Most recently, Niger Republic had a coup and publicly judged their leaders by calling them out for corrupt practices and threatening to kill them if they failed to show a money trail.
11. Elections always birth corruption and a level of violence, but only the ruling class and contestants can minimise its effects. During Ibaokuta’s election, most candidates resorted to bribery and illegal tricks to try to maintain the upper hand – Iya Ewe and the Olowoporoku come to mind. Those who fail to play dirty at first kept gathering the least supporters until they eventually buckled under pressure. If Nigeria’s recent election is anything to go by, then violence and corruption can be expected, but the leaders are the only ones with enough control to stop or minimise it if they all agree to do things fairly and legally.
Itura has been on-air since October 2022, and even though it’s set in the colonial Yoruba kingdom, years before Nigeria’s amalgamation, there are lessons from the show that will resonate with viewers and are still valid in 2023. Since series aren’t created solely for entertainment purposes, it is refreshing to find that this cultural show with an incredible storyline about the fight for Ibaokuta’s throne is packed with wisdom.
Most of the lessons above will force you to think deeply about the world around you. It’s astounding to see that a series can evoke such levels of introspection and teach you so much, but that’s the magic of Itura. If you’d love to watch the show, catch it on weekdays on Africa Magic Urban (DStv ch. 153 or GOtv ch. 8) at 6:30 pm and Showcase (DStv ch. 151) at 8:30 pm, or catch up via DStv Catch Up or Showmax to enjoy all the drama and lessons only the people of Ibaokuta can give you.
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