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In the face of false narratives about Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, not many with first-hand knowledge of the true nature of events can be bothered about standing up for the region. Seki Dance Drama stands out for relentlessly leading the charge in drawing attention to the south-south people’s naturally warm and accommodating disposition, dispelling the notion of their hostility towards visitors. Through masterful theatretic displays, the group has positioned itself as the world’s lens into the conflicted region’s culture, and will now take the message a notch higher on an iconic stage.
Almost six decades after legendary Nigerian playwright Herbert Ogunde mesmerised the audience at the iconic The Apollo, pantomimic dance group Seki Dance Drama has a date with history as a member of an exclusive league of Nigerian performers to stage a play at the famous arena. The group will appear as one of the headline performers at the maiden ‘Naija To The World’ exhibition concert on September 16.
Prominent for shaping the narrative of how Niger Deltans are perceived across the globe, Seki Dance Drama will embody the ‘Naija To The World’ exhibition’s purpose of providing alternative narratives to ‘the stories out there about Nigeria and Nigerians’.
The Niger Delta group is billed to showcase a compelling, never-before-seen display that stands the oil-rich region apart from other Nigerian cultures. Rich with cultural annotations and traditional dances synonymous with the south-south region, Seki Dance Drama will tell previously untold stories of love, peace, and unity common among the people. The group’s message will be expressed through a sublime variety of dances and masquerade displays.
Yibo Koko, the group’s creator, said “Getting honoured with a spot at the Apollo to tell the Niger Delta story is a testament to the public’s trust in the validity of the image we propagate. It is an honour we don’t take lightly. We have been presented with a bigger platform to showcase the Niger Delta culture and people, and we will not compromise on narratives that will be beneficial to our people. We are delighted to join an exclusive group of Nigerian performers to climb the famous stage.”
Seki Dance Drama will also be joined by other Niger Delta natives such as Timi Dakolo, Omawumi, Timaya, and KCee in showcasing the bubbling talent and creativity in the region also responsible for producing internationally celebrated stars such as Burna Boy and Rema. The group’s scheduled performance follows Herbert Ogunde’s appearance at the world-famous arena in 1967.
Sharing his excitement on what concertgoers can expect from Seki Dance Drama and other line-ups of performers, BHM Founder, Ayeni Adekunle said, “We couldn’t be more excited about the lineup of stars that will grace the concert at The Apollo. From the journeys of these creative talents in a peculiar region like the Niger Delta, we believe that the world has a lot more to learn from Nigerian culture beyond just marvelling at the beautiful sound of our music.”
Chief Executive Officer of Buckwyld Media Network, Efe Omorogbe, corroborating Ayeni, also said ‘Naija To The World – the Niger Delta Experience’ “will serve as a testament to the incredible reservoir of artistic brilliance present in the Niger Delta region.”
The organisers have announced that ‘Naija To The World’ will be an annual exhibition to provide an alternative narrative to ‘the stories out there about Nigeria and Nigerians’.
In 2019, Burna Boy filled The Apollo’s 1,538-seat capacity for his ‘African Giant’ concert. No fewer than 1,500 concertgoers are also expected to witness the inaugural edition of the ‘Naija To The World’ exhibition live at the historic music hall, while at least 10 million viewers will watch on broadcast networks across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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