AKEEM LASISI reports that popular Yoruba actors are part of the cast of Sango on Broadway, a play that seasoned producer, Tai Balofin, is taking to the US
Roving from serious themes to comedy, Olaniyi Afonja has emerged a force in the Yoruba film industry. Part of his profile that buttresses this is that in the past six years, the actor popularly called Sanyeri has produced about six movies, while also taking part in the ones made by other people.
In spite of this feat, however, he has not had an opportunity to travel outside Nigeria – as many of his colleagues have done.
But the gate is finally opened for him too. In the next few days, the Oyo, Oyo State-born artiste will land in the God’s own country – the United States – where he will be playing the role of Esu, the Yoruba god of tricks and unpredictable justice.
Sanyeri is one of the 15 actors that veteran journalist, actor, producer and promoter, Otunba Tai Balofin, has rallied for the performance of another version of the story of Sango, Yoruba’s god of thunder. The epic written and directed by Balofin will be on Broadway in several US cities that include New York, Washington, Florida, Atlanta and Boston.
Balofin says, it is a way of marking the 25th year of his international promotion.
In the cast are Murphy Afolabi, Saidi Balogun, Bukky Wright, Peju Ogunmola, Mercy Akhigbe, Fathia Balogun, Ronke Odusanya and Bimbo Oshin.
Others are Kunle Adegbite, Aishat Abimbola, Eniola Badmus and Ronke Odusanya.
In the promotion arm of his business, Otunba has taken the likes of Shina Peters, Zebrudaya and Baba Suwe abroad. He did the same for the late Sunny Okosun and Orlando Owoh.
According to him, the current story of the god of thunder, which had been produced by others in various versions, goes into the root of the Sango phenomenon.
“But it also explores culture, love and crime,’ Balofin notes.
On what informed the choice of members of the cast, he says access played a major role.
“I have been able to obtain visas for all of them. I took 20 applications to the US embassy, and they issued visas to 18 people. I think that is a good mark,” the promoter explains, noting that he prosecuted a similar mission last year and 2010.
Multilingual Balofin, who started broadcasting as a newscaster in 1976, also hopes to shoot a film with the cast before returning to Nigeria after about 10 weeks.
On Friday, Sanyeri, Murphy, Abimbola and other actors were at SP Hotel, in Ebute Meta, where they are camped for the Sango on Broadway. All the three told our correspondents that they were in high spirits and could not wait to land in the US for the play.
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