After several years of being off air, popular sitcom, ‘Village Headmaster’ is set to come back to the television screen . The programme celebrated its 50th anniversary on Monday with a play titled, ‘O Vacuum’, which was staged at Terrakulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The play saw some surviving cast of the old ‘Village Headmaster’ take to the stage with the new crop of actors of the sitcom. It was emotional as actors of yesteryear alongside a new crop of actors re-enacted the drama of ‘Oja Town’.
In the play, Amebo emerges as the market leader of the town or ‘Iyaloja of Oja’. Fulfilling the ‘no vacuum’ trend, she replaced Sisi Clara as Iyaloja of Oja. Other characters like Teacher Fadele, Okoro and Dagbolu also brought a reminscent of the drama that got national appeal.
And, given a minute of respect were late cast members like Akin Olasemo, Sam Agbebi, Albert Olayemi, Chief Mrs Elcee Olusola, Oba Funso Adeolu and Oba Wole Amele. Others included Tunde Oloyede, Femi Robinson, Joe Layode, Ted Mukoro, Dele Ogunmiluyi, Enebeli Elebuwa and Justice Esiri.
The event which was organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Village Headmaster Family (VHMF) had in attendance the former first lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola and former Directors-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA.
“What we are trying to do in NTA is to use this opportunity to explore possibilities of recreating the ‘Village Headmaster’”, Muhammed Yakubu, the Director General of NTA, said.
“Almost every Nigerian who is about the same age or in his 40s remembers village headmaster. So the mere fact that, 50 years after, people still talk about the Village Headmaster is in itself an achievement. And it’s a cause for celebration.”
According to a former DG of NTA, Vincent Maduka, ‘Village Headmaster’ addressed issues which saw tradition clash with modernity.
“Instead of contrasting and creating tension, the idea was to blend them,” he said.
“So, you have a Oloja who was kaibyesi which was tradition. And you have a village headmaster who was modern.”
Giving the vote of thanks, Ibidun Allison (Amebo), the chairperson of ‘Village Headmaster’, expressed gratitude to her colleagues, NTA and fans of the programme.
“The Village Headmaster is going places and with your help and support, it will go places,” she said.
Village Headmaster was created by late Ambassador Segun Olusola and the first producer was Oba Sanya Dosunmu, the Olowu of Owu.
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