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Tag: Queen Moremi

  • Queen Moremi tours the nation

    The beauty of Moremi Ajasoro still rankles.  As the reigning beauty pageant, Miss Oreoluwa Adedamola embarked on her first national assignment to promote the place of Queen Moremi Ajasoro, it was time to again look at the qualities that made her the heroine of her people.  As part of the activities by the palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi to sensitise the society on the need for more women to rise to the occasion of leadership, Adedamola embarked on the tour of the Southeast where she met with primary and secondary children and read from a book on Moremi.  The idea is to begin early enough to encourage school children to learn how to lead; how to make concerted sacrifices for the society.

    For a while the palace of the Ooni felt it was also part of using the sentiments of the Moremi saga to reach out to other parts of Nigeria, solely for the purpose of unity and togetherness.  Therefore the beauty pageant as epitomized by Miss Adedamola, an English undergraduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ife, is to use culture and book reading to further entrench Moremi’s leadership skills in the mind of the young.  Adedamola said in an interview, “In Enugu, I will be meeting with primary and secondary school students.  I will be reading from a book on Moremi Ajasoro.  The book indeed embodies her life, her contributions to the liberation of Ile-Ife, when it looked impossible to accomplish such a great feat.

    “Yes, our aim is to meet with children mainly, read and interact with them.  I have been around for sometimes now, but this project this time is to raise the tempo of the Moremi project and ideals.  It is for the children to learn and know how real and powerful Moremi was to her people”.

    When they got to Enugu, they moved from school to school as was dictated by the programme.  “For now, we will be in Enugu, from there to Kwara and later to Ogun, precisely Abeokuta.  It is a tour that is meant to last for a while and it will also take us to parts of the North.  The book inculcates the history and culture of the Yoruba people and also deals on how to use culture to promote unity.  The book equally dwells on the epitome of womanhood, what it takes to be a mother and to lead others”, Adedamola explained.

    The book is entirely on leadership.  Part of the nationwide tour is to ensure that those ideals of culture and leadership are indoctrinated in children and then try to divert their minds away from narrow issues of nepotism and tribalism.  “The book on Moremi, is a major part of history of the Yoruba”, Adedamola noted.  “It is for this and more that the book stands a test of time.  It is not only reading per se.  We will be using cultural and appropriate musical renditions to pass the message across.  After the reading there will be an interactive session with them to see if they really got what is said”.

    The issues have to dwell more on the girl-child.  It is for them to learn and then be able to mix well across cultural barriers.  There is no end to this sort of project because it projects into the future to prepare a generation of new and conscious leadership, who can tolerate one another and move the society to greater heights.  The story of this quintessential woman of history has come to represent adept leadership, resilience, love, commitment and courage.

    As the tour moved to Enugu the children were really receptive, quite eager to grasp the ideals of a lady whose place in history is irrevocable.  This is why the tour and the project will last one year; enough period of time to imbibe these sentiments deep enough into the subconscious of children.  However, the book reading itself will be on for only one month, while the other aspects of the project will continue.

    In front of the palace at Ife the Ooni has already erected a giant statue of Moremi to further remind the public about her place of importance in Yoruba history.  Moremi was the woman who saved the Ife people when their enemies tormented and harassed and intimidated them hundreds of years ago.  But at a point Moremi one of the queens of Oranmiyan rose in defence of her people by consulting a sea goddess.  In the process she discovered the secret of their enemies called the Igbo people.

    When the battle was fought and won by Ife people Moremi sacrificed her only son to fulfill the promise she made to the gods.  Thus Ife people became eternally grateful and free ever since.  Today she is eulogized and respected by Yoruba people as a whole.

  • Masters feast on Queen Moremi

    It is one of the best ways to preserve a heroine, a queen mother who lost her only son to save Ife people. Come June 8th, 28 of Nigeria’s master artists will display their different works at the Alexis Galleries, Lagos. Edozie Udeze who encountered some of the artists and the promoter of the project, Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, reports

    It is planned to be the greatest show in the history of visual art sector in Nigeria in recent times.  It is a moment when twenty-eight of Nigeria’s masters of the art will be on display at the Alexis Galleries in Lagos.  Each of the masters cutting across all genres of the visual has been able to paint or sculpt the image of Queen Moremi of Ile-Ife, a virtuous woman who sacrificed her only son and indulged in other personal sacrifices to save her people.  The project is Patty Chidiac Mastrogiannis contribution to the ongoing campaign begun by the Ooni of Ife , Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi to entrench the name of this quintessential Queen mother and what she did that was rare and still unparalleled in today’s world peopled by self-centred leaders and individuals.

    The masters include Bruce Onobrakpeya, Kolade Oshinowo, Tola Wewe, Edosa Ogiugo, Bunmi Babatunde, Abiodun Olaku, Gbenga Offo, Reuben Ugbine, Chinwe Uwatshe, Sam Ovraiti, Duke Asidere, Dominique Zinkpe, Fidelis Odogwu.  Others are Sam Ebohon, Tony Nsofor, Alex Nwokolo, Diseye Tantua, Mavua Lessor, Segun Aiyesan, Ato Arinze, Zinno Orara, Joshua Nmesirionye, Gerry Nnubia, John Oyedemi, Joe Essien, Abraham Uyoubisere, Gab Awusa, and Gerald Chukwuma.  Each artist is meant to prepare one work in his medium and from any perspective of Moremi that suits him or her.  At a press conference to announce the commencement of the show which will open at Alexis on June 8th, Mrs. Chidiac Mastrogiannis disclosed that none of the works will be made public until the Ooni sees them first.  “It will be his right to see the works first.  That is why none of the works is here for this press preview.  He deserves that respect and honour.  And this show will be the biggest visual art show in the history of contemporary art in Nigeria where twenty-eight of the masters would be on call with their individual artistic works on one person.  It is big; it is a show that we all hope to witness”.

    It will also be a travelling art exhibition.  From Lagos, the works will travel to London, from there to New York then Dubai and finally to Lebanon.  Interestingly, this series will be on for a while.  More works of visual will be done on the Moremi project to totally explore all aspects of her sacrifices to better the lot of her people of Ile-Ife.  “It was not easy to have such a beautiful and virtuous queen at that time with so much passion for her people. This is why we have to key into the ideals of House of Oduduwa project to embark on this gargantuan project”.  Of course the Ooni will be there to declare the exhibition open and to seize the opportunity to let the world into the history of this woman of honour.

    For the artists, it will be an ample time to show dexterity, class and uniqueness.  This is why the theme of the show is: Moremi  Art Exhibition, views from the masters.  Both on canvases and on carved forms, the different views will be amazing artworks to view and cherish and appreciate.

    Masters speak

    At the press conference some of the artists spoke about the angles they took and what Moremi means to them.  As a historical figure, good enough to generate rich repertoire of art pieces, the artists were really excited to be part of this epoch-making historic projects.  Gerry Nnubia a painter, said, “as an experimentalist artist, a master in my own right, the story of Moremi provides a rare saga for an artist.  She is a special and good personality for an artist to paint.  Therefore, when we watched the musical drama on her at Terra Kulture, Lagos, we saw all sorts of aspects of her to make the canvas smile.  I then saw her as a woman in both traditional and contemporary era.  What she did, no man can even do it for his people.  So I see her as a winner, from that point where she and her people used fire or torchlight to subdue their enemies”.

    As for Ato Arinze, a porter and ceramist, “It is good to be here now.  I have heard different versions of what Moremi did.  But today I have got the true picture.   The story from the palace is the authentic one as told by Princess Tolani Ademuluyi, the Moremi ambassador.  She was a true mother to all.  This is what I virtualized and represented in my work”, he said.

    Abraham Uyovbisere, a painter was glad to be involved in this remarkable exhibition.  He said: “It is good really to be part of this.  She left legacies no one can ever surpass in our clime.  We need to learn from her example in good conduct and purposeful leadership.  This is why I chose to do justice to what she represented.  It did not take me much time to conceptualise and contemplate what angle to take”.

    Fidelis Odogwu is a sculptor and he concentrated on an image of immense imposing character.  “I titled my work the custodian.  That was what she was to her people.  She was a rare custodian and she gave all herself to ensure that safety returned to Ife.  She gave away what she treasured most – her only son.  A very beautiful woman, she used her charm to save a whole community.  This is the sort of example that is very hard to come by these days.  It was a serious sacrifice and our works will certainly depict all aspects of her leadership attributes.  She is our own African Queen and the piece I did, will show all those remarkable qualities”.

    Moremi Ajasoro

    She was one of the wives of Oranmiyan, the Ooni of Ife.  At that time, a particular set of people called the Igbo people were tormenting the people of Ile-Ife.  They devised a guerrilla form of warfare to torture Ife people.  They would attack at will and random that the people of Ife could not find any solution.  Kidnapping, maiming, killings were on the increase.

    So, Moremi sneaked out of the palace to seek for ways to resolve the matter and save her people.  The sea goddess she sought after told her to go on ahead to do her best.  Then Moremi promised that she would do whatever she wanted from her if she succeeded to discover the secret of their strange adversaries.

    So at the next war, she let herself to be captured.  Over on the enemy side, she used her charm and beauty to hoodwink the King of the people of Igbo to fall in love with her.  In the end, she discovered the secret told her by the king himself.  The seductive power of a woman at work!  The king told her that they wore mantels of the grasses and bamboos to disguise and look weird.  This was a trick to frighten their opponents and appear awful.  Yet the only antidote is that fire or torchlight should not be near the soldiers.  The light may burn or weaken the potency of their powers.  Again, Moremi escaped back to Ife to relay her discoveries to her people.

    She told her soldiers to carry torchlight each to the battlefield.  This way, the Igbo people were finally routed and defeated and driven far away from the vicinity.

    Then she visited the sea goddess (may be Yemoja) with all sorts of materials and items to appease her.  She rejected them all.  ‘I need only one thing’, she said to her, ‘what is it?’ Moremi asked.  And the goddess declared Olurogbo, your only son else…”  Promptly weakened by this demand, Moremi nonetheless recovered in no time to go ahead to sacrifice her only son.  History records or speculates that if she had disobeyed the goddess she would have inflicted them with more devastating disasters.  Already their constant disgraceful defeat by their enemies, was rumoured to be a punishment from the ancestors.  So, Olurogbo had to go and Moremi remained broken all her life.  Yet she was gladdened by the fact that Ife was finally rescued and preserved by her motherly love, passion, concern, sacrifices and boldness.

    Plays have been written and staged in the name of Moremi.  Musicals have been produced to entrench her exploits in history.  Today, it is visual art in forms of traditional and contemporary arts to still give more accolade to this indefatigable beautiful queen who lost all to save humanity.

    Already the Ooni has erected a 42 feet high statue of Moremi in front of the palace in Ife.  He insists that the singularly life of Moremi should be promoted to teach modern virtues in leadership.  This is why he is bent on using all aspects of the art to project her place in history.

    Ademuluyi who is the ambassador of the project said it will be made a nationwide one.  “This incident took place about 1,700 years ago, yet we will see it as if it is today event.  Its significance transcends time and season.  It is to encourage the younger ones to do the best to at least project and protect their families, to always show love, concern to others. It is also a time to promote the place of Nigerian women in leadership and more”.

    The exhibition opens on 9th.  It is sponsored by Pepsi, Amstel Malt, The Guardian, Wazobia TV, CoolFM, La Cave, Mikano,Cobranet Internet Service Provider, Delta Airline, The Homestores and Art Café.

  • Queen Moremi – the Musical returns to Lagos

    Some awe-inspiring musical performances, laced with thought-provoking storytelling, awaits Nigerians this season as this Easter’s edition of Queen Moremi The Musical stage play makes a comeback  in Lagos.

    Slated for the Terra Kulture Arena, Victoria Island, Lagos, prominent personalities in society, royalty, business, politics, theatre and drama have been confirmed to participate in the event, which runs from April 18 to May 5, 2019.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, will headline a distinguished audience of traditional and community leaders to the event on April 22, in affirmation of his passion to support women in leadership, as symbolized by the exploits of Queen Moremi over 1,700 years ago.

    Executive Producers of the event – the House of Oduduwa Foundation, Rejevenee and Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions – in a statement, said arrangements have been finalized to ensure a breathtaking event.

    Besides reinforcing the fact that performance is central to human experience, underlining the event is the reenactment of the life and times of Queen Moremi which illustrates the pivotal role of women in societal development and to enable the younger generation, especially women, to recognize and aspire for leadership roles in society, which stood out the Queen in the history and liberation of Ile Ife town.

    Queen Moremi Ajasoro, it will be recalled, was a courageous, selfless beautiful woman from Ile-Ife.

    Moremi the Musical is a story of love, faith, honour and the ultimate sacrifice. Screen stars are set to take over the stage with their electrifying performance which is known to have fully enthralled the whole of Nigeria the previous season.

    The Moremi of Yoruba Land, Chief Mrs. Olufunso Amosun says “I know fully well that I am not worthy to hold a candle to the magnanimity of the Queen Moremi heroine being celebrated. I therefore take solace in the belief that promoting the legacies of Queen Moremi provides to the unanimously acknowledge and celebrate all women that believe in and represent core values of womanhood, women that exemplify and promote integrity, dignity, courage, hard work, sacrifice, contentment, justice, humanity and love.”

    Global Ambassador of Queen Moremi Ajasoro Brand, Princess Aderonke Ademiluyi, said the Moremi concept is a franchise of the House of Oduduwa Foundation and a number of projects were initiated by the Foundation in order to immortalize the legend.

  • Queen Moremi the Musical goes to US, Europe

    For the freedom of her people, she went undercover and paid the supreme price. Welcome the iconic Queen-warrior Moremi Ajasoro of Ile-Ife. Celebrating the life and times of the legendary queen, Queen Moremi the Musical hit the theatre last December amid positive reviews. EVELYN OSAGIE writes that the show is set to tour the United States and Europe.

    She was the daughter of one of Ife’s bravest hunter-warriors, Lukugba, and Princess Olunbe of Offa. Moremi stood for the oppressed and questioned injustice. And when her race was faced with the greatest threat of annihilation, she braved the challenge, risked her life, demystified and overcome the threat of the people of Ugbo.

    Behold one of most courageous and iconic queen-warriors in the history of Yorubaland, Moremi Ajasoro!

    Once again, her heroic-cum-sacrificial deeds were revisited when the show, Queen Moremi The Musical, an initiative of House of Oduduwa Foundation, in collaboration in Rejuvenee, premiered at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, last December.

    The musical, which was produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters (BAP) Production and supported by Rejuvenee, parades a cast of notable Nollywood and theatre stars, such as Bimbo Manuel, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Branch, Rotimi Adelegan, Deyemi Okalawon, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde as leader of Esinmirin, Tosin Adeyemi, Kemi Lala Akindoju, and Bamike Olawunni.

    From the energetic deliveries of the cast to the beautifully-crafted attires, plus the phenomenal stage set, the show not only puts a spotlight on the 12th century tale of brave Queen Moremi braving the lead to save her people but forces women to rethink their roles in leadership and today’s world. It also recaps the need for sacrificial leadership as elections are around the corner.

    While leaving its audience spell-bound, the premiere, which ran from December 21, last year till January 2, this year, also received the blessing of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who was at its command performance along with Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Ogun State Governor’s wife, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, and the Peopls Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje.

    The energetic performances of Tosin Adeyemi, who played the role of Moremi, were highly applauded along with those of  other members of the cast.

    And after a successful outing in Lagos, Queen Moremi the Musical is set to tour the United States and Europe, according to the Global Ambassador of Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi.

    It would be recalled that the monarch, who has initiated several projects to immortalise the Yorùbá heroine, in his bid to take the initiative beyond Nigeria, appointed Princess Ademiluyi as the heritage ambassador of the Moremi Ajasoro legacy.

    The monarch said: “With this appointment, Princess Ademiluyi is now the living embodiment of Moremi with the responsibility to promote and safeguard the legacies of the great African heroine.”

    Creating a musical out of the story of the historic heroic Yoruba figure,Móremí, Princess Ademiluyi stated, was inspired by the need to revitalise the cultural heritage of the Yorùbá race.

    She said: “In the beginning, the idea was conceived to join the Moremi project, we approached Bolanle Austen-Peters to direct the production, but she refused because of the traditional and cultural aspects of it.

    “At the said time, she was also engaged in contemporary projects like Saro, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, among others. Doing a traditional project then was a ‘no, no thing’ for her. And that took us a lot of going back and forth to convince her until Her Excellency, Mrs. Amosun, came into the picture to convince her to accept. And the outcome is what we have just seen as Queen Moremi the Musical. And we have been approached by some people on the film project of Móremí, which is the next project that will be a Hollywood blockbuster movie.”

    The outing, according to the organisers, has also paved the way for the next staging at Easter and abroad.

    Recounting the success of the Lagos outing, Princess Ademiluyi said: “When we first set out to produce it two years ago, we did not imagine the impact the musical would have. When it premiered last December and ran till January 2, 2019, the show went beyond our imagination.  We had 21 shows  and all the tickets were sold out. Right now, people have started to book for Easter shows. Some booked from abroad, came home to watch the show several times, and at some point, people were asking why it shouldn’t be more than two shows per day, but the cast needed a break because they are human.

    “After that, we will be having a global tour that will take us to the United Kingdom, the US, some African countries and some states in Nigeria. Some people booked ahead of time. Overall, it was a success. It is phenomenal and as an Ambassador of Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative, it is my role to look for strategic partners to portray the name of Queen Moremi out there which is what it is all about.”

  • Nigerian fashion designers to kit 2017 Queen Moremi

    Nigerian fashion designers to kit 2017 Queen Moremi

    A veteran fashion designer in London, Mary Martin, will join eight Nigerian fashion designers to kit the 2017 Queen Moremi Ajasoro (QMA) cultural pageant in Nigeria,  Princess Ronke Ademiluyi has said.

    Ademiluyi, ambassador to QMA and founder of Africa Fashion Week, Nigeria and London spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the upcoming Miss Moremi Ajasoro Cultural Pageant in December.

    The cultural promoter said that the fashion labels featured  at the African Fashion Week held in  London in August.

    They are Becca Apparel, Godwin Green, Luvita Creations, BgCouture, Moshuga, Stiches, Blingshiki and Mary Martin London.

    “These fashion labels will be creating several looks and outfits for the 35 lucky girls who will be shortlisted out of over 500 registered contestants in QMA Pageant in December,” she said.

    According to the global ambassador for the project, the designers will tap into the cultural trends of the Yoruba heritage to create contemporary styles for the contestants.

    “The veteran London fashion label, Mary Martin, will be one of the designers that will be showcasing their designs by kitting the contestants in an African style.

    “Mary Martin of duo origin, Nigerian and Caribbean, who studied fashion in London, also featured in 2015 Mercedes Benz International Fashion Week in Accra, Ghana, and  honoured the best designer in Africa will be there too.’’

    She said that “Becca Apparel” though an upcoming Nigerian designer, also a London-based fashion label, focused on combining African prints with contemporary trends to create a unique style for women.

    ”The other Nigerian designers include, Blingshiki, unconventional fashion, hippie, futuristic and Africa-inspired label, Godwin Green Couture, Lagos based, and STITCHES, a unique peculiarity with an unequalled vibe, zeal and passion.

    “Others are BG Couture, exclusively for men and woman in quintessentially Nigerian look, MOSHUGAH, specialised in women’s wears, Luvita Creations, combines African prints and western fabrics for men and women,” she told NAN.

    Ademiluyi, who is also a lawyer, noted that all the selected designers were known for their unique styles, tailored toward promoting African fabrics and designs.

    “The QMA Pageant was designed not only to promote beauty and culture but also to empower young ladies between the ages of 18 and 25,” she said.

    Meanwhile, Ademiluyi said that the outgoing queen, Animasahun Blessing, a final year student of the Department of Dental Surgery, University of Ibadan, from Ila-Orangun, Osun state had visited over 10 schools during her reign.

    “Animasahun has been involved in a lot of activities during her tenure which include visits to motherless homes, health awareness, secondary schools outreach and enlightenment on careers, skill acquisitions and on rape.

    “She also visited the UK to promote our culture and tradition and is currently working on visit to handicapped schools and supporting their basic needs in giving back to the society.

    “She will be launching Child Alive Foundation, which will involve empowering children from ages zero to 18,  renovating schools, encourage girl child education and to bring out the talents embedded in them,” she said.

  • Ooni appoints Princess Ronke Ademiluyi as Ambassador

    Ooni appoints Princess Ronke Ademiluyi as Ambassador

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has appointed Princess Ronke Ademiluyi as the Heritage Ambassador for Queen Moremi Legacy as part of his efforts to add value to the Yoruba culture .

    Oba Ogunwusi  in a copy of the letter made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos said that Ademiluyi was appointed  the official representative of Moremi, the African Heroine, having been at the forefront of promoting the African culture for years.

    “Ademiluyi, founder of Africa Fashion Week, London and Nigeria, you are  appointed in recognition of your  efforts in promoting the largest international gathering that celebrated African fashion,“ he said.

    The traditional ruler said that by the appointment, Ademiluyi was expected to develop sustainable avenues that would boost the legacies of Queen Moremi.

    “The African promoter’s responsibility is to seek strategic partnerships and collaborations and also generate and design activities that will promote and sustain the iconic Legacies of Moremi.

    ” We need to reawaken the legacy of the impact of the traditional icon which was trying to go into extinction if not salvaged,” the Oba said.

    Ogunwusi noted that Queen Moremi remains an indelible new dawn of great awakening for the development of the Yorùbá culture.

    Ademiluyi reacting to the appointment told NAN that the engagement was very central to the mission of Oba Ogunwusi ‘s  global reenactment of the Yorùbá culture.

    Ademiluyi added that the appointment had tasked her to set out a roadmap on how this vision would be delivered and also build passions of amazing heroism.

    She noted that the statute of Queen Moremi was currently, the third tallest in Africa.

    The lawyer noted that promoting African culture and Yorùbá in particular through fashion dispensed Africa originality and creativity to global stage.

    She said that her initiative as the Ambassador of Queen Móremí would focus on the re-launch of second edition of Moremi beauty pageant to be known as the “Queen Móremí International”.

    “In actualisation of this great commission which Oba Ogunwusi  has entrusted to me, I have resolved to bring together an array of stakeholders globally to support the preservation of Queen Móremí’s  name and what she stood for while alive.

    “I will protect Queen Móremí’s 12th Century iconic legacy as a contemporary torch bearer of Yorùbá culture and heritage globally,” she said.

    According to her, the Queen Moremi pageant, launched in October 2016 in Ile Ife,Osun, produced Blessing Animasahun as the maiden queen who is the cultural aide to the Ooni both locally and internationally.

    She said that the second contest would be holding in October in Ile Ife which would be her first task as the Ambassador of Queen Moremi Legacy.

    Ademiluyi noted that the queen had become the new Amazon of Queen Moremi for her great courage, boldness and sacrifice which she did for her people in her lifetime.

    “The indelible and heroic legacies of Queen Moremi will continue to endure in the chronicles of both Yorùbá and world histories.’’

    Ademiluyi said she would bring up initiatives towards the age-long sustenance of Queen Móremí legacies, that would encourage our females emulate her bravery.

    She also said that women needed to make themselves available for challenging roles in modern society, adding that Moremi’s personality remained unique in the world and would continue to remain an important point of reference.

    Ademiluyi recalled that Moremi Ajasoro was a brave and pretty queen, who in order to solve the problems facing her people, sacrificed anything she had to  the spirit of “Esimirin’’ River on behalf of the Oodua race.

    She said that Moremi’s sacrifice then  helped her to discover the strength of the enemies of the Oodua people and led to the Oodua warriors to conquer them during her lifetime, she .

    “She was a heroine, who liberated the people of Oodua land from faceless invaders who sought to enslave them,’’ she said at the forefront of promoting African culture,’’ she said.