The stage performance detailing Kiriji, the epic Yoruba war experiences in the 19th century, and listed as one of the longest civil wars in human history, is set to be relayed across the South West in the next few months.
The project is put together by Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) and Legendary Productions, an international art and culture concern. The Project Director is renowned artiste, Abiodun Abe whose footprints on Nollywood and international film festivals are some of the best in Africa.
According to a statement by the Chairman and Secretary of the project’s Publicity Committee, Mr. Adewale Adeoye and Segun Balogun, the project would draw no fewer than 50 top artistes from across the world with over 10,000 other participants at various levels.
They described the performance as a “huge project scheduled to see artistes camp for months”, adding that it would to lead to the establishment of the first Yoruba Museum of War History.
Kiriji war is one of the most significant political events in Yoruba history in the past 500 years. Not just for the fact that It was a battle for federalism against a garrison state, but also that it revealed the science, technology and political content of Yoruba historical struggles over the centuries for justice, liberty and an egalitarian society”, the statement explained.
The media team said the project would lead to the establishment of the first Yoruba Museum of War History, bringing together artefact, the collection of currently dispersed and disorganised art, weapons and historic equipment and assets linked to the war.
The statement further reads: ‘The Yoruba have a long and amazing history of peace and war. From the primordial times, Yoruba history has been one of the most documented epic, reflecting a rich and remarkable civilisation of an indigenous people dating back to the ninth century. The reference to Yoruba history distinguishes Africa and the black race.
“This continues to form the bedrock of Yoruba dignity, respect and reckoning across the world’ the media team noted.
“The Kiriji war is one of such noble adventures of the Yoruba people, and war is not the trade of poor and malnourished people; war has always been the preserve of brave, courageous and heroic people and nations that wage wars are accepted to have a buoyant and prosperous economy.
“The Kiriji War, which lasted from 1776 to 1886, is one of the most outstanding cultural, political, social, economic and political events in Yoruba history. War is traditionally the preserve of nations that have material and spiritual means.
“The Kiriji war lasted for 16 years involving almost all the Yoruba ethnic and sub-ethnic groups”.
The team said the Yoruba nation did not borrow money to prosecute the war; the war had its own rules:
“Children were never killed, pregnant women were spared, the aged were spared from the sword of battle, while the parties to the war observed moments of ceasefire that lasted for many months, long before the United Nations (UN) adopted the UN Convention on War.
‘Though the war led to loss of lives, there were some interesting contents and features of the war including but not limited to political unity, preference for federalism, economy, culture, military science, diplomacy, intelligence gathering and stories of courage, perseverance and resilience of a people”, the statement further stated.
The committee noted that the Kiriji war also involved technological innovations, research and development. It involved creativity, in science, planning and administration, the warring parties’ explored science and technology in the deployment of their operations.
