The popular TV drama series, The Village Headmaster is making a return on Sunday, courtesy of telecommunications firm, Globacom.
Rested in 1988, the new sponsor said on Wednesday that the programme had undergone “a reboot”.
“The Village Headmaster remains unmatched and unparalleled in the annals of Nigeria Television,” Glo stated enthusiastically.
“As an innovative technology company committed to excellence, Globacom is delighted to be bringing back this iconic television programme, which has undergone a spectacular makeover by Wale Adenuga’s WAP TV to delight Nigerians.
“The drama series will return to television screen on 24th April 2022 and it will be broadcasted on the Nigeria Television Authority on Sundays, African Independent Television on Wednesdays and WAP TV every Friday.
The popular TV drama was created by Segun Olusola and Dejumo Lewis. It began as a radio programme on Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, before migrating to television in 1958.
It ran for over three decades and became a purveyor belt of acting talents. The programme became one of the most important Nigeria TV soap operas until 1988.
The legendary actor Justus Esiri (now Late) was the eponymous Village Headmaster, having taken over from another great thespian Ted Mukoro, who was the first to play the role.
Ace actor Chris Iheuwa will now step into the role in the rebooted series.
A number of actors from the earlier series are returning.
The Village Headmaster was set in the fictitious Yoruba village of Oja, with plot lines dealing with social problems and effect of government policies on the community.
The television series was produced after Nigeria gained independence, and was the first major television drama with an ensemble cast from different ethnic groups. Nigerian pidgin was mixed with standard English and Yoruba as the Oja residents’ language of choice, with most scenes occurring in the Oloja of Oja’s palace, the headmaster’s school, and Amebo’s palm wine shack.
