#borntroway

Activism and Music with Ade Bantu.

Ade Bantu born Adegoke Odukoya to a Nigerian Father (Adeleke Odukoya) and German Mother (Barbara Odukoya) on 14th July, 1971 is a multiple award winning artiste, actor and activist. In this exclusive chat with me, Godwin Iheanacho, he talked about music and activism from the African perspective. Enjoy!!!

Thank you Ade Bantu for your time.

Godwin Iheanacho: Let’s begin with your 2020 first single–

Day Five started quietly…but the excitement was very palpable; you could see it in the eyes of the participants, they were ready to go. However, one more rehearsal run was important to fire them up, and it was flawless as even Segun Adefila, a man not at all generous with praises, admitted.

The BornTroway T-shirts arrived and was quickly distributed and off we marched, first to the Bariga Market for the first performance and it was explosive. The participants engaged their audience and delivered their message on ‘waste’,’ child abuse’, the importance of an ‘education’, ‘support for talent’ and ‘collective responsibility’.

The second performance was at the very busy Bariga roundabout with men of the Nigeria Police helping with traffic. There was no stopping these Bariga braves as they arrested the attention of everyone present with a truly amazing performance. After the performance, the participants were handed their certificates right on the street they have just conquered.

Back to base and an emotionally Charged Ade Bantu applauded their courage, hard work and told them that nothing can hold them back. The question of the day was “How has the workshop impacted on you and what will be different for you tomorrow? Kasali Aduragbami said he can now put rhymes together, Lasis Temitope Mary declares “in this workshop, I have gained a lot and tomorrow I will like to be a professional dancer”, “It has impacted a lot in me; like how to be focused, to have tolerance, to concentrate and be humble. A lot will be different for me cos’ I will be as holy as a saint” says a laughing Queen. Sunday Eberechukwu says the experience has exposed the creativity in him and believes his tomorrow will be bright and different in the society.

As a reward, he announced to the participants that they will be attending the recording of MTNPROJECT FAME, a reality TV show he stars as judge.

Day two of the 5th edition of the Borntroway Project in Bariga started with the participants arriving on time for their morning dance workout and games marshaled by Segun Adefila, the projects artistic director and dance instructor.

Once that was done, the participants located their group member and off to class they went; Acting, Dancing, Music and poetry. Day two requires the participants to improve on what was created the day before and also add new materials to what would be their final presentation.

By mid-day, the participants were asked the question of the day “WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT BARIGA?” bulk of their response leaned heavy on the issue of waste and absence of social amenities while others would like to see more roads rehabilitated. “I do not like that fact that touts are plenty…I want to change that” says Odutayo Funmilayo and Babatunde Goodluck would like to see a community theatre built. However, Shoneye Maria says “I want to stop people from bribing the police and KAI officials because it undermines security and puts the people at risk”

At the end of the day, it was time for the daily presentations but the participants clearly did not put in as much effort as yesterday and this reflected in their presentations. Ade Bantu was not a happy man and Segun Adefila sternly reminded the participants about what they were here for, charging them to work harder.

The selected participants showed up for the first day of the Borntroway creative workshop at Ade Ife Memorial Primary school in Bariga, Ifelodun in the heart of Bariga. The day started with the participants cleaning the classrooms and school compound before being introduced to instructors who will be working with them over the next 5 days by the project Director Ade Bantu who told them that the ultimate aim of the project was to help them tell their own stories. 

This edition of Borntroway welcomes a new addition to the family, Omolola Oluwakayode and he will teaching the acting classes.

Segun Adefila, the project’s dance instructor led the workout exercises, the participants were split into groups and classes began immediately. The participants where rotated at intervals with each group taking turns to dance, act and learning the rudiments of music and poetry. The neighborhood was not left out of the excitement as curious youths managed catch glimpses of the participants in training with some children getting in on the fun.

The participants were asked the question of the day; “what does Bariga mean to you?” and their responses leaned heavily on youth restiveness and anti-social vices “Bariga is a rough community, a place for the brave but can be very interesting if you stay focused says Shoneye Maria.  Aregbesola Habibat said “Bariga is a place full of interesting activities, where the youths are pregnant with vision but their talents are very much underrated”.  However, some like the inspired Joshua Garba remain hopeful,“ Bariga is a local town in a big city that has life in it…but to me, it’s a wonderful world because in spite of the bad, good can come out of it”

At the end of the day, the participant presented dance movements and drama skits developed earlier in the day.

On August 18th , a day after the week-long Borntrway oshodi workshop, the participants were taken on a surprise visit to Ultima studios in Lekki, venue for the recording of the music reality show, MTN project fame. The participants had been told to come dressed in their borntroway branded T-shirts and also with a signed release note from their parents authorizing them to stay out late.

They were thrilled to discover that they were going to the Project Fame set and burst into spontaneous singing of the project fame signature tune. At the studio, they gave a special dance performance to a highly appreciative audience before the recording.

  Day 5 was an exciting wrap-up of the entire week. Friends and family of the participants came to lend their support and to see all that they had learnt as they performed at Methodist primary school and Cairo market Oshodi.  Borntroway Alumni from Ajegunle were in attendance as were members of Segun Adefila’s Crown Troupe.

While they performed to a small audience at the Methodist primary school, the crowd which watched the performance at Cairo market was unprecedented. With the loud raucous chaos that is typical of any lagos market competing for attention with their audience, the participants had to overcome some initial nerves and give a spectacular performance. See pictures here.

Afterwards each participant received a certificate of participation as a memento and they in turn surprised the instructors and project staff with signed cards and special song renditions of their own. The workshop ended on a high note with participants dancing and partying till early evening.

Day 3 of BornTroway Oshodi, August 15 2012, started on a high note with a surprise training session when Honourable Abolore Shobayo, Oshodi local government councillor, got down and dirty to teach the participants tie and dye. Shobayo who is a trained fashion designer  and painter, showed the participants the steps involved. He had been with participants since the audtions and had provided administrative support for the BornTroway Oshodi workshop. This made it possible for him to go with the flow and style of the training that the participants had become used to since the beginning of the workshop.

Participants designed and made their own tie and dye shirts with excitement and pleasure. The results were spectacular. One of the participants,  Eric Otene said, ‘ I’m never buying another tie and dye cloth or t-shirt. I will be making my own from now!

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The rest of the day was spent with the instructors and the participants refining and modifying the material they had created on Day 2. At the end of the day, they were asked a question of the day, ‘ What will you change in Oshodi starting from today’  Responses included,  ‘ I will share with my friends what I’ve learnt from this workshop’ – Samson Johnson.  ‘ I  will visit the local government office and talk to them about improving the health facilities in Oshodi’ – Blessing Ochai