‘Ada the Country’ Unravelling The Plight Of Average Nigerian Women

The musical ‘Ada the Country’ unravels while enveloping its audience into the world of all circumstances that average women find themselves in.

It tells the story of survival amidst the pain and anguish faced. Ada the country was written by award-winning poet-playwright, Titilope Sonuga and brought to life on theatre by Doyenne Circle Productions.

Directed by Kemi Lala-Akindoju ‘Ada the Country’ is is star studded with veterans and aspiring stars like Patience Ozokwor, Joke Silva, Bikiya Graham Douglas, Chioma Chigul Omeruah, Lala Akindoju, Oluchi Odii, Tosin Adeyemi, Imoh Eboh among others.

It is a therapeutic musical that mirrors the healing process of these women faced with trauma stemming from their biological makeup of being women.

For Kemi Lala Akindoju the director of the musicals she talked about the many colours of the meaning of the play to her. “This musical presents a cocktail of messages and emotions. Through the women, we dive into themes of ambition, faith, sisterhood, marriage, motherhood, but ultimately of healing and hope. Each generation of a woman speaks into and out of the next, painting a picture of what it truly means to be alive and woman in Nigeria today.”

The musical began running live over the Easter holidays at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan. Ada the star of the stage play was brought to life by Kate Henshaw, as she portrayed her pain after losing her daughter in a fire incident. With such trauma Ada falls into depression and is emotionally supported by other women who have bleak experiences with life which then makes her take life one step at a time.
Speaking to media on the motive behind the play, founder of Doyenne Circle and producer of Ada the Country said
“I found out that there was a gap in reaching the urban woman. A lot of people tend to think that urban women don’t go through any pain. People tend to think that everything they see online is all rosy and all sweet and they don’t understand that they go through a lot of pain and issues. I found out that storytelling is a powerful tool in changing this perception.

“The story of Ada the Country has been in the offing for about ten years. It revolves around my experiences in the university and I realised that the best way to tell my story was through theatre. I spoke to Lala Akindoju about it and we got in touch with Titilope Sonuga who did the beautiful work of piecing the story together through deep poetry, music and dance. I did this because I believe telling my story could heal someone out there. And the first time I told my story, I felt relieved and stopped doubting myself. It is an original piece that we hope to take around Nigeria and ultimately to Europe.”