Context for The Olurombi Musical

The Olurombi Musical was produced and directed by Bolanle Austin-Peters (BAP). It ran from 26 December to 29 December 2020 in Lagos State, Nigeria. Olurombi is a popular folk tale among the Yorùbá people in Nigeria. It tells the story of the beautiful and newly wedded Queen of Idi-Iroko, Olurombi, who desperately seeks the help of Iroko Oluwere (the forest tree spirit) to solve her life of misery due to barrenness. Against the vehement admonition from Iroko Oluwere, Olurombi forges ahead despite the caveat of huge consequences associated with the help she seeks.

The Olurombi Musical was produced against the backdrop of the ENDSARS protest. The ENDSARS protest was borne out of police brutality, extortion and torture by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on innocent Nigerians. Despite pleas from citizens for the government to disband the group, SARS continued its brutality on the citizenry with impunity and mainly without consequences. Hence, the movement saw the rise of Nigerian youth seeking accountability from their leaders to keep to their words and promises of ending SARS.