The Oyo State House of Assembly has said that Legendary Yoruba Actress, Mama Abiodun Duro Ladipo deserves to be given National recognition and honour to appreciate her enormous input to the development and promotion of Yoruba Arts and Culture, especially through Yoruba plays.
The House made this statement at a Special Plenary session held to honour the Octogenarian who was the wife of the late Yoruba theatre Icon, Chief Duro-Ladipo.
The Legislators bathe Mama Duro-Ladipo known by her stage name as Oya or Moremi, and her late husband, with encomiums, while recalling some of the evergreen Yoruba plays of the couple which presented, exposed, and projected Yoruba culture and language to the international Community.
They also played soundtracks of the popular plays or some of the songs of Mama Duro-Ladipo in some of the plays at the special session.
The House of Assembly pledged their support to Duro-Ladipo Foundation and some of the plays of Mama as their way of celebrating, admiring, and respecting the Actress in her lifetime.
The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin said the Special plenary session was to honour and acknowledge the priceless work of the living theatre legend who symbolizes the culture and tradition of Yoruba.
“We are happy to associate with you, Mama. You are one of the trailblazers in the theatre industry in Nigeria. We will continue to appreciate you as a successful Yoruba dramatist who carved a niche herself in the art of acting.” Hon Ogundoyin said
A number of Lawmakers also spoke at the Special Sitting including the Chairman House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon Isiaka Kazeem Tunde (Oyo East/West), Hon Olatunde Kehinde (Akinyele 2) and Hon Kazeem Olayanju (Irepo/Olohunsogo) said the theatre profession in Nigeria owes a lot to the likes of Late Chief Duro-Ladipo and his wife, Late Chief Hubert Ogunde, AdeLove and so on who hailed from the South West region of Nigeria.
Following their perceptions, notable Yoruba works of the Duro-Ladipos like Oba ko so, Oba Waja, and other films like Ajani Ogun, Ija Ominira, Aropin ni teniyan, Ayanmo, Ija Origin among others showcased the Yoruba rich cultural heritage and mythology.
Lawmakers like Hon Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi (Ibadan South West 2), Hon Fola Oyekunle (Ibadan North 1) and Hon Olawumi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North) charged the present day Yoruba actors and actresses to produce films of high quality and great plot like the legendary plays of the Duro-Ladipos, further urging the Federal Government to recognize Mama’s contributions to the work of Arts.
A Guest at the Special sitting, Oloye Lekan Alabi remarked on ghd the thoughtfulness and timeliness of the Oyo State House of Assembly in honouring Mama Duro-Ladipo in her lifetime.
He explained that it was not a mistake that the famous Oba ko so play (The King did not hang) of Late Chief Duro-Ladipo won the Commonwealth Arts Festival in 1965 hence he applauded the House of Assembly for the hohonourone to Mama Duro-Ladipo.
Mama Duro-Ladipo appreciated the Oyo State House of Assembly and emphasised that appreciating people who are excellent in their chosen career was necessary because it encourages others to give their best to their profession.
She further said the theatre was not a money-spinning and not an all-comers affair in the early 60s and 70s, therefore asked the Oyo State House of Assembly and the State Government to support some of her plays that haven’t been released.
Mama sang a few songs from some of the legendary plays to the liking of the Lawmakers and other guests who attended the Special plenary session.
Mama Abiodun Duro-Ladipo celebrated her eighty years birthday in December, 2020.
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