50 years later: ‘The Village Headmaster’ to hit screens again

The long-rested popular soap, ‘The Village Headmaster,’ which kept viewers glued to their television set for more than two decades in the last century, is on the verge of returning to the air waves for the viewing delight of Nigerians, home and abroad. ‘The Village Headmaster,’ from 1968 to 1984, had been an addiction for […]

The long-rested popular soap, ‘The Village Headmaster,’ which kept viewers glued to their television set for more than two decades in the last century, is on the verge of returning to the air waves for the viewing delight of Nigerians, home and abroad.

‘The Village Headmaster,’ from 1968 to 1984, had been an addiction for many television viewers across Nigeria, before it was suddenly yanked off the air. Before then, every Sunday evening, and later, Thursday, by 8pm, lovers of the sitcom rushed home to tune to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), for what was unarguably then the best dose of comedy on air.

The time devoted was worth it for many. ‘The Village Headmaster’ was a masterpiece with humorous characters, from Eleyinmi to Counsellor Balogun, and Amebo to Okoro. It was the first major television drama produced after Nigeria gained independence, and the longest soap series until 1984, when NTA rested it. There was a successful effort at reviving it the following year, but that didn’t last long. The new ‘The Village Headmaster’ ran on air for only six years and was finally rested in 1991. The interregnum had done some damage; it was obvious the second effort wasn’t as widely embraced as the original version, with many viewers having moved on to other drama programmes, or finding it difficult to identify with some new cast members that had replaced the founding protagonists.

There has been talk of reintroducing ‘The Village Headmaster’ to television since 2001, but it has been that: mere talk. But now, if what Mrs. Ibidun Allison told Weekend Magazine last week rings true, the resurrection of the buried sitcom may just be as good as achieved.

Allison played the character of the ubiquitous gossip in ‘The Village Headmaster,’ spreading tales about the dwellers and of affairs from one end to the other, causing occasional clash of heads as victims of her wagging tongue tackled one another.

‘The Village Headmaster’ had undergone a metamorphosis from an initial production as a radio play for the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (WNBC), Ibadan, in 1958 to a television series debuting in 1968.

The first master script of 13 episodes was written in 1964 by Ambassador Segun Olusola, now late, and the theme music, rich in gongs and talking drums, was composed by Kehinde Okusanya. The setting was the fictitious Yoruba village of Oja, with the plot lines dealing with social problems and the effects of government policies in the village.

Mr. Dejumo Lewis, who played the role of the Oloja of Oja, Oba Adelende the 2nd, told Weekend Magazine in an interview in January this year how the drama was conceived.

“The late Ambassador Olusegun Olusola had an idea of a programme to showcase and relive the life and times of old headmasters in those days. That’s how ‘Village Headmaster’ was conceived. But Olusola was not the developer; he just wrote the concept on paper. Mr Sanya Dosunmu, who was studying abroad, was contacted by Christopher Kolade, who was then the Director of Television on NBC TV.

“When Mr. Dosunmu returned to Nigeria, he became the first producer/director of ‘Village Headmaster.’”

Dosunmu is presently the traditional ruler of the Owu kingdom in Abeokuta, Ogun State. In ascending the throne of his forefathers, Oba Dosunmu followed in the path of two other members of ‘The Village Headmaster’ cast who also became kings after their career in acting. Funsho Adeolu, the popular Chief Nichodemus Ologbenla Eleyinmi, second-in-command to the Oloja and Chief Justice of Oja Customary Court in ‘The Village Headmaster’ series was crowned the Alaye of Ode Remo, in Ogun State, in 1990. He died in September 2008, three months to his 77th birthday.

Seven months before Eleyinmi’s death, his major antagonist in ‘The Village Headmaster’ drama, Counsellor Balogun (real name Wole Amele), had also passed on. Eleyinmi and Counsellor Balogun were arguably the brightest lights of humour in the series, always jabbing each other as they competed for influence in the Oloja’s palace.

Interestingly, fate would match the two (Eleyinmi and Counsellor Balogun) in royalty, as Amele was summoned in 1998 by his people in Aramoko, Ekiti State, to mount the royal throne as the Alara of Aramoko, the town’s king. Strangely, fate would not separate them in death, with Eleyinmi accompanying Counsellor Balogun in the grave within a year.

The cast 

Dejumo Lewis played the role of Kabiyesi (king), the Oloja of Oja, Oba Adelende the 2nd. Lewis is one of the few surviving members of the original ‘The Village Headmaster’ and still acts in Nollywood movies. Now 76-years-old, in an interview with Weekend Magazine in January this year, he spoke of the intrigues that led to the death of the series.

Theodore Austin Mukoro (Ted Mukoro) was Gabriel Fagade, the first village Headmaster (1968-1972). He died in 2018, aged 89.

Femi Robinson played the role of Ife Araba, the village Headmaster (1972-1984). Beyond being Headmaster, he was the soothing voice who calmed nerves in the village following confusion arising from Amebo’s gossip. One of the few educated minds in the village, he would explain government’s intentions and new developments. He was also a kind of Special Adviser to the Oloja on happenings in the village. He died on May 20, 2015.

Justus Esiri was Cosmas Aderibigbe Ali, the Village Headmaster who succeeded Araba (1985-1990) in the new ‘The Village Headmaster.’ Esiri died in February 2013, aged 70.

Funso Adeolu (Chief Nicodemus Ologbenla Eleyinmi) was the inimitable wise cracker viewers of the series were always wishing to behold swirl his ‘agbada’ (flowing gown) and speak in English. He created his own jargons like ‘with immediate effect and automatic alacrity’, ‘konkobility’, and ‘nonsense and ingredients,’ in lampooning other chiefs and workers in the palace, as well as other villagers.

Wole Amele who played the role of Counsellor Balogun, was the only chief in the palace who could stand up to Eleyinmi, and it was always funny to watch them face off.

Ibidun Allison effectively played the ‘Amebo’ (gossiper) role. The Amebo tag has since stuck nationwide on people who gossip. Chief Eleyinmi labelled her Radio Oja, because whenever and wherever she turned up, a piece of information was always unleashed. Her bar, where she sold palm wine, was the gossip spot

Elsie Olusola, real-life wife of Ambassador Olusola, played Sisi Clara (1968-1988). Clara Fagade was the wife of the first Village Headmaster, Gabriel Fagade. Sisi Clara, a tailor, was Amebo’s friend, but always displayed more intelligence than Amebo. She was the one always stopping Amebo in her tracks whenever the latter began her gossip tales. Elsie Olusola died long before her husband passed away in June 2012.

Albert Olayemi was Gorimapa, the palace servant, messenger and town crier, who always sat at the foot of the throne. He died in August 2012.

Jab Adu starred as Bassey Okon (1968-1984), the first owner of the village chemist in Oja. He was a great actor. His interpretation of his role as the village pharmacist/doctor, which he actually wasn’t, made him a darling of many viewers. He died in February 2016.

Jimmy Johnson was the great, snuff-sniffing Okoro (1980-1988). He was the second owner of the chemist/supermarket.  Always red-eyed, he had a short temper. He is now 79 years old.

Asuquo Ukwak was Boniface, a sales boy at the village chemist. Skinny Boniface was always ridiculed as Boni-nose, Boni-mouth, Bony-bony by Chief Eleyinmi.

Joe Layode played Teacher Garuba, a brilliant but poor teacher always grumbling about his situation in life. He felt he deserved better. He would always be found at Amebo’s bar consoling himself with palm wine. He will always be remembered for his impeccable English diction. Layode is also dead.

Leke Ajao, as Kokonsari, was the village chief priest.

Dan Imoudu played the role of Dagbolu.

Melville Obriango was Oghene, another teacher in the village school. He also boasted of an enviable diction like Joe Garuba. He was unusually neat in his white shirt, tie, shorts, and always wielded a cane.

Enebeli Elebuwa was the police Inspector always coming in from Jebako to resolve crisis in Oja village. But Elebuwa is being remembered more as Andrew, the Nigerian in the television commercial in 1984 who wanted to leave Nigeria because of hardship. Elebuwa died in December 2012.

Albert Egbe, a popular actor in Ken Saro Wiwa’s Basi and Company, also starred as a lawyer in Eleyinmi’s court in ‘The Village Headmaster.’

There were also Chief Afilaka (dubbed Chief Tain-Tain by Eleyinmi), Patricia Akwashiki, who played Mrs Ali, Cosmas Aderibigbe Ali’s wife; Layi Ashadele as Lakunle Ojo and Chief Arigbabu, in Oloja’s palace.

Feutre plans

Fifty years after the conception of ‘The Village Headmaster,’ the surviving members and crew of the soap are planning a big event to commemorate its golden jubilee. The members, including Chief Lewis, Yinka Ogundaisi who starred as Baba Muina; Dele Osawe (Teacher Fadele); Lara Akinsola (Doyin) and Kate Adepegba (Folake, one of Sisi Clara’s girl), under the chairmanship of Ibidun Allison, are massively canvassing for support to enable them bring back the TV series to limelight. They are collaborating with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to celebrate the anniversary in grand style.

Allison disclosed preparations were in top gear to hold a befitting series of events to “celebrate the landmark attainment of Nigeria’s first and longest-running television drama series, which ruled the nation’s air waves for more than two decades.”

The celebration, which is scheduled to commence on October 8, 2019 with a roundtable discussion on ‘Drama, a Tool for National Development’ will continue on October 9 and 10 with two live stage performances. It will culminate in a commemoration dinner at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos on October 11, 2019.

Allison mentioned that the celebration would witness the launch of The Village Headmaster Foundation to cater for the needs and overall well-being of people, including ailing and retired practitioners, in the entertainment industry.

She added that the Foundation would equally provide capacity building opportunities for upcoming artistes in Nigeria.

The management of NTA is also expected to present plaques, awards and certificates of participation to the members of ‘The Village Headmaster’ family, while posthumous awards would be received on behalf of deceased members.  Allison expressed the resolve to bring the series back to the television screen, saying advanced film making technology in use now would ensure the new series enjoys better production.

“We can further develop it (‘The Village Headmaster’). We can do so many things with our culture and traditions. Some of those people we watch also have their cultures and traditions and they haven’t thrown them away.

“I remember I started watching Coronation Street in 1961 and it is still on. People die and go, but we cannot throw away our culture. ‘The Village Headmaster’ has so much to offer and it teaches values.”

She admitted, however, that reviving ‘The Village Headmaster’ will require huge finance, without which, she said, nothing can happen. Therefore, funds will be needed to do many things, including the hiring of professional producers and directors.

On NTA’s collaboration, she said, “‘The Village Headmaster’ is NTA and NTA is ‘The Village Headmaster.’ That is why NTA is with us right now to make sure that this happens. We need a lot of things. For this celebration, you can’t stage a play without having all the requirements. We need lights to make the play clearer.

“Also, we cannot have a gala night without having a hall and things to entertain the people with. So, we need sponsors. I know there are a lot of people who are old now; the younger ones didn’t actually see the programme to appreciate it. So we are appealing to the older ones, corporations, companies and all to come in and make it happen.”

On whether she would still be willing and able to act as Amebo should the series come back to the air waves, she responded, “Well, I will still play the role of Amebo, depending on our writers and directors. I was a palm wine seller and I used to wear my iro, buba and head gear. This fashion style will still come up.

“But don’t forget that Amebo is old now and has also learnt a little bit of high school education. She is not as dummy dummy as she was then. But I will still be selling my palm wine, with some improvements of course. Amebo is still Amebo. But let’s wait and see what the writer has for us.”

Ogundaisi (Baba Muina), the butcher in the series, said that the actual 50th anniversary should have held last year but couldn’t, so it was pushed forward to this year. He reminisced, “As troublesome as Amebo was, I was the one who stood up to her and abused her. My role was semi-negative and she ended up smashing a pot of water on my head.”

But Ogundaisi also shared his regrets: “People today are into the act for what they can get out of it and measure everything in terms of naira and kobo. I still think that whatever commercial orientation an actor has, a little bit of professionalism should be incorporated.

“I’m talking of people like Joke (Silver). I hired she and her husband and didn’t give them a kobo. But they looked at the script and handled it like it was their own production. These days, you will find a situation where an actor will ask how many series there are and how much you are paying and not the story line. I am not saying the actor should not be paid. I have discovered that as long as you pay an actor, you can practically get him/her to do anything.”