Inside Mabushi’s ‘theatre of broken dreams’

Dan-Yellow said he was initially into Hausa film production but after some time decided to organise youths to start a dance and drama troupe. He later discovered that people were really interested in their performances and he decided to get a place where they could entertain residents on a daily basis, for a fee, of […]

Dan-Yellow said he was initially into Hausa film production but after some time decided to organise youths to start a dance and drama troupe. He later discovered that people were really interested in their performances and he decided to get a place where they could entertain residents on a daily basis, for a fee, of course.  

“We introduced a gate fee for anybody who wants to watch our performances so that at the end of the day we are able to gain something,” Dan-Yellow said with a smile.

He told Weekly Trust: “Many people think I’m a stark illiterate, but I have a certificate in Performance Arts awarded to me after a five-year training programme in Darkta, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano state.”

Dance the misery away

An interesting element of the dance and drama troupe is that it’s made up of about 45 to 50 people of varying backgrounds, who voluntarily join. They are admitted into the fold after thorough investigations into their background have been conducted and a guardian or parents’ consent sought. Dan-Yellow emphasised: “We are organised people and do not take anybody in just because he is interested. We are very much interested in the background and type of family our members are associated with as we are in support of exhibiting good character and behaviour.”

Giving insight on the troupe’s history, Dan-Yellow explained that he has other branches in Masaka area of the FCT and another in Kano. “We were formerly at Dei-Dei but were sent packing by the demolition, so we decided to relocate here, to Mabushi. This place has not been allocated to us but then we don’t want to be idle. We see our work as our own little contribution to society. You know what they say that any civilisation which doesn’t respect art or artists will crumble.”

“On several occasions, FCT officials have come to demolish our structures, among others, but after a day or two we come back again. At this point, we are pleading with government to please allocate a place for us, as we are tired of running from one place to the other. This is an artistic endeavour that has put idle boys and girls off the streets, helping them make meaningful lives for themselves,” Dan-Yellow said.

Do you have an appointment?

The dance sessions are usually in the afternoon while the stage performances are usually in the evening after dusk prayers (Maghrib). “This way, those who go to work can always come back and have a place to relax after a hard day’s job,” one of the performers said.

Basing their storylines on daily occurrences, the group strives to use them as corrective and educative avenues for their audiences. “Usually, our drama presentation is mostly on things that happen in the society, good or bad. We try to show people how to draw the line between good and bad. We talk about child care, proper relationships with neighbours, morality, the lack of basic infrastructure like roads, water, light, basic education and the like. You know, things which affect the society. We use our performances to educate people,” Dan-Yellow explained.

Sitting amongst them, one would notice that the performers, male and female are mainly in their mid-to-late teens.

Also, it was obvious that some relationships, asides work-related ones, are in the air. The question on immorality was posed to Dan-Yellow and he was quick to refute the allegation, standing his ground that they are all morally upright. “We encourage morality and do not encourage such. Most of these people have homes where they go back to rest at the end of the day,” he fervently said, though his response was a far cry from what Weekly Trust noticed going on around.

Another question posed was if these young talents had to get under the influence of drugs or other substances before getting on stage and the answer again was a ‘no’. “They do not smoke anything. Once we notice anyone of them smoking, we ban him or her, because we feel it is not good and we do tell people that it is not good. So why do we have to do contrary to what we have preached,” he asked. But Weekly Trust noticed some of the male and female youth freely indulged in smoking cigarettes.

On a Kannywood-bound train

Speaking on their achievements, Dan-Yellow said there have been instances where some people have come to watch and pick some of the members they feel they are good enough for their films and sometimes they come and pick dancers for their music videos. He also said that the community appreciates what they do, as they do come back and relate appreciation.

Zainab Aliyu, an indigene of Borno State and a Senior Secondary School certificate holder said she came to Abuja to look for greener pastures. But she ended up joining the dance and drama troupe because she had a talent for dancing and acting and that she was very happy and has been satisfied ever since she joined the group. “I am satisfied with what I am doing as I am better off here than being on the street. I do not have to beg as I am being paid N3,000 monthly”. When Weekly Trust pointed out that that was not much to live on, she shrugged, answering: “My dreams are bigger than this place, but they have not come to fruition. This theatre here is like one for broken dreams.”

But the beauty of it all was that despite the fusion of all these music genres, it did not lose any of its traditional essence in the ability to involve the audience. The sheer delight expressed on the faces of the audience spoke volumes about the satisfaction they derive from being there.

Sani Musa, a spectator in the crowd, said: “The only time I miss these shows is when I am out of town. And even then, it pains me that I have tot and I try to keep up by making phone calls and asking about what was performed. It is a very interesting place, filled with adventure, especially at night. If you come once, you will get hooked,” he said, smiling and obviously at home.

Not-so-grand patrons

Muhammed Kashim, a fan of Dan-Yellow’s, told Weekly Trust that the performances keep him busy after closing hours. “We come here to relax. But we would be grateful if government could provide a standard place for us, so that even when it is raining we can still be able to enjoy ourselves instead of running up and down.”

The unity which exists in the diversity of the individuals, who make up the group, reflects in the variety of their displays. Watching their fusion of Flex, Fuji and Belly-Dancing moves peculiar to Arabs, as well as their ability to replicate Michael Jackson’s moonwalk is indeed a treat. Also, a viewer would see them break dance and twist while maintaining an underlay of traditional Northern Nigerian dance steps, giving their performances appeal.

The songs were a combination of Makossa rhythms, hip-hop and jazz versions of popular American songs. Even Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ was laced with an unmistakably Hausa element to it.

Despite all the ups and downs that envelop the Mabushi community, the residents and guests who stray in that direction have something to be thankful for that gives them refuge from their many worries and aches. Even if the theatre is one for ‘broken dreams’.