Nigeria’s V-Monologues stages comeback

The make-it-happen-productions in collaboration with the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), is bringing back the Nigerian classic V Monologues at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, on May 3rd with a performance on May 4th, 2013.V-Monologues returns with an A-list cast with Ifeoma Fafunwa in the director’s chair. She will be helming a stage production that boasts […]

The make-it-happen-productions in collaboration with the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), is bringing back the Nigerian classic V Monologues at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, on May 3rd with a performance on May 4th, 2013.
V-Monologues returns with an A-list cast with Ifeoma Fafunwa in the director’s chair. She will be helming a stage production that boasts a lineup of notable actresses which includes ageless screen goddess Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Bimbo Akintola, Ireti Doyle, Dakore Egbuson- Akande, Omonor, Biola Segun Williams and Rita Edward. The cast also includes Lala Akindoju who is wearing two hats as producer and actor.
The Nigerian version was born out of the demand for the Nigerian perspective by a particular audience after the show of the Obie Award winner – Eve Ensler’s ‘The Vagina Monologues’.
Set in the western world, the play brought to Nigeria by the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) to raise awareness about violence against women does not reflect the African perspective thus setting the staff thinking when the issue was raised by one of the audience at the end of the performance in 2007 at a feedback session
The womanliness V- Monologues, organizers say,   has to have a Nigerian identity, because Nigerian women also suffer all sorts of violence which needed to be addressed. The Nigerian version of the series also has a Nigerian identity because verified real stories submitted by Nigerian women are what are being used for the series.
Akindoju, producer of the series said “you can never get tired of doing the V-Monologues. First of all, it’s a big deal artistically around the world. It hasn’t been on stage for two years, because nobody was ready to sacrifice themselves and do the maid cast. Thankfully, the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, (KIND), has worked hard to see to the realization and comeback of the Nigerian version”
Akindoju also explains why she is taking on the project. “I am producing the V-Monologues this year, because I am very passionate about women and as an actor, performer and artiste; I think we don’t use the platform that we have to speak on issues enough. This way we hope to bring the necessary change via the stage series.”
Speaking on what she is bringing to the play, Director  Fafunwa said she is glad to be directing such a spectacular cast, adding that “Nigerians will be amazed at what these eight incredible women will be bringing on stage”.
The V- Monologues  (The Nigerian Story) focuses on issues like early marriage, incest and child abuse, female genital mutilation, male child preference, domestic violence and society’s reluctance to speak up against all forms of violence against both sexes especially that of women. Proceeds from the shows will go to women survivors of violence, organizers said.