In 1964, Western Nigeria was engulfed in intense political crisis. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the opposition and a dominant political figure in the Western Region, had been convicted on charges of treasonable felony in 1963 and was serving a prison sentence. His incarceration deepened political divisions within the region.
It was in this atmosphere that legendary dramatist Hubert Ogunde intervened — not with weapons or speeches, but with theatre.

Yoruba Ronu (“Yoruba, Think!”)

In 1964, Ogunde staged the controversial play Yoruba Ronu. The drama was widely interpreted as a sharp critique of the political leadership of the Western Region, particularly targeting Samuel Ladoke Akintola, who was then Premier.
The play addressed themes of betrayal, factionalism, and the dangers of political disunity among the Yoruba. Its message resonated deeply at a time when the region was polarized between Awolowo’s supporters and Akintola’s government.
The response was swift. The government banned Ogunde’s theatre company from performing in the Western Region for two years (1964–1966). Given that the majority of his audience was Yoruba-speaking and based in that region, the ban had severe financial consequences.

Otito Koro (“Truth Is Bitter”)

In reaction to the ban, Ogunde produced another politically charged play, Otito Koro. The title itself suggested defiance. Through allegory and symbolism, Ogunde continued to challenge political authority and defend artistic expression.
His theatre became a forum for political reflection — a rare platform in an era when dissent was increasingly suppressed.

The 1966 Coup and Aftermath

On January 15, 1966, Nigeria experienced its first military coup. Premier Samuel Ladoke Akintola was killed during the coup, and the Western Region government was overthrown. The military takeover dramatically altered Nigeria’s political landscape.
Shortly afterward, the ban on Ogunde’s theatre company was lifted by Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, who had been appointed Military Governor of the Western Region.
Many observers later described Yoruba Ronu as prophetic — a cultural warning about the destructive consequences of political division.

Theatre as Political Resistance

The encounter between Ogunde’s art and Awolowo’s political struggle illustrates a broader truth about Nigerian history: theatre was not merely entertainment. It was activism.
Hubert Ogunde used performance to:

Critique political leadership

Mobilize public consciousness

Preserve Yoruba cultural identity

Challenge censorship

In doing so, he demonstrated that the stage could be as powerful as the parliament.

Historical Significance

The events surrounding Yoruba Ronu highlight:

The deep crisis within the Western Region during the First Republic

The intersection of culture and politics in post-independence Nigeria

The risks faced by artists who challenged authority

Today, Ogunde is remembered not only as a pioneer of Nigerian theatre but also as one of its boldest political voices — a dramatist who dared to tell the truth in turbulent times.

Sources

Ebun Clark, Hubert Ogunde: The Making of Nigerian Theatre (Oxford University Press).

Biodun Jeyifo, The Yoruba Popular Travelling Theatre of Nigeria.

Tekena N. Tamuno, Nigeria Since Independence: The First 25 Years.

Toyin Falola & Matthew Heaton, A History of Nigeria.

The image shows a German military bicycle from the early 20th century, identified as a Herrenrad Victoria model used during World War I.

Spring Wheel Innovation

Instead of standard rubber tires, the bicycle features metal spring wheels.

The spring system functioned as a shock absorber, helping riders travel across rough terrain such as mud, gravel, and battlefield tracks.

These wheels were developed due to a severe rubber shortage in Germany during the war.

Military Adaptations

Equipped with a mounted rifle holder, carrying a Mauser rifle (standard German service rifle of the era).

Includes canvas pouches attached to the frame for:

Ammunition

Dispatch documents

Essential field supplies

These modifications transformed the bicycle into a compact, mobile military tool.

Historical Importance

Military bicycles played a crucial role in logistics, reconnaissance, and message delivery.

They provided silent movement, unlike motor vehicles.

More reliable than horses in certain terrains and required no fuel.

Particularly useful in areas where trucks and armored vehicles could not operate effectively.

Broader Context

During World War I, many European armies—including Germany, France, and Britain—experimented with bicycle infantry units. These units combined speed, efficiency, and low maintenance costs, making bicycles an important yet often overlooked part of early 20th-century military strategy.

Spring Wheel Bicycle

They went to appeal directly to Nigeria’s Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, seeking clemency for their friend and colleague, Mamman Vatsa, a Major-General in the Nigerian Army.
Vatsa, who was also a poet and a long-time associate of Babangida, had been accused of involvement in a coup plot against the military government. Despite the intervention of the three writers — representing the moral voice of Nigeria’s intellectual community — the appeal was unsuccessful.

Major-General Mamman Vatsa was executed later that same day, marking one of the most controversial episodes of Nigeria’s military era. The event highlighted the limits of intellectual influence under military rule and remains a powerful symbol of the tension between power, friendship, and conscience in Nigeria’s history.

Source: History Ville