In celebration of the life of Eze Kanu Oji, a live theatre performance titled “Echoes of the Drum” was held. His Eminence Eze Dr. Eberechukwu Oji emphasized that the late Eze was an enigma whose intelligence, character, principles, and integrity set the Arochukwu Kingdom on the right path.
This statement was made at the Civic Center in Oror, Arochukwu Local Government Area, on Friday, highlighting that the live performance showcased the life and times of the late Eze, who ruled the Arochukwu Kingdom for 73 years.
“Today we gather to celebrate Uda Nkwa, meaning ‘Echoes of the Drum,'” said Eze Dr. Eberechukwu Oji. “We are honouring my grandfather, the late Mazi Kanu Oji, who served as the ruler of the Arochukwu Kingdom for 73 years. We warmly welcome all, especially the locals who contributed to bringing this production to life. Mazi Kanu Oji was an enigma—an epitome of intelligence, character, charisma, and integrity. These qualities resonate through the performance we will witness today.”
Speaking, the Executive Producer of Uda Nkwa, Joseph Edgar, shared that assembling the performance, which revisits history, posed challenges. Finding a cast and crew and organizing the setting were particularly difficult. He noted that Eze Aro Dr Eberechukwu Oji specifically wanted the indigenes of the Arochukwu Kingdom to be involved in the production, leading to a search for the right cast.
“We have cast from different places around the nation in this performance. The little boy who thrilled the crowd with his performance among many. The most challenging aspect was creating an epic setting. Building the stage was demanding, but I’m glad we achieved something worthwhile. This is our first production, and I’m proud of what we accomplished, especially with just two weeks to prepare. The acting was remarkable. If we had performed in Lagos or other major cities, it might have been appreciated even more, but I’m pleased with our results.”
Dr. Ikechukwu Erojikwe, the writer and director of the performance, noted that their first challenge was finding the cast for the play. However, he found it exciting to see talents of all ages participating and being introduced to the world of theatre.
“Reflecting on the life of Eze Kanu Oji was quite emotional for me. This is the kind of leader Nigeria needs, and I am particularly excited about the positive feedback from the audience.”
The captivating performance centred on the life of Eze Kanu Oji, showcasing his decision-making skills, intelligence, and character during the arrival of Europeans in the community long ago. It outlined the choices he made at each stage of the complex battles and illustrated how he worked to preserve the community throughout those challenging years.
