Like a parable of all times for the crop of leadership that now exists across Africa, Femi Osofisan’s folk drama, Twingle Twangle: a Twynning Tayle recently became a potent tool in the hands of Dr Foluke Ogunleye to propose governance without violence.

Oftentimes the people are willing to work and cooperate with good leaders, but the latter usually tread the path of violence, using force and cohesion to run affairs of state and making nonsense of leadership and the process from which it evolves.
And so, Ogunleye chose to amplify the voice of reason in Osofisan’s drama on the need for leadership that wears a human face.

The play was staged at the just concluded Ife International Festival of Arts organized by the Institute of Cultural Studies of the Obafemi Awolowo University.

A revealing drama of about 140 minutes, Twingle Twangle as directed by Foluke Ogunleye explores the story of a set of twins-Taye (Adewale Dolapo) and Kehinde (Emmanuel Olowookere) as a metaphor for a life of many choices. In the play, the playwright presents the choice of peace and that of war. When the two brothers set out for five years on a journey of self-discovery, little do they know they would soon be separated by their opposing ideologies and strengths of character. A peaceful, humane Taye moves to Ereko while his brother, Kehinde; physically agile with a penchant for violence, offers to move to Eredo. Both brothers ultimately become Obas in their domains but each with separate leadership styles and qualities.

For Kehinde, there is no respect for the customs of the land and no law exists outside the Oba’s instructions. On the other hand, Taye seeks the path of peace with love and passion for the people. He shares the vision of his people with a meekness that makes leadership even more effective.
But when leadership becomes unbearable for the people of Eredo, they call for Kehinde’s head while the latter offers to attack Ereko and rob people of their belongings. On hearing this, Taye enjoins his people to prepare a feast, rather than raise their guns to wage a war. With wisdom, accentuated by intrigues, Taye and his people overcome the Eredo warriors and the audience is left to make his or her judgement.

The play, which thrives on diverse dramatic elements of music, dance, flashback, mask, suspense and irony, however has its greatest strengths in the use of folklore, large crowd and rustic setting. These three devices seemingly help to shield the political satire in the play although they still remind us of the playwright’s ability to entertain his audience even while making a strong statement.

And if the audience enjoys the imaginative use of the large cast by the director, they could not have missed how the playwright succeeds in using love, romance and loyalty to elevate the role of women in society through such symbolic characters as Mama Ibeji (Toyin Ogundeji), Tinuade (Tosin Adetiloye), Lawunmi (Chioma Odimba), Efundunke (Seun Ogunrine), Aanu (Olimma Uche) and Olori (Lola Arawomo) among many others.

Aside empowering the womenfolk, the playwright’s substantial use of humour equally enrich both the entertainment and didactic values of the drama. And since the director naturally falls within the womenfolk, her choice of female characters and treatment of their roles depict more of tenderness, love and recognition.

Besides, it could be apt to describe Twingle Twangle as a play that is made up of many plays with an array of episodes and other sub-themes. While the playwright speaks to leaders and the ruled on their choices, he also challenges everyone on the subject of power and its usage. This is perhaps why Baba Ibeji (Anthony Nwachukwu) who favours Taye against Kehinde (who is his mother’s pet) tells both his wife and Babalawo (Sherif Yekini Abiodun) thus: “Even without muscles, one can still rule the world”.

Essentially however, the play owes its overall success to the creative efforts of such artistes as Oba Elenon (Kola Oyewo), Chief priest/Stage manager/Choreographer (Tunji Ojeyemi) Business manager/costume designer (Toyin Ogundeji), the drummers and the entire towns people.