ASKARI, a play written by the dramatist, culture communicator, Ben Tomoloju is on stage at the Model Theatre Studio, annex Campus of the University of Uyo. It stages at 4pm daily.
The three-day (October 11-13) presentation, is courtesy the Department of Theatre Arts, and is directed by Dr Ifure Ufford-Azorbo, a lecturer in the department.
Written and first performed in 1997 as directed by the playwright, Tomoloju, Askari was the flagship project of an international campaign against the scourge of war and violence that was then ravaging the world, especially with mass killings and wastage in parts of Africa: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and others others. Southern region Kaduna, extending to parts of Plateau state, was also in the throes of religious and ethnic frictions.
The production was jointly commissioned by the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of a global campaign that was generally themed, A Vote for Tolerance.
Staged on the platform of ‘The Red Cross Theatre Project’, the play, stated the producers then, was to assist in transmitting a message of tolerance to the young generation, “who will have to cope with the challenges of the next century.
The youth, continued the Red Cross, “has to learn again the culture if tolerance, which in turns creates a conducive environment for non-violent conflict resolution. Absence of violence will create harmony in the relationship among people and that will ceate stability and peace necessary for human development and life in dignity.”
Produced by Ben Tomoloju Media & Creative Arts Consultant, after its command performance on May 9, 1997 at the National Theatre in Lagos, it went round to schools in all the five districts of the State and received rave reviews. It later proceeded on a national tour – the biggest of its kind — to 22 cities straddling the then six geo-political zones with three different sets of casts but same crew.
The Director of the current presentation, Ifure, was a sub-lead cast for the South Eastern region of the presentation which held in Uyo (Akwa Ibom), Calabar (Cross river), Port Harcourt (Rivers), Owerri (Imo), Enugu (Enugu) and Asaba in Delta State.
The synopsis of the play as supplied by the director, Dr. Ufford-Azorbo, reads:
ASKARI is a dictator who drives his citizens to a senseless war to protect his gold mines and more wealth and power to the detriment of his people. He is influenced by the negative forces who drive his madness and insensitivity. These negative forces are symbolised in the characters of Odara and his minions. The yumuyumus are his worst enemies as he seeks to claim their land and wealth and condemns his daughter’s love affair with a man from there. His children are against him and seek amiable relations with the enemies to bring about peace. Jato, his Ijedo soldier defects and organises an army to overthrow Askari but the peace keeping force arrests the situation and match everyone to the restoration camp.
“Askari’s love life with Sofi his former and later reunited love hits the rock when Sofi’s 13 year old daughter and young mother, reveals that Askari is the father of her child even as the mother Sofi is pregnant for him. Loads of confusion as Junior , Sofi’s son and child Soldier who was kidnapped and trained for war, chooses peace and organizes an all children’s army to fight for peace and solicit an end to war. Prayers form both Christians and Muslims exterminate the agents of darkness and give rise to the harvest dance. The play Askari is an advocacy for peace in place of war.”
According to the producers which commissioned the play, the Askari was conceived appropriate for the Red Cross
Canoe dancers and the poet 
ASKARI and his guards 
Sofi, Juniour, Moladun and Red Cross Volunteers. 
Moni, ASKARI’s daughter 
Some of the minions 
Meet Odara and his acolyte 
Members of Cast
Askari – Emmanuel Bassey
Odara – John Isong
Jato – Akpan Otoabasi
Ya Mallim – James Isreal Ubon
Apostle – Edohoeket Inyang
Moladun – Abigail Uwem Bassey/ Nsikan Akpanabiat
Moni – Victoria Etop/Jesimiel Peter
Zaki – Godswill Ekong
Sofi – Joy Bassey
Junior – Tonye Azorbo/ Utibe Chrysantus
Ogufe – Ukosen Utibeabasi / George Jacob
Soldier – Godswill Ude
Dessy – Confidence Kara
Maiden – Rachael Akpan
Commander – Nsikak Peter
Dede – Ubiorobong Okubre
Minions – Elizabeth Inem, Rebecca Vincent,
Comfort David, Victoria Owe, Blessed Benson Monday, Praise Paul Inyang, Ukeme Nseabasi Enetie, Comforter Daniel
Red Cross Volunteer – Divine Bassey
Peace Keeping Soldier – Aqua Peter Victor
Askari’s guards – Prosper Chidi, Wisdom Emmanuel
Moderator – Endurance Eboho Okon
Girl – Edidiong Edet
Poet – Confidence Kara
Apes – Ubong Westgarth/Wisdom Emmanuel
Chorus – Sharon Mba
Olive Edeminam, Toyin Udoka, Blessing Effiong, Esther Nwachi, Attracta Orung, Utibe Chrysantus, Edohoeket Inyang, Unity ukachi, Precious Ajawhobu, Blessing kufre, Akaninyene Boniface, Suzana Edet, Miracle idongesit
Time Keeper – Isaac Obot
Students – Ofonime Etuk, Zion Ekemini, Abigail Archibong, Peace Uwem, Ama Hossana, Akaniyene Boniface, Eshiet Samuel
Youth Vanguards – Ndukeobong Abasiofok Johnnie, Anon Edo Akong, Iniubong Okon, MBA Sharon, Daniel Asuquo, Susanna Edet, Akaniyene Boniface, Eno Thompson, Festus Kenneth, Helena Bassey Ememobong Bassey, Samuel Eshiet, John Sunday John, Godwin Golden
Peacekeeping force – Wisdom Emmanuel, Amatobi Kingsley, David Dennis
Muslims – Lillian Ugbe, Blessing Kufre, Mary Unams, Blossom Friday
Christians – Attracta Orung, Golden Godwin, Jessica Edet, Emem Sylvia, Blessing Effiong
Red Cross Volunteers: Bella Ubon, Favour idio, Godswill Ekong, David Dennis, Divine Bassey
Children’s Army: Ikakke Ikike Ufford, Itoroabasi Ifiok Ufford, Iniuforo Ikike Ufford, Idara Ikike Ufford, Timi-sunshine Tam Azorbo, Godspower Obong, Imaabasi Idongesit Ufford, Inyeneabasi Idongesit Ufford, Iniabasi Idongesit Ufford, Richard Edwin Archibong, Rachael Edwin Archibong, Fortune Nkereuwem Edet
Crew
Director- Ifure Ufford- Azorbo
Asst. Director (Artistic)- Ikike Ufford
Asst. Director (Technical): Uwem Nesfield
Choreography – Victor Thompson, Ifure Ufford-Azorbo & Ikike Ufford
Production Assistant – Saviour Dickson
Stage managers: Joseph Edem Ita/Abasiama James /Abigail Uwem Bassey
Lighting Designers: Ukosen Utibe /Kenneth Festus
Sound – Godswill Ude, Unyime Benson
Costume: Dorcas Sunday/ Unity ukachi/Dora Nnanake
Welfare: Racheal Akpan, Oluwatoyin udoka
Props – Idongesit Samuel
Scenery: Mmayen Eshiet / Inidara Udoh/Chigozie Ofoegbu
Publicity – Queency Ene/David Dennis/ Marvis/Comforter Daniel/Samuel Effiong
Makeup – Olive brown/Joy Bassey
Music – Ben Tomoloju
Sharon mba
