Cyriacus Nnaji
That the popular TV play, ‘The Village Headmaster’, is coming back on the screens of millions of TV viewers globally is no longer news, but what is however news and trending is that the uniqueness, possibility and exciting comeback of the TV toast is that the entire matter was made possible by Glo Network, the primus inter pares of Communications Technology in Nigeria.
In a statement announcing the return of the programme, Globacom noted that “the Village Headmaster remains unmatched and unparalleled in the annals of Nigerian television. As an innovative technology company committed to excellence, Globacom is delighted to be bringing back this iconic television program which has undergone a spectacular make-over by Wale Adenuga’s WAPtv to delight our subscribers and Nigerians in general.”
By bringing back the television programme, Glo is staying true to its brand essence as a proudly Nigerian company and supporter of culture evidenced by the company’s support for aging stars of screen and entertainment like Madam Kofo and Amebo who have featured prominently in the company’s advertisements while also giving a leg up to rising musical artistes like Teni and Simi.
The company is also known for supporting literary and cultural initiatives like “An Evening with Wole Soyinka” as well as the Ojude Oba and Ofala festivals.
This nostalgia and legacy project reliving the golden age of Nigerian television will return to our television screens on April 24, 2021, and will be broadcast on NTA (Sun. 8-9 pm); AIT (Wed. 9-10 pm) and WapTV (Fri. 8-9 pm) weekly.
Of course the cast if touched, the production now parades a diverse cast of superstars, including 9ice, Chris Iheuwa (Village Headmaster), Mr Latin, Rachael Oniga, Funky Mallam, Jide Kosoko, Omo Ibadan, Okele, Fathia Balogun, Rycardo Agbor, and Yemi Shodimu.
They also include Binta Ayo Mogaji, Jide Alabi, Christy Imanlehin, Yemi Remi, Monica Friday, Deborah Anugwa, Ajobiewe Jr., Jumoke Olabisi, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Eric Obinna, and many others.
It is no longer news that the NTA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) and it officially marked the beginning of a partnership aimed at bringing the superlative TV drama series back on the air.
In accordance with the MoU, the much-loved series is now being produced by WAP and will return to the screens in April 2021 on NTA Network, AIT Network, and wapTV Network.
The recording of the first season commenced on November 9, 2020, at several locations across Lagos State and was recently concluded. Directed by the multiple-award-winning Patience Oghre Imobhio, the programme stars some of the original cast, including Dejumo Lewis (Kabiyesi) and Ibidun Allison (Amebo).
Veterans Dejumo Lewis, Dani Moudu, Jide Kosoko, Mr Latin, Rachael Oniga, Jide Kosoko and others on set of the new village headmaster
Others are Dan Imoudu (Chief Dagbolu), Dele Osawe (Teacher Fadele), Melvin Obriago (Teacher Oghene), Lara Akinsola (Doyin), and Kate Adepegba (Folake).
Interestingly, the latter played the role of Folake, one of the loyal girls who served as apprentices in Sisi Clara’s shop.
The series was originally created by Olusegun Olusola and produced by Dejumo Lewis. It was Nigeria’s first and longest-running television drama series. It ran consecutively for decades.
The Village Headmaster was set in the fictitious Yoruba village of Oja while the plot was the social issues and the effect of government policies on the indigenes.
Others were Funsho Adeolu, who played Chief Eleyinmi; Jab Adu, who played the character Bassey Okon, the village chemist; Ibidun Allison who acted as the palm wine seller and village gossip popularly known as Amebo, Joe Layode who acted as Teacher Garba, amongst others.
The new ‘The Village Headmaster’ was short-lived.
In 2019, it was a reunion of some sort for the surviving cast and crew members of the television drama series, as they celebrated 50 years of the programme’s creation Terra Kulture and at the Freedom Park, both in Lagos.
Last year, NTA also partnered with the surviving cast and crew of ‘the Village Headmaster’ to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the popular television series.
The Village Headmaster (later renamed The New Village Headmaster) is a Nigerian television drama series created by Olusegun Olusola and produced by Dejumo Lewis Originally a radio drama series, the programme was Nigeria’s longest-running television soap opera showed on the NTA from 1968 to 1988, and starred Ted Muroko as the original headmaster. The television series was developed by Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, and is considered one of the early successes of television drama in the country
In 2021, a new revival of the show was announced, with Chris Iheuwa in the lead role of the headmaster
The Village Headmaster was set in the fictitious Yoruba village of Oja, with plot lines dealing with social problems and effect of government policies in Oja. The television series was produced after Nigeria gained independence, and was the first major television drama with an ensemble cast from different ethnic groups. Nigerian Pidgin was mixed with standard English and Yoruba as the Oja residents’ language of choice, with most scenes occurring in the Oloja of Oja’s palace, the headmaster’s school, and Amebo’s palm wine shackumber of actors from the earlier series are also returning.
