Ada the Country explained

Ada the Country is a 2020 Nigerian musical written by Titilope Sonuga and produced by Marian Ogaziechi under the theatrical studio of Doyenne Circle Productions.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} The play stars Nollywood actresses Patience Ozokwor, Joke Silva and Bikiya Graham Douglas.^{[6] [7]}

Development

Although in the works for about ten years, the show was written in 2019.^{[8] [9] [10]}

Synopsis

Ada, a young woman, is involved in a fire accident which destroys her property and kills her 9 month old daughter, Chiamaka.^{[11] [12]} At the time, her husband Femi was away from home, only returning when the fire has ravaged their home. In the aftermath of the incident Ada becomes depressed. She leaves her husband to return to her parents' home, where family members accuse her of being insensitive and inhumane for leaving Femi. She speaks to the other women in her family, including her divorced sister, a single mother, and a working class woman struggling with sexism at work. Through sharing their experience of living as women in Nigeria, Ada is able to find some healing and reconcile with her husband.

Productions

The show debuted in January 2020.^[13]

The show was performed at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos from April 15 to 18, 2022. The show was directed by Kemi Lala-Akindoju.

In October 2022 Doyenne Circle brought the show to Abuja, where it was performed at the Musa Yaradua Centre on 21 and 22 October. This staging was directed by Kenneth Uphopho.

Cast

!!2020 Doyenne Circle^[14] !2022 Doyenne Circle

Ada	Kate Henshaw
Ada's mother	Patience Ozokwor
Femi's mother	Joke Silva
		Bikiya Graham Douglas
Nkem	Chioma Chigul Omeruah
Ifeoma	Oluchi Odii
Kemi	Lala Akindoju	Tosin Adeyemi
		Imoh Eboh
Femi	Ayo Ayoola
Alero	Bimbo Akintola
Funmi	Ade Laoye
Lola	Oludara Egerton-Shygnle

References

1. Web site: 2022-04-25 . Ada the Country Unravelling The Plight Of Average Nigerian Women . 2022-08-06 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
2. Web site: 2022-04-08 . Silva, Ozokwor, others celebrate Nigerian women in ‘Ada the Country’ . 2022-08-06 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
3. Web site: 2022-05-07 . Ada the country: Kate Henshaw, Patience Ozokwor, Joke Sylva showcase the struggles of Nigerian women . 2022-08-06 . Vanguard News . en-GB.
4. Web site: 2022-04-24 . Ada The Country: The story of Nigerian urban woman . 2022-08-06 . Daily Post Nigeria . en-US.
5. Web site: Rapheal . 2022-04-23 . Women power echoes in Ada The Country . 2022-08-06 . The Sun Nigeria . en-us.
6. Web site: 2022-04-01 . Nigerian musical 'Ada the Country' returns to stage . 2022-08-06 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
7. Web site: Ada the Country Musical Through the Gender Lens – THISDAYLIVE . 2022-08-06 . www.thisdaylive.com . 2022-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220806215954/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/04/24/ada-our-country-musical-through-the-gender-lens/amp/ . dead .
8. Web site: Ada the Country Musical Through the Gender Lens – THISDAYLIVE . 2023-02-07 . www.thisdaylive.com.
9. Web site: Medeme . Ovwe . 13 October 2022 . Joke Silva, Kate Henshaw, Chigul for stage play, ‘Ada the Country’ . 2023-02-07 . www.premiumtimesng.com.
10. Web site: 2019-11-14 . Doyenne Circle teams up with Lala Akindoju and Titilope Sonuga to create ‘Ada The Country’ . 2023-02-07 . BellaNaija . en-US.
11. News: Ebirim . Juliet . 17 October 2022 . Doyenne Circle takes ‘Ada The Country’ to Abuja . Vanguard . 7 February 2023.
12. Web site: Adeniyi . Taiwo . 2022-10-29 . Ada the Country: Different characters, same goal . 2023-02-07 . Daily Trust . en-GB.
13. Web site: 2020-02-02 . In Ada The Country, plight of women takes centre stage . 2023-02-07 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
14. Web site: Review: In ‘Ada The Country’, Grief Is a Journey – THISDAYLIVE . 2023-02-07 . www.thisdaylive.com.