The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has dissociated the House of Oduduwa from unauthorised statements purportedly issued on its behalf, seeking to condemn the streaming of the Moremi Musical or seeking court redress.
He said in a statement that there is no dispute among the descendants of Oduduwa on Moremi matters.
The monarch urged detractors to stay off the matter and “let us focus on developing the great heritage of our ancestors.”
He was reacting to media reports that House of Oduduwa wrote a warning letter through its lawyer, Citadel Partners, to the Theatre Director, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, restraining her from streaming the musical on YouTube on Sunday.
The statement, signed by Oba Ogunwusi, reads: ”House of Oduduwa has come to learn of a dispute between QMA under the House of Oduduwa and BAP
Productions over the right to stream Moremi the Musical on YouTube. The House of Oduduwa dissociates itself from unauthorised statements purportedly issued on its behalf, seeking to condemn the streaming of the play or seeking court redress.
“Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters (she is a princess indeed from Awujale Royal Dynasty, Ijebu-Ode) (née Afe Babalola, one of the most respected families in the entire House of Oduduwa), is a daughter of Oduduwa and as such we cannot be in dispute with her, more so that the House of Oduduwa had a fruitful working relationship with her in creating and producing the very successful Moremi the Musical.”
“Ronke Ademiluyi is a princess from the source and a descendant of Oduduwa, who is the ambassador to QMA initiatives. We recognise the value Mrs. Austen-Peters has brought to the cultural space in Nigeria, especially in Yorubaland, and we look forward to constantly working with her in future, to continue to propagate the advancement of culture, tradition and heritage of the entire Yoruba race.”
“The House of Oduduwa also recognises the impact Princess Ademiluyi has made in the fashion/culture industry space and also working along with the expertise of Mrs. Austen-Peters to bring this outstanding theatre to the public space with the great assistance of Chief Funsho Amosun -The Moremi of the entire race herself.
“As the cultural custodian of Moremi story/heritage, the House of Oduduwa is happy for as many productions of the story of Moremi Ajasoro, the legendary heroine from Ile-Ife, as possible.”
The Nation
