𝘼 𝙑𝙀𝙏𝙀𝙍𝘼𝙉 𝙉𝙄𝙂𝙀𝙍𝙄𝘼𝙉 𝙏𝙍𝘼𝘿𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝘿𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙍 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙉𝙀𝙀𝘿 𝙏𝙊 𝙆𝙉𝙊𝙒

Meet this Prolific Veteran dancer, Latifat Adepeju Oguntade, she's a storyteller and an energetic international dancer, her rich creative background has enabled her to work with notable directors in different productions locally, nationally and internationally. She’s a member of the National Troupe of Nigeria, she's the dance director of DanceAfrik House of Creative Arts, and also the acting coordinator of Surulere Artiste Forum, In this write-up, Latifat offers a peek into her world as a professional dancer, drummer and much more.

HOW THE ARTISTIC JOURNEY STARTED

Her journey as an artiste professionally started over two decades ago in her father’s group. Her parents were practitioners and active members of the ANTP, especially when her dad was alive.

"Aje ni iya mi", a big hit in the Nigerian home video in the 90s, produced by Nek Video Links, was written and directed by her dad- Pa Hammed Adesola Oguntade, aka Hamlilo. He actually had much more to his credit before his painful demise. He had a standing troupe then named: “Hamlilo Productions”, which aside movies, trained actors, dancers and singers for stage productions. On one of their outings for Surulere ANTP artistes’ night, they met Mr. Babatunde Abideen, aka Ogede who then introduced Mr. Segun Sunday Solomon who became their traditional dance coach to relieve her dad. With the influence of this coach, they started to work with Mr. Abort Nwosu at NCAC Artiste Village, National Theatre, Lagos.

She later joined Dugombas Dance Ensemble while she was still under her dad because it’s a family business.  

HER DIFFERENCE FROM OTHERS

What sets her apart is her knowledge of the indigenous language, culture, tradition and; holding firmly to what she’ve learnt from the grassroots with understanding, in a nutshell, her difference is her foundation and background. This is in addition to putting in place the original and traditional steps, patterns, foot-works, styles and energy with action at the right moment. Another thing that sets her apart from others is knowing the origin of each dance, the history and drums that accompany it, understanding the dynamics and uniqueness of her culture, the precision and carriage. So, she put them in place always in dances like Yengben, Ponse, Obitun, Odudu, Otun, Bata, Dundun, Akiise, Ukwa, Agenesebo, to mention but few.

Each of these dances mentioned has different drums that accompany it. And she perfectly understands the drums very well and can interpret them perfectly because they all work together. In each of the dances mentioned above, the lead drummer instructs the dancer on what to do, the next movement, when to go down and so on. When she performs, she sees the drums and hears the dance.

MEET THE DRUMMER PART OF HER

As an artiste, you have to be versatile. So, the urge to know more about other aspects of theatre, including how to play the drums, was what inspired her. She constantly rehearse with her colleagues who are professional drummers and she gained more knowledge aside from drumming, she got to know more about the traditional drums like the set of Bata which are namely: Iya ilu, Ejin, Omele abo, and Omele ako, which is also called Omele meta. Dundun set are: Iya ilu, Atele iya ilu, Omele, Asaju Omele, kerikeri, Gudugudu and Sekere.

It is rather surprising that she play other drums and traditional instruments in Drum Ensembles like Teun, Gbedu, molo, to mention but a few. Having to play two to three drums at a go, She have featured in an all female Ensembles times without number and also with male drummers. This has taken her to international drums festival twice.

SOME MAJOR SHOWS SHE'S FEATURED IN

Nigerian Day, China 2013; Nigeria Centenary, 2014; International Drum Festival in Cairo, Egypt 2015; World Football Executive Summits 2017/2018; Shadows of the Ancestors, 2021, Awo the musical 2021, and Dubai World Expo 2021. She was a costumier for Abuja Sports Festival 2018; Traditional Dance instructor for’ My Love for Art 2018; Choreography team, AFRIMA, Accra Ghana (Africa is Gold) 2018; Team leader for The International Festival for Drums, and Traditional Arts Dialogue for Peace, Cairo, Egypt 2018. She was also Ijodee Arts Artiste Coordinator for Ogun State Africa Drum Festival 2019 and Festival Secretary for Trufesta International Dance Festival 10th Edition, 2019, She recently journeyed to Cote D'Ivoire with the National Troupe of Nigeria.

HER PASSION TO IMPART OTHERS

She confess that she can’t wait for the platform to share the knowledge. If she doesn't pass the knowledge of the rich culture that has been preserved over the years, it will perish and she’ll be questioned by posterity. Many of the youths cannot speak traditional languages fluently; the traditional steps are being diluted every now and then and it causes her great heartache.

HER EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY

It has not been easy in the industry today, there is more of contemporary jobs and musicals than before which mostly do not accommodate the traditional dancers; so they the traditional dancers have lesser jobs and opportunities. But the few she gets to do, she do it passionately and diligently. She also channels her energy into training interested churches and schools, some for free and others for a token just to keep going since dance is the only trade she's learnt all her life. The economy keeps matters worst and affects the dance sector but in all, She's saying that God has been faithful. So far, the art of dance has taught her to be focused, creative, and disciplined. It has improved her sensitivity, understanding, appreciation and consideration for others both for their similarities and differences.

HER PAIN AND PLEA

As freelance artiste, you’re on your own. No recognition, no attention, no support of whatsoever. But It is the passion that has kept her and is still sustaining her, she's been among the underrated dancers that actually has more to give than most famous dancers, she wants the art sector to focus on the tradition and customs of the land and support people who are ready to make it happen.

YOU CAN WATCH SOME OF HER PERFORMANCES

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tribuneonlineng.com/with-strings-national-troupe-stages-a-comeback/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiW5uCElpH3AhVCzIUKHUTuCYQQtwJ6BAgBEAE&usg=AOvVaw0zv3vUUDLEtwq1HrkEzOUl

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DJPqcwJESUhs&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiJwfzlmZH3AhXDzYUKHaIiAoEQtwJ6BAgAEAE&usg=AOvVaw0_JM0MrcarlkufZ-RwA6tk

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D_JiUjL8kJ6k&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiJwfzlmZH3AhXDzYUKHaIiAoEQtwJ6BAgIEAE&usg=AOvVaw3VOFiAZlgIXRm2s-VycquU

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DMEI2s1Oz2co&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiJwfzlmZH3AhXDzYUKHaIiAoEQtwJ6BAgCEAE&usg=AOvVaw3BJeDobcdXo00bmJE-1rMp

YOU CAN MEET HER

dancewitpj@gmail.com

0805 735 5083

0708 341 9554

Queen Adepeju Adesola on Facebook.