Members of the Herbert Ogunde Dynasty have made efforts to revive works of the iconic singer, actor and composer.
Twenty-seven years after the demise of the legendary travelling theatre founder, his children have put forward the works of the legend for translations into the English language.
READ ALSO: Pete Edochie Wants Nigerian Filmmakers To Concentrate On Epic Stories
His children and other family members who were largely his support casts in his productions have moved to have his works translated into the English Language as they were mostly rendered in his indigenous Yoruba Langauge.
As part of the efforts to bring Ogunde back to life, his family had already transformed his Ososa family home in Ogun State into a museum where most of his personal artefacts have been preserved.
The Head of Department of Nigerian Language and Literature at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Olufadekemi Adagbada thinks Ogunde’s works live forever as they teach morals.
“Ogunde was a doyen of Nigerian theatre who has made an indelible mark on the soils of time. There are so many things to learn from those songs apart from the enjoyment you get from the lyrics,” she said.
Translating Ogunde’s plays into English according to her is a great deal as it will make it marketable to young Nigerians and the international audience.
“Most people these days shy away from speaking our local dialect especially the Yoruba language, the language which Ogunde acted most of his plays. So, the family is of the opinion that if this Opera is translated into English Language, it will travel across the shores of this country.”
