Lasisi reissues video, book of bridal chant, EKUN IYAWO

By SEGUN FADIPE

Award-winning performance poet, Akeem Lasisi, has reissued EKun Iyawo: The Bride’s Chant, his book on Yoruba bridal poetry. It is. However, a total cultural, educative and entertaining package as it is coming with a three-track audio and the full version of the video whose trailer has rocked the air for some time.

The video features top actresses, Kabirah Kafidipe, popularly called Araparegangan, and Feyikemi Bodunrin Olayinka, who are the bride and mother respectively. Lasisi, who is also the producer of acclaimed poetry videos such as Eleleture, Udeme and Ori Agbe, is the father, while many other seasoned and experienced performers are part of the cast.

Originally collected in the Ikirun and Osogbo area some years ago, Ekun Iyawo was recently recreated by Lasisi to give it a fuller and more contemporary expression. According to the poet who is also the Publisher of Phenomenal.com.ng, he decided to update the book, whose research was supported by the Ford Foundation in 2001, to standardise its content and production.

He says the new Ekun Iyawo was shot in Lagos, straddling Maryland and Surulere, with some scenes recorded in Alagbole, Ogun State. Directed by a seasoned hand, Sunday Ogunyemi, it was shot by Sanjo Adegoke, with a part shot by Olatunde Obajeun.

Lasisi notes that he decided to recreate the poetic form to save it from extinction and enrich the entertainment experience of the people. According to him, although EKUN IYAWO has always been interesting and engaging, he decided to make it more entertaining and inspiring by recording it in the studio and shooting it like a movie or musical.

“I have the blessing of having worked with star performers such as Kabirah Kafidipe (Araparegangan), who is the bride in the video; and Feyikemi Bodunrin Olayinka, the mother. The production started as a documentary – in 2001 – with the support of the Ford Foundation. But I later decided to recreate the poetic legacy so that it can resonate with the present and the future.”

He adds that he enjoyed the collaboration of the co-publisher of IROYIN OWURO, a Yoruba newspaper, Mudasir Alabi, on the project.

A trailer of the video has been on air in the past few years, and has done well on various stations, including DSTV. Now, the main offering has just been released on Akeem Lasisi & the Songbirds on YouTube. Lasisi adds that the book, audio and video are also available for sale on Phenomenal.co.ng.

Meanwhile, below is the of the video:

Akeem Lasisi Ekun Iyawo