My Father’s Fable, a theatre production by Faith Omole, is a unique take on the complexities of family trauma and identity.
By Claudia Efemini
It’s impressive when a theatre show, set entirely in a kitchen with just four cast members, can keep me engaged and emotionally involved throughout. This was certainly the case with My Father’s Fable by Faith Omole, a recent winner of the Alfred Fagon Award and an actor known for her roles in the musical, Standing at the Sky’s Edge (2019) and the sitcom, We Are Lady Parts (2021).
I happen to catch the show on a Friday evening after work at the Bush Theatre. I couldn’t help but laugh from the outset when Peace (Tiwa Lade), a young woman grieving the loss of her father, attempted to make jollof rice for her mother, Favour (Rakie Ayola), and her partner, Roy (Gabriel Akuwudike). My Father’s Fable, a theatre production shown at London’s Bush Theatre from 15th June to 27th July, is an emotional exploration into family trauma and Nigerian identity.
An early joke about how Peace’s jollof rice resembled Nigerian risotto, with Roy commenting, “It’s not quite rice anymore,” was both hilarious and poignantly relatable. I, too, have struggled to perfect my jollof rice, and I’d be lying if I said the texture does not resemble risotto at times.
After the death of her father, Peace finds Bolu (Theo Ogundipe), her half-brother from Nigeria. Facing immense grief and unanswered questions, she invites Bolu to see her in England. So Bolu flies from Nigeria to England to visit Peace.
The mystery that lies behind Bolu’s past and his intentions reveal Peace’s challenge to confront those questions, which may or may not cause destruction to her family dynamic. Her mother, however, is far from pleased about this and does not attempt to hide her feelings. Bolu’s father left him in Nigeria when he was still very young and moved to the UK, where he subsequently had Peace and raised her with Favour.
But family secrets loom large, and Favour is not at all glad about Bolu’s presence in her daughter’s life. This discontent leaves her deeply troubled, to the point where she extends her stay at Peace and Roy’s home to keep a watchful eye on Bolu, often driving Roy to the brink of insanity.
A central theme throughout the performance was the differing experiences of the Nigerian diaspora and Nigerians on the continent. Bolu teaches Peace Yoruba, which certainly brought a smile to my face. As someone who is casually trying to learn Yoruba, those scenes of language learning highlighted that it’s never too late to make an effort. Bolu and Peace find various ways to bond, with their amusing exchanges in Yoruba serving as a significant manifestation of their growing sibling connection.
Bolu’s insights into his experiences living in Nigeria effectively confront Peace’s misconceptions about life in Nigeria. Having lived in England her whole life, Peace is convinced that she has it much better than someone like Bolu. However, his witty remarks reveal that he loves living in Nigeria and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Additionally, Bolu proves to be pivotal in prompting Peace, who is a history teacher, to reconsider her approach to the school curriculum. The only Black student in her class acts out, clearly frustrated and urging Peace to diversify her Eurocentric curriculum. This frustration often manifests as misbehaviour.
Instead of focusing solely on the student’s poor behaviour, Bolu enlightens Peace about the importance of incorporating global history that travels beyond the shores of Europe and North America. He emphasises that, although the curriculum may have led her to believe she can only teach Eurocentric histories, this does not diminish the significance of the student’s voice. Rather, it highlights the need for a broader perspective—one that reclaims neglected histories.
It was beautiful watching each character develop and evolve into themselves, particularly in the case of Peace and Bolu. Their bonding at night when Favour and Roy are asleep is absorbing. The loud whispering really puts into perspective how heavy Favour’s influence is in their relationship given that they feel most free to talk to one another in her absence.
Peace opens up to Bolu in ways she thought were practically impossible which results in her patronising “Do you resent me for how I grew up?” directed at Bolu. Similarly, with each day Bolu also progressively confides in his half-sister. You can tell it is difficult for him, but he does it regardless because he knows its importance to their overall sibling relationship.
I’d be lying if I said there weren’t several instances where Peace had to confront her traumas in My Father’s Fable. Though the synopsis speaks for itself, Omole deftly handles sensitive scenes depicting Peace’s childhood traumas involving planes and a cardboard box, and how these experiences impact her struggle to support Roy’s new job offer, which would mean moving overseas. Ultimately, Peace is compelled to confront her traumas and break free from her mother’s firm grip to discover herself and her true desires.
What I loved most about the production was its seamless ability to challenge your expectations at every turn. It constantly defied my immediate presumptions, placing a huge red cross over the assumptions I held while watching the performance. My Father’s Fable is rich in twists and turns involving Peace’s father, Bolu’s enigmatic reason for visiting Peace, and Favour’s concealed ‘secrets’.
However, one aspect I found somewhat underwhelming was Bolu’s accent. While I appreciated his character and performance, I felt that the Nigerian accent was portrayed somewhat comically. It would have been refreshing to hear a Nigerian accent presented with a more nuanced tone rather than one that leaned toward comedic exaggeration.
Costumes are often a major aspect for me when it comes to any sort of performance. However, the costumes in My Father’s Fable were relatively simple, which did not quite meet my initial expectations. Notwithstanding, as soon as I got a gist for the production, I understood that sometimes simple is all that is needed.
It makes the audience really feel like they are in Peace and Roy’s home which adds to My Father’s Fable’s authenticity. While the sound effects truly helped build the suspense and at times, even strengthened Favour’s already-established humour. If there is one character that will have you throwing your head back in laughter, it will most likely be Favour. Her facial expressions and punchy remarks are to be credited for upholding the humour throughout the show. Rakie Ayola certainly deserves her flowers for her stellar performance.
Rating: 4.5/5
Claudia Efemini is a British-Nigerian author who published her debut, A Letter Away From Asaba, in 2023. Claudia is also a History and Politics student at the University of Edinburgh and writes articles on arts, culture, and history.