In a world full of information with access at our fingertips, we often don't realize how little we actually know. I grew up with a white family, in a white house, went to a white school, in a white county, full of white people. We don't realize that "information" is not just facts, but it is experience as well. A Nigerian Household upbringing seems different than an Irish/German upbringing or so I thought. But as I progressed with Amina's story, at some point I realized that we share a lot of similarity. While reading Omo Mi, the motives of the characters are often reflected decisions made by my own parents and family members. Such as: The shunning of pursuing a career in art, encouraging a school that has better credentials, and humorously explaining to our them that when we say "I'm dead" that it is not literal. Even the proverbs Halima tells Amina, mimic similar scoldings by by own mother. It's not just the family dynamic, it's the character as well between me and Amina, which caught me off guard: our love of art, the naivete of lying to our parents (even though the somehow always find out) and even our terrible taste in men. I too am "dickmatized" by an aspiring rapper, trust me it's an awful experience, at least Derek has some bars.
Within the play, there is so much of the world though Amina's eyes I never experienced because of both my race and gender provided me the privilege of not growing up with similar issues. One of the rehearsals, Mark brought up a very good point, that I was indeed the only white person in the Zoom Call, and honestly that is an experience that was brand new for me, and it was refreshing. With the play as well, reading a story about a Nigerian Teenage Girl would be something I didn't think would have as much relatability as it does. It was also really funny that it was brought it, we laughed a lot.
It's important to acknowledge these racial barriers, or even the privilege of knowing that some do not experience those barriers. The White Privilege Pedestal is easier to step down from than it is for millions of people to work against a system that continues to barricade them from succeeding. We see that with Halima's upbringings. (SPOILER) At the end of the play Halima reveals that she underwent FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) without consent. That is a real issue, that continues to be an issue, yet I bet some people who are going to be hearing this play for the first time won't know that it existed, or that it even afflicted women in particular cultures. Regardless, many women experience what Halima experienced and that story needs to be told.
Omo Mi is the story of Amina and Halima Adeleke, the rocky relations of a Nigerian Mother Daughter Duo. Sadia did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life, Mark did a wonderful job directing these characters motivations tapping into their psyche, and the cast did an amazing job at breathing life into these characters. I want people to take away the same thing I did, where you go into it not really knowing anything, but open to the possibility that you can take away a great, new, wider perspective. Turing those barriers into bridges starts with plays like this, and as white people, we need to watch them, read them, and research them because despite all the information, we will never have the experience of living in that information.
I encourage everyone to read up on Nigerian/Yoruba Culture, it truly is one of the most fascinating things, there's a whole world, nothing is stopping you! Visit the Glossary Page for The Google Master Document on Nigerian Culture, maybe you'll take away a few fun phrases :-)
Go with knowledge, love, and an open mind. -BHS Jan. 15, 2021