Once Upon an Elephant, like most WAEC-approved literature texts, is one of those books students memorise for exams rather than truly experience; an item to tick off a list: read, cram, regurgitate.
But Mr Ralph Ibidapo Bruce who teaches literature at Peakland College Alagbole-Akute had a different vision; he wanted his students to breathe life into Bosede Ademilua-Afolayan’s work, to feel its pulse beyond the printed page. So, he transformed the text into a living performance, staged at Freedom Park on Saturday, 22 November 2025 at this year’s Lagos Fringe festival.
“ I want my students to see a play as a living breathing thing not just printed words on a page,”he explained when asked what motivated him to dramatize the prescribed literature on stage. “I have done this for the past 10 years but within our school premises. This is our second year at Lagos Fringe.”
The previous year, Mr. Bruce and his student presented Let Me Die Alone by John Kargbo at the same festival.
Raphael Ibidapo BruceThe show began at 4:20 p.m after a slight delay thanks to the usual chaos of herding teenagers. When the play finally began, the audience met an ensemble made up of Arts and Science students, a deliberate choice to break boundaries.
First to stride on stage was Olaniyonu Ajanaku, heir apparent to a fading throne. His swagger spoke volumes: a prince intoxicated by power, sneering at those who barely tolerated him. Side glances and stiff elbows from fellow cast members made it clear, this was no beloved royal.
Then came Serubawon, the kingmaker and medicine man, whose presence carried an unsettling weight. His cryptic pronouncements hinted at doom for the reigning king, Akinjobi: “the sun was setting on his reign.”
Serubawon’s ambition soon became apparent, he was scheming to crown Ajanaku, a choice that baffled Ogundele and Odejimi, the other kingmakers. Their resistance set the stage for conflict, while whispers of betrayal rippled through the audience.
Enter Iya’agba, the former King’s ex-wife, banished from the palace from a perceived ill against the throne. Iya’agba is the so-called madwoman, who shattered every stereotype with her fiery wit and defiance. Her barbs, sharp as a hunter’s spear, quickly exposed hypocrisy and greed.
The play’s humour and wisdom shone through her, even as darkness and gloom loomed: Ajanaku to secure his path to the throne and cement his reign schemes to become immortal but his path to immortality requires a horrific price; the rape of six virgins.
When Desola, Serubawon’s cherished daughter, falls victim, chaos erupts. The kingmaker’s pride curdled into despair as he realised he had aided and abetted a monster.
The climax unravels a trove of secrets: Ajanaku’s illegitimacy, his incestuous sin, and the community’s rallying cry led by Iya’agba. Betrayal, greed, and the raw power of women intertwined with a narrative that left the audience stunned.
In under one hour, the young thespians, delivered a performance that transcended the classroom, a gift of courage and artistry that earned thunderous applause as Ajanaku was served his just desserts.
Yes, there were unanswered questions: what truly transpired between Iya’agba and Serubawon? How did Odekunle fend off Ajanaku’s men?
But those gaps only deepened the intrigue, ensuring that Once Upon an Elephant played by the Drama Troupe of Peakland College, would linger in conversations long after the last cast member exited the stage.
