Meet Shola Benjamin: One Of The Few Women Who Can Play Sakara Drum

The journey into the theatre for versatile actress, dancer, drummer, chanter and chereographer, Olushola Kunmi Benjamin began right from childhood when she used to make everyone in the family laugh from her jokes

Shola, born in Portharcourt to Yoruba parents, gained so much from her mum who was in the habit of always using her husband’s native name to praise him whenever he comes from outings.

“My dad was Akanni and I usually hear my mum chant his praise regularly while growing up. It had an impact on me and helped define my career pact as I grew up” she recollected.

In 1987 after secondary school, Shola went to the University of Portharcourt to obtain a diploma in Theatre Arts to help hone her ability and in 1989, she began to professionally perform as an artiste.

It was in Lagos, under the very prolific Chuck Mike that she cut her performance teeth and for three years, she grew from being an artiste in training to a resident artiste and was an integral part of all the performances including Sense of Belonging (originally named Ikpiko), Sisi Clara workshop and so on.

She also went through the tutelage of Isioma Williams, the founder of DRUMSVIEW, where she learnt the art of Riverine and Sakara drumming.

“I wanted to be a complete theatre practitioner and having already learnt acting, wanted to be able to drum, sing and dance. That was what took me to Drumsview in the year 2000 where I completed a six months training in four months which was why Mr Williams advised that I use the remaining two months to learn about Sakara drumming” Ms Benjamin revealed.

The two training, hitherto an exclusive reserve of men before then, saw her becoming the first female to do that at Drumsview. Part of what she took away was dancing and singing, talents that helped her when she auditioned at Ben Tomoloju’s company for a stage production.

A proven dance instructor and chanter, Shola worked with Ben Tomoloju as a guest chereographer in ARATASIN, KURUNMI and several other plays where she led the chants and chereographed the dances.

Asked why she is more of a live theatre artiste than television or movies, she replied that “live or stage theatre provides more opportunities for an artiste. You can dance, sing, act, drum and it helps you become better at delivering your roles because there is no second chance. You can’t afford to make any mistake while on set and I derive great joy from knowing that I am making people happy which I also see right there on their faces” she rounded off