The Nigerian Student Association will bring a piece of Nigeria’s rich culture and history to UH this weekend.
Along with All-Africa Theatre Production, the student organization will present The Center Cannot Hold, a play that, for NSA president Adewole Omogunsoye, reflects the culture of Nigeria in a way that has not been seen on stage before.
"It’s the first stage play adaptation of the book," Omogunsoye, an accounting junior, said.
The play is based off Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart, which illustrates the clash between the colonial government and the traditional ways of the native Igbo people living in Nigeria circa 1890.
The audience will have the opportunity to see the story through the perspective of the main character, Okonkwo, a troubled youth living with mixed emotions during his struggle to survive.
"With this play, people should be able to relate to the book and understand the culture," Omogunsoye said.
The play itself is only a part of what the NSA intends to bring to UH. A major goal of the organization is to foster unity among the University’s diverse student body.
"One of the missions of NSA is to integrate the Nigerian culture within the UH system," Omogunsoye said.
As sound as membership has been for NSA in the past, the staff said there is always room for improvement.
"What most people don’t realize is that you don’t have to be Nigerian to be a part of NSA. Lots of people ask themselves, ‘What can NSA do for me?’ because they are not Nigerian."
Omogunsoye said he hopes to collaborate with other student organizations throughout the semester.
"We want students to be more involved," Omogunsoye said.
The Center Cannot Hold will be performed at 7 p.m. today and 5 p.m. Sunday at the Cullen Performance Hall.
For more information, call (832) 434-0770.
Who: Nigerian Student Association
What: The Center Cannot Hold
When: 7 p.m. today and 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Cullen Performance Hall
