About the logo
The Orí Olôkun statue is at the centre of the logo, symbolizing both the deep cultural backgrounds and the pride associated with theatre. This statue holds significant meaning in Yoruba culture. It’s painted in gold to reflect the prestige, honor, and longstanding tradition that theatre embodies. Gold, as a color, is often associated with excellence and high status, reinforcing the idea that theatre holds a place of great importance and reverence in the society.
The happy face mask in the logo represents the element of comedy in theatre and the joy that it brings into our lives. The letter ‘E’ and the open bracket within the mask suggest the beginning of something, a creative process that is open to endless possibilities.
On the other side, the sad face mask portrays tragedy in theatre and the sorrow that is an inevitable part of life. This mask features the letter ‘D’ and a closed bracket, symbolizing the end of a story or the conclusion of an experience.
The purple color used for the text is traditionally associated with wisdom and creativity, as well as royalty, emphasizing the noble and enlightened nature of theatre.
The black or white color is classically to represent the duality of emotions (happy/sad) and also represent the duality of the natural world and theatre.
The overall concept of the logo is to portray DASA as the crown of theatre, an association that stands at the pinnacle of theatrical excellence. The open and closed brackets are more than just design elements—they symbolize the entirety of the world, with theatre at its center. The Orí Olôkun statue placed in the middle of these brackets is a powerful metaphor for theatre at the origin and heart of the world, especially in the context of Yoruba mythology, where Ife is considered the cradle of civilization. This positioning gives DASA an elevated status.
The masks, representing both happiness (comedy) and sadness (tragedy), are used to convey the concept of duality that is integral to both life and theatre. Just like the principles of duality found in the concept of Odù, the Chinese concept of Yin and Yang, or the concept of Èsù (good and evil) in Yoruba belief, all of which depict the coexistence of opposing forces—good and evil, light and dark, joy and sorrow—as inseparable and essential to the whole. The sad mask also portrays the often unseen hardships of the theatrical world—the sweat, strenuous rehearsals, sacrifices, injuries, and fatigue that thespians endure behind the scenes. These are the painful realities that the audience rarely sees but are an integral part of the theatrical process. The happy mask represents the joy, satisfaction, the laughter, joy, and fulfillment that follow a successful performance, as well as the profits and accolades.
In essence, this logo is more than just a symbol; it’s a narrative that encapsulates the full spectrum of the theatrical experience. It tells a story of how DASA is not just part of the theatre world but is its very crown, holding within it the dual forces that make theatre—and life—rich, meaningful, and complete.
Team Concilium Viatorum
