FAMU Marching 100 Head Drum Major Dupe Oloyede Shines at 98th Academy Awards

Oluwamodupe "Dupe" Oloyede had led the Florida A&M University Marching 100 across fields, stages, and screens all year, but nothing in that run of high-profile moments matched what unfolded on March 15 in Los Angeles. The FAMU senior and theater performance major performed in the opening of the 98th Academy Awards, taking her place at the bottom left of the Oscars stage with her drum major's baton and executing a choreographed routine as the ceremony opened.

The performance centered on "I Lied to You," the breakout hit from the Sinners soundtrack, performed by musician and actor Miles Caton. Oloyede shared the stage with blues guitarist Buddy Guy, Nigerian-American singer and rapper Shaboozey, and ballet dancer Misty Copeland, who made history as the first African American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre.

"When I received the call, I could not believe it," Oloyede said. "Performing at the Oscars is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was offered to me. God is so amazing. This is affirmation that I'm supposed to be here and this is what I want to do."

The Atlanta, Georgia native has been described by multiple outlets as the Marching 100's first female head drum major. Earlier this year at Gaither Gymnasium, Cori Bostic, identified as the first female drum major of the Marching 100 and Oloyede's sorority sister in the Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., handed Oloyede the iconic baton during a packed introduction ceremony that featured 65 new band members presenting themselves to the crowd. Oloyede stepped to center stage, blew her whistle to signal the band's signature start, and performed a weaving routine known as the "Rattler" before finishing with a dramatic split that sent the Gaither Gym crowd into a frenzy.

That campus moment was followed quickly by a Prime Video segment in which the Marching 100 performed the NBA on Prime theme "Victory," produced in part by FAMU alumnus Common, on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Prime Video aired the piece ahead of the Orlando Magic's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

FAMU responded to the Oscars performance with a social media post on March 15: "From the Highest of Seven Hills to Hollywood's biggest night, we always knew she was destined for the Oscar stage. The world is watching, Dupe. Keep striking from the top!"

For Oloyede, the magnitude of the moment was still settling in. "It's just amazing," she said. "I'm standing in this surreal space of thinking, 'Wow, I have to go back to school next week.'" She credited a network of supporters for making the weekend possible, including FAMU President Marva Johnson, J.D.; Special Assistant to the President Angela Suggs; Marching 100 Director Shelby Chipman; and Los Angeles-based alumni Jocelyn Coleman and Greg Anderson.

"I really think God brought me to FAMU to answer more than just the prayer of education and band," she reflected. "And I learned from this experience that I'm not alone."

With graduation set for May, Oloyede leaves Tallahassee carrying something few performers ever hold: a choreographed baton routine on the world's most watched entertainment stage.