Florida A&M senior embraces role as Marching 100 band’s first female head drum major: ‘I am the dream fulfilled’

When Florida A&M University opens its football season at the Orange Blossom Classic on Saturday, a member of FAMU’s band will make a historic debut.

In June, senior theater major Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede cemented her name within Florida A&M band lore by becoming the first female head drum major for the Marching 100. She will perform her first halftime show in the role at the annual HBCU football classic.

The moment Shelby Chipman, FAMU’s director of bands, announced Oloyede’s appointment, she took heed of the responsibility that had been bestowed upon her.

“When they called my name, I had to keep my composure,” Oloyede said. “It didn’t hit me right away. I just knew the real work was about to begin.”

A native of Decatur, Ga., Oloyede’s milestone follows a trail initially carved by Cori Bostic, who became the Marching 100’s first female drum major in 2018.

The two women share more than historical firsts with the Marching 100; both are products of Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur. The school’s band, the Marching Panthers, portrayed the fictional Atlanta A&T University band in the 2002 film “Drumline” and was runner-up in the Metro Atlanta high school category of ESPN’s 2024 Band of the Year championship.

“We were taught that excellence wasn’t an exception,” Bostic said. “It was the norm, especially for young Black women. Watching Dupé, someone from my own high school, walk into this position and just belong, that’s the dream.

“She didn’t have to prove herself the way I did. The fact that it was a no-brainer for her to lead, that is the very thing I prayed for.”

Oloyede acknowledges Bostic’s path from Southwest DeKalb High to the Marching 100 as a precursor for her own journey.

“It was comforting to know someone else had gone through it,” Oloyede said. “We were kind of breaking ground at the same time. Some people just don’t know how to respect women in leadership, but seeing Cori do it gave me resilience.”

Chipman credits Oloyede’s rise to head drum major to her years of discipline and overall presence as a leader in the band.

“Her dedication, her service, her musicianship, and just being a role model for others, she has exceeded all of that,” Chipman said. “She learned by watching leaders before her, and when it came time to choose a head drum major, it was without question. She is a people’s person and a natural extension of our band staff.”

Oloyede already has left a mark on the program’s performance culture, he said.

“There is something about her charisma, her passion, and her ability to communicate with both toughness and compassion,” Chipman said. “She meets students where they are. And you can see it, the way she works with the show planning committee, the drum major staff, and the band as a whole. We are moving with purpose.”

To Chipman, Oloyede’s appointment was both historic and inevitable.

“She earned this not because she is a woman, but because of the intangibles,” he said. “Even if you put 300 members of the Marching 100 in a room and gave no one a title, she would emerge as the leader. She commands attention. Her voice deserves to be heard.”

Oloyede said her upbringing as a Nigerian American influenced her work ethic and leadership style. Raised in a family of go-getters, she credits her mother for teaching her how to leverage her strengths.

“My mom always showed me how to hustle well,” Oloyede said. “That shaped my creativity and drive. Being Nigerian has also taught me how to lead with both strength and care. I learned how to be direct but respectful, how to show up for people but still hold high standards.”

While Oloyede was a drum major last season, the Marching 100 won the Band of the Year championship in the Division I category. This year, her expectations are even higher.

“I want to leave a legacy rooted in excellence,” she said. “People should remember how we represented the university, on the field, in our communities, across the country.

“We didn’t just perform. We represented. We were the face of our school in many ways, and we made sure the world knew what excellence from an HBCU looks like.”

For Bostic, watching it all unfold is a proud full-circle moment.

“When I saw her name called as drum major, I knew she would be head,” Bostic said. “It wasn’t even a question. She was the one.”

As Oloyede prepares to take the field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., this weekend, she reminds herself that she was chosen for a reason.

“I am the dream fulfilled,” she said.