Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede is used to commanding a field — but this fall, she stepped into a role no woman before her has ever held at Florida A&M University.
The senior music student has become the first woman head drum major of FAMU’s legendary Marching 100 and only the second woman drum major in the band’s 79-year history.
For Oloyede, the milestone wasn’t something she initially imagined.
“When I originally thought about coming to FAMU, I just thought about being in the Marching 100, maybe even being a drum major,” she said. “It never crossed my mind to be a head drum major, let alone the first woman to do it.”
It wasn’t until the opportunity arrived that she realized the significance — and the weight — of challenging decades of tradition.
A Viral Moment Years in the Making
Her breakout moment came during FAMU’s Oct. 18 homecoming game, where her electrifying performance — a blend of precision, athleticism, and unmistakable charisma — went viral.
Among the thousands who shared the clip was Nick Cannon, star of the 2002 film Drumline. In a twist of fate, the movie premiered the day Oloyede was born. It also featured musicians from Southwest DeKalb High School in Georgia, the very program where Oloyede first served as drum major.
The full-circle moment wasn’t lost on her — or on the fans who saw in her performance a new chapter in HBCU band culture.
Carrying the Legacy — and Expanding It
The Marching 100, named ESPN’s 2024 Band of the Year, is famous for its rigorous musical standards and even tougher physical demands. As head drum major, Oloyede manages the weekly music schedule, choreographs performances, and leads a team of seven drum majors — all while juggling up to 25 hours of training during game weeks.
She is not just maintaining the band’s legacy. She is rewriting it.
But Oloyede is also mindful of the women whose talent never translated to leadership opportunities.
“It’s very sad to hear about the women who could’ve done it, who definitely had the skill, charisma and all the requirements,” she said. “The university or the world at that time was not ready to see women in that capacity.”
Today, she leads without facing the same resistance that tested Cori Bostic, the first woman drum major in FAMU history, who graduated in 2020. Their bond, Oloyede says, keeps her grounded.
“I’m just ecstatic and grateful that people are saying I’ve really honored the women and The 100.”
A New Era for The 100
With graduation approaching in December, Oloyede is already cementing a legacy that will outlast her time on the field. Her success is a reminder of how cultural institutions evolve — often because a young woman chooses to step where tradition never expected her to stand.
For the Marching 100, the beat hasn’t just changed. It’s widened — making room for the next generation of women ready to claim the podium.
