Nollywood producer revives theatre in Nigeria

On one of those lazy Sundays, I was on Twitter and noticed #FelaAndTheKalakutaQueens was trending. It had been trending on weekends for few weeks and I had ignored but on this particular day I began to wonder... what's got people so pumped up about this stage play? I read through the tweets. Every tweet gave a positive vibe and I got my thinking cap on. You know sometimes stories don't just jump or scream at you. Naaaaa. They have the potential but it requires you doing a lot of reading to shape it up in order to sell it. And that's what I did. Fortunately, the stage play had been extended for one more week. 

Everyone who passes through the Iganmu route in Nigeria's Lagos sees the magnificent edifice. Nigeria's National Arts Theatre was built in the 70s as a space for the performing arts and culture but years of neglect has turned it into an architectural masterpiece that tourists admire. For decades, the West African country has lacked a space that gives audiences a wholesome stage play experience.

 Nigeria is now witnessing a game-changing tactic that is helping to reinvigorate its theatre industry with the building of a technology equipped state of the art theatre by one of Nollywood's producers Bolanle Austen-Peters. Launched in 2017, the Terra Kulture Arena is currently playing host to a lavish new production on afrobeat King "Fela and the Kalakuta queens". The space gives an enhanced experience for audiences with the use of stage lights, props, audio and a digital projector. The electrifying performance which opened in December has held audiences spell-bound with the production company giving in to a wide demand for the stage play to be extended for another week. The Terra Kulture arena seats over 400 people and was packed full the weekend we did the shoot for the stage play that sought to highlight the women in the life of Nigerian afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. 

Bolanle Austen Peters returned to her home country Nigeria in 2003 and established a space for arts and culture in Nigeria's Lagos. Her desire to pay attention to the arts culminated with the production of the first Nigerian musical "WAKAA the Musical" in 2013. The Ebola movie producer says there is need for individuals, private corporations and government to help in growing the industry. Bolanle says the industry has the potential to create jobs for the unemployed and should be a priority for the entertainment industry.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, though could not watch all the scenes as I had to work. For those who missed, they will be back in April during the Easter break.

Link to the video: The all new Terra Kulture theatre opens to promote stage crafts in Nigeria

With Bolanle Austen-Peters

With Bolanle Austen-Peters and my colleague Seun Sanni

Interviewing the actor who played Fela, Adeniji Heavywind

Interviewing one of the actors, Bunmi Olunloyo

Bunmi Olunloyo

With my sis Yvonne Atseyinku and Bunmi Olunloyo

Meet Nigeria's Afromysterics Artist Laolu Senbanjo

Laolu Senbanjo

I can't say that I am hopelessly in love with culture. We have got some interesting cultures but hmmmmm, no because those who are in loveeeeee; it goes real deep for them and I admire people who are in love with culture, especially those creatives who find a way to bring to reality culturally grounded innovative ideas. I find it quite fascinating and I love telling their stories, meeting them and getting to know their distinctive characters. I love how the story comes together at the end and try to enjoy the process. Which is why I am so much consumed by what I do and field work is a plus for me. Unfortunately I could not meet this culture lover and maestro of a man, Laolu Senbanjo when he came into Nigeria recently.

Now how did it all come together? Facebook.

For the first time I was mighty glad I went on Facebook two days before the team interviewed the Nigerian afromysterics artist Laolu Senbanjo. Scrolling though posts can be quite a task. Same with Instagram. You could get drawn in and it gets boring for me after some minutes. But that day the first post I came across; an update by a friend caught my eye. He expressed his delight at having reconnected with his friend after 9 years. It was accompanied by a really short video clip. You guessed right! Same Laolu. My goodness! I think the afrocentric stars were aligned that day. Lol. I immediately reached out to my friend and he said Laolu had sneaked into the country and had left. I took my disappointed self back to social media. Only to get a call the following morning during a hectic period that the art genius/musician/songwriter/former human rights lawyer was still in town. He had delayed his flight by two days. Halleluyah! 

But before Facebook.
July 2016 was when the idea dropped in my mind after seeing stories online about him. I had reached out to his PR person and was told the New York based artist will not be in Nigeria till later that year. I did not chase the story after then. Don't recall why because I like to keep tabs. 

2018 sure started with this surprise as Laolu granted us audience two days after coming across the Facebook post. He was to leave town same day we did the interview. Fortunately my colleagues as always were ever ready.
The afromysterics artist, Laolu Senbanjo has broken into pop culture with his African inspired art which he defines as the mystery of the African thought pattern. The Nigerian artist has evolved over the years and made name as one of the artists to break into the international scene with his unique style of using charcoal and working with clothes, sneakers and human bodies. In 2016, Laolu was selected by Nike, the American sportswear company to create art inspired sneakers. The visual artist also brought his Yoruba influenced markings to Beyonce’s Lemonade video.

While watching his interview, he struck me as quite a deep person who is in touch with his culture and mythology. For him, everything is his canvas. He can paint on anything.

This is my first post of the year. Happy New Year all. I pray 2018 brings you nothing short of the best. Cheers.

Pictures courtesy: Angela Ukomadu

Laolu Senbanjo with my colleagues Angela Ukomadu and Seun Sanni

Sneakers specially made for Sound Sultan

Click on read more to watch the video of Laolu create a pattern on my colleague's face. The pattern signifies the three children in her 'kingdom'.