Richard Mofe-Damijo, the veteran Nollywood actor, and other theatre practitioners will reunite in Lagos on November 1 to mark 40 years of AJOFEST ’86, a festival that showcased four plays by late Nigerian playwright Fred Agbeyegbe.
The reunion, themed AJOFEST ’86 – 40 Years Later: Reunion and Reflections, will feature dramatic readings, panel discussions and tributes to the original cast and crew.
The event will begin at 4 pm at Queen Amina Gardens, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. It is being organised in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP). Admission is free.
Other expected participants include Ayo Lijadu, Lara Akinsola, Yomi Layinka, Professor Segun Ojewuyi and Dr Tunji Sotimirin. Veteran journalist Ben Tomoloju will deliver the keynote address.
Four plays that shaped AJOFEST ’86
Held in 1986 during Nigeria’s military era, AJOFEST presented four plays by Agbeyegbe. They were The King Must Dance Naked, Woe Unto Death, The Last Omen and Budiso.
The plays explored tradition, justice, political authority and the abuse of power. The King Must Dance Naked challenged harmful traditional practices, while Budiso used political satire to examine authoritarian rule.
The festival followed Ajo Productions’ annual presentations of Agbeyegbe’s plays from 1983 to 1986. Its four productions ran over consecutive weekends. They showed how private investment and professional staging could attract audiences to Nigerian theatre.
Agbeyegbe was a playwright, lawyer, publisher and cultural advocate. He founded Ajo Productions to promote Nigerian theatre through ambitious productions and socially relevant stories.
Reunion to honour original cast and crew
A panel moderated by Dr Lookman Sanusi will feature Mofe-Damijo, Lijadu, Layinka and Akinsola. They are expected to share their experiences of the festival.
The Crown Troupe of Africa will coordinate readings from the four plays. Organisers will also honour contributors to the original productions, including Jide Ogungbade, Pero Sosan, Sola Awojobi, Victoria Ajomeyimje and Akpor Otebele.
The programme will examine ways to preserve Nigerian theatre history. Discussions will also cover arts funding, performance spaces and training for emerging practitioners.
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