Nigeria’s literary and theatrical communities are upbeat this June to honour one of Africa’s venerable culture personality, Professor Femi Osofisan, as he celebrates his 80th birthday.
The landmark birthday anniversary of the distinguished playwright, critic, poet and public intellectual, work has shaped generations of artists, scholars and audiences across the world, will be commemorated with a rich programme of activities — performances, screenings and conversations as outlined below:
Lagos (June 11–15, 2026)
Ibadan (June 17–18, 2026).
A National Tribute to a Cultural Luminary
The FO@80 celebrations bring together theatre practitioners, filmmakers, academics, students and admirers to honour a writer whose work has consistently interrogated power, history, justice and the human condition.
The events offer a rare opportunity to revisit Osofisan’s dramatic oeuvre across stage and screen, while engaging in critical dialogue about his enduring impact.
LAGOS PROGRAMME
June 11–15 2026
The Lagos celebrations will begin with a three day stage production of Osofisan’s acclaimed play Yungba Yungba and the Dance Contest (June 11–13).
Directed by Bunmi Adedina, the production will run daily at 2:00pm, with a Command Performance at 1.00pm on June 11 June at the Department of Theatre Arts, Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos.
Other productions being planned for the days include No More the Wasted Breed (dir. Segun Adefila) and The Engagement (dir. Shola Adenugba)
On June 14, events move to JRandle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos with the activities, starting with a Talk by dramatist Ben Omowafola Tomoloju, title “The Femi Osofisan I Know”. Time: 3.00pm
Tomoloju’s Talk will be followed by the unveiling of 100 SONGS OF FEMI OSOFISAN, produced by Semoore Badejo for Concrete Studios.
2. Roundtable: “Femi Osofisan’s Drama and the Deconstruction of the Nigerian Postcolonial State” – featuring scholars, practitioners and admirers reflecting on Femi Osofisan’s legacy. Time 4.00pm
Speakers include: BabaAgba Tunde Kelani, filmmaker, culture advocate; Professor Mabel Evwierhoma, theatre and culture scholar, University of Abuja; Professor Akin Adesokan, culture and media scholar, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA; Professor Razinat Mohammed, writer and literary scholar, University of Abuja; Dr. Onyekaba Cornel-Best, theatre and media scholar, University of Lagos; Professor Ifure Ufford-Azorbo, theatre practitioner and scholar, University of Uyo; Israel Eboh, theatre director and former President of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP. It will be moderated by Jahman Anikulapo, culture curator and communicator.
3. Guests will enjoy a screening of Maami, adapted for film by Tunde Kelani from Osofisan’s original work. The screening begins at 6:00pm.
The Lagos programme concludes on June 15 with a second Roundtable at 4:00pm, that would treat the theme: Interpreting Femi Osofisan for the Stage.
Speakers are: Professor Grace Adinku, Performance and Visual Arts Studies Scholar, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA; Dr Teju Kareem, theatre practitioner, CEO Zmirage Multimedia Company; Dr Toyin Ogundeji, theatre practitioner, teacher, Obafemi Awolowo University; Professor Rasheedat Liman, theatre teacher and culture scholar; Mrs Joke Silva (Jacobs); veteran actress and culture entrepreneur; Segun Adefila, theatre practitioner, Chairman, Guild of Nigerian Dancers, GOND; and Makinde Adeniran, theatre director, President of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners, NANTAP.
It will be moderated by Professor Tunji Azeez, theatre teacher, scholar and President of Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists, SONTA.
The Roundtable will be followed by screening of Cordelia, an adaptation of Osofisan’s novella of same title by Baba Agba Tunde Kelani at 6:00pm
Other performances being contemplated in the course of the celebration are: Femi Osofisan’s No More the Wasted Breed as adapted and directed by Segun Adefila for the Crown Troupe of Africa and Osofisan’s The Engagement directed by Shola Adenugba for the Lagos Live Theatre.
The Talk and Roundtables will also be accessible via Zoom. To attend virtually, audiences may register using the link: https://bit.ly/3PLZrN6
IBADAN PROGRAMME
June 17–18 2026
The celebrations continue at the Staff Club, University of Ibadan, beginning on June 17 with a recorded presentation of Yungba Yungba and the Dance Contest as performed at the University of Ghana, Legon, directed by Grace Adinku.
The screening starts at 2:00pm, and is followed by a Q&A.
The Ibadan programme concludes on 18 June with a recorded performance of Farewell to a Cannibal Rage, staged at Texas A&M University and directed by Grace Adinku.
The screening begins at 2:00pm, followed by a Roundtable session and Tributes.
