Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) and other prominent figures in Nigerian theatre will reunite in Lagos on November 1 to celebrate 40 years since AJOFEST ’86, the festival that brought four plays by veteran playwright Papa Fred Agbeyegbe to the National Theatre.
The gathering, titled AJOFEST ’86 – 40 Years Later: Reunion and Reflections, will bring together members of the original cast, crew and creative community to revisit the festival’s history, honour Agbeyegbe’s contribution to Nigerian theatre and reflect on its lasting influence.
Scheduled for 4pm at Queen Amina Gardens, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, the event is being organised in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP).
The programme will feature a keynote address, panel discussions, dramatic readings, tributes and conversations about the future of theatre in Nigeria.
Veteran journalist and former arts editor of The Guardian, Ben Tomoloju, will deliver the keynote address, while RMD, Ayo Lijadu, Yomi Layinka and Lara Akinsola will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Dr Lookman Sanusi.
Other expected participants include Professor Segun Ojewuyi, Dr Tunji Sotimirin, Godwin Onohwosa, Jahman Anikulapo and Adeniran Makinde, FTA. The Crown Troupe of Africa, affiliated with NANTAP, will lead dramatic readings from the four plays featured at the original festival.
Revisiting a landmark in Nigerian theatre
AJOFEST ’86 was staged during Nigeria’s military era and presented four plays by Agbeyegbe: The King Must Dance Naked, Woe Unto Death, The Last Omen and Budiso.
Presented over four consecutive weekends, the festival demonstrated how privately funded theatre productions could attract large audiences through strong writing, professional staging and sustained investment.
The event followed Ajo Productions’ annual presentation of Agbeyegbe’s plays between 1983 and 1986. His works explored themes including tradition, justice, political authority and the abuse of power.
While The King Must Dance Naked challenged child sacrifice and the unquestioning defence of tradition, Budiso used political satire to examine authoritarian rule. The issues raised in the plays remain relevant to conversations about Nigerian society today.
AJOFEST also provided opportunities for actors, directors and technical professionals, some of whom went on to build notable careers in Nigeria and abroad.
Honouring Papa Fred Agbeyegbe’s legacy
The reunion will celebrate Agbeyegbe, a playwright, lawyer, publisher and cultural advocate who founded Ajo Productions and invested his own resources in bringing his theatrical vision to life.
Through his plays and commitment to production, he used theatre to examine social injustice, political power and traditions that threatened human dignity.
Actors associated with Ajo Productions and AJOFEST included RMD, Clarion Chukwurah, Antar Laniyan, Lara Akinsola and Tunji Sotimirin.
The anniversary will also pay tribute to members of the original theatrical community, including Jide Ogungbade, Pero Sosan, Sola Awojobi, Victoria Ajomeyimje and Akpor Otebele.
Organisers say the gathering will offer an opportunity for those who were part of the 1986 productions to share their experiences with younger actors, writers and other practitioners, helping to keep the festival’s history alive.
Organisers seek archival materials
Beyond the reunion, the organisers are seeking photographs, original programmes, newspaper reports, recordings and personal recollections connected to AJOFEST ’86.
The materials are expected to help preserve the festival’s history for researchers, theatre historians, educational institutions and future generations.
Discussions at the event will also address challenges facing contemporary Nigerian theatre, including funding, access to performance spaces and training opportunities for actors, writers, directors and technical professionals.
As digital entertainment and screen productions continue to expand, the anniversary will provide an opportunity to reflect on the place of live theatre in preserving cultural expression, encouraging social commentary and bringing audiences together.
Admission to the event is free, and online participation is available through https://bit.ly/4dpVSoJ.
Dr Lillian Agbeyegbe is the convener and coordinator of the reunion. Enquiries and archival contributions can be directed to [email protected].
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