OAU Dramatic Arts At 50: Department Celebrates Legacy, Seeks Support For Infrastructure
The Department of Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of contributions to African theatre, cultural scholarship and the creative industry.
The anniversary programme was made available to The Pendulum through Professor Gbemisola Adeoti, who reached out to the publication on behalf of the organisers.
The golden jubilee will celebrate the department’s rich history, shaped by literary and theatre icons, including Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and renowned playwright Professor Ola Rotimi.
Established in the 1970s at the then University of Ife, the department developed an approach to theatre education that placed African traditions, Yoruba ritual aesthetics, oral performances, music, dance and social criticism at the centre of its curriculum.
During his tenure as its pioneer Head of Department, Soyinka championed the use of drama as an instrument of social engagement.
The department also became associated with experimental and politically conscious performances, including the Guerrilla Theatre movement, which took theatrical productions beyond conventional stages to public spaces.
Another significant figure in the department’s history was Professor Ola Rotimi, who played a foundational role in developing its academic and artistic structures.
Rotimi’s contributions included the development of its pioneering academic programmes and the establishment of the Ori Olokun Acting Company in 1968, which served as an experimental theatre platform and performance laboratory.
The department’s theatrical tradition also inspired the development of innovative performance spaces, including the iconic Pit Theatre, which became an important centre for experimental productions and audience participation.
Over the decades, the department has produced several notable figures in theatre, literature, film and media, including Professor Ahmed Yerima, Dr Sola Fosudo, the late Dr Kola Oyewo, the late Professor Tejumola Olaniyan, Yemi Solade, Yemi Sodimu and Segun Arinze.
Speaking on the anniversary milestone, the current Head of Department, Dr. Toyin Bifarin, described the celebration as an opportunity to reflect on the institution’s contributions to African literature and the performing arts.
Bifarin said the department had remained a breeding ground for influential figures in the creative industry, adding that the golden jubilee would also provide an opportunity to revisit its founding vision of using drama to promote human rights, civic awareness and social transformation.
The anniversary activities will begin on November 12 with a flag-off ceremony at the Pit Theatre, where Soyinka is expected to unveil the official golden jubilee logo.
An anniversary lecture has also been scheduled for January 12, 2027, with Professor Bode Sowande as the guest lecturer. Professor Ahmed Yerima and Paulyn Ugbodaga will moderate the panel session.
The celebrations will continue in the first quarter of 2027 with a four-day programme featuring a homecoming gala, variety night, academic session, Juma’at service, campus excursions, Veterans Day, a grand 50th anniversary gala dinner, fundraising activities and an interdenominational service.
The event is expected to attract alumni, theatre practitioners, scholars and cultural figures from across the world to celebrate the department’s history and examine the future of African performance in the digital age.
Beyond the celebrations, members of the alumni association have appealed to governments, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the department, which currently has a student capacity of about 900.
They identified inadequate infrastructure as one of the major challenges affecting the department’s ability to sustain quality teaching and practical theatre training.
Among its pressing needs are the renovation of the theatre, installation of modern lighting and sound equipment, provision of toilets and changing rooms for students and lecturers, establishment of radio, podcast and film studios, as well as the acquisition of a tour bus for performances.
The alumni association said addressing these needs would strengthen the department’s capacity to train future generations of theatre practitioners and sustain its contributions to Nigeria’s creative industry.
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