Fred Agbeyegbe will turn 80 on July 22. To celebrate the playwright and lawyer, a carnival will take place from July 19 to 25 featuring a conference, presentation of his plays and a host of other events at various venues in Lagos.
Organisers of the carnival said it is to celebrate the essence of the intervention in the narrative of Nigeria’s theatre development through the Ajo Productions 1983 to 1986 and beyond by the man they describe as a theatre game-changer.
But of particular interest are the events for Wednesday, July 22, which will have a three-pronged programme to include a colloquium, play presentation and a dinner.
The colloquium with the theme, ‘Drama and the Niger Delta Struggle’, will begin at 10am in the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre in Lagos.
A statement from the organisers said the objective of this gathering that will be chaired by Professor Femi Osofisan is to honour Agbeyegbe, The Grand Living Legend of Nigerian Theatre’s intervention in the narrative of Nigeria’s Theatre development through Ajo Productions (1983-86) and beyond.
The distinguished theatre director and teacher, Bayo Oduneye; Professor Duro Oni of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akin Oyebode and a host of others will be guests of honour.
Professor Godini Darah of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, will present the keynote address titled, ‘Drama and the Niger Delta Struggle: The Contribution of Fred Agbeyegbe’.
Before the keynote address, Agbeyegbe’s profile titled ‘The Theatre Game-Changer (A Literary Biography of Fred Agbeyegbe, Esq)’ will be presented.
Other papers to be presented include: ‘The Socio-cultural Relevance of Fred Agbeyegbe’s Plays in Itsekiri World-view’ by Professor Tony Afejuku of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State; and ‘Gender Representation in Fred Agbeyegbe’s Plays’ by Professor Mabel Evwierhoma of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).
This event, which is expected to end at 3pm, will then take comments from representatives of Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes (SONTA) and National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), and close with the production of Agbeyegbe’s play, Budiso, by students from UNILAG.
The evening of the same day will feature a red carpet at 5pm and public presentation and world premiere of Agbeyegbe’s play, My Grandfathers Ghost, directed by Muyiwa Osinaike at the same venue.
The evening will also feature entertainment from an Itsekiri dance troupe and Benion Dance Troupe led by Lambert Kerekou. It is to close with ballroom dance and dinner.
Agbeyegbe made history in 1986 by initiating and funding the first ever and longest running private theatre company in the country, AjoFest 86, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, a sequel to Ajo Production series plays of 1983.
A lawyer by profession, Agbeyegbe has dabbled into politics and business, but still finds time to write plays that made an indelible mark on the nation and its literature. Among his plays are: The King Must Dance Naked, Budiso, The Last Omen and Woe Unto Death.