Remember how mainstream law ignored Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the fiery lawyer, for decades
Remember how, somehow, he was not awarded the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the highest rank in their profession, for one reason or another
Then we started calling him Senior Advocate of the Masses, and finally the system came to its senses and awarded him the title
His case was very clear- he was more than qualified, his records were there to see, and he was heads and shoulders above his peers, but each year they kept giving it to lesser-qualified people
This didn’t deter him, and he kept the fire burning. He kept doing what he knew best- fighting for the masses, publishing his law reports and making legal history, while minions kept snarling and hissing and calling him derogatory names
As always is the case, life turned around, and history vindicated him
My life in Nigerian theatre is looking like Ganis life
Total institutional blackout, no Federal Government support either on grants, sponsorship or even attendance
The last FG presence was former Vice President Yemi Osibajo, who came as a sitting Vice President but as a guest of the late Segun Awolowo, his in-law, to see Awo
All around me, I see FG support for the Arts – recently went to see the documentary on MKO with the President, Commander-in-Chief, in attendance, and the Minister for Art and Culture preening and smiling through her own promo before the documentary
All we hear is no budget; the few times we have gone to them, but when you look back, you see their support in one small gallery opening or one food fest or one movie premiere
The States have not fared better. Lagos is our best customer, but even that has dried out – no budget, and the Governor would support privately butnot officially – same story
Then you see them supporting one event after the other.
Someone said this morning, why not go to the National Festivals?
Done that, stopped that. We were in Edo courtesy of Herbert Wigwe, with the state saying no budget, but we were the main play of the Festival
The Ekiti International Theatre Festival was on our full strength, and we began to imagine how that could happen without Govt support, except for the use of the Hall, which was graciously given to us – we paid for the diesel
Almost all of the estimated N5b we have thrown into theatre have been from the private sector, with less than 3% coming from Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Ekiti, and Ogun State
A further drill down of these funds from states will show that 70% were personal funds from the Governors.
official funds – Akwa Ibom N7m, Ekiti N10m, Ogun N5m, Lagos N20m
Yesterday, one fool in the culture group quipped in response to the blackout of our 10th anniversary on the culture group – if a Lizard falls from a tree…..
Yes, we will clap for ourselves even if nobody does.
A small, ragtag team of fewer than 10 people, with only one person who studied theatre arts, delivering such momentous momentum in Nigerian theatre?
68 plays? Executions in Lagos, Abeokuta, Benin, Ado Ekiti, Arochukwu, Warri, Uyo, Abuja, and three times in London?
Working with over 9 professors and PhD holders, and using the largest number of thespians in Nigerian history?
We will certainly clap for ourselves as we pride ourselves as the largest employer of Labour in the space outside government and the universities
If you compare our 68, soon to be 72, to the National Troupe’s 40 and the 10 from the next independent private house, you will understand why we will fall from the tree and beat our chest
Someone asked, Edgar, why NANTAP no give you FTA – their own equivalent of SAN
I quickly rushed to AI to ask what the criteria were – 15 years continuous contribution, 10 years registered member, and one other thing I cannot remember
I dont have any of those and don’t intend to register as a Member but will continue to support them in whatever capacity that I can.
I have however heard that I refused to go collect an Award NANTAP – the biggest grouping of thespians in the country – gave me some years ago in far away Ekiti
I could not make it and asked to be represented, and they refused and said they would present it to me in Lagos – four years after, I am here in Shomolu still waiting
However, as we look back at these last 10 years, we see blood and tears; we see disappointments; we see being stolen from; we see abuse; we see neglect; we see professional apartheid, but in all of these, we trudge
We are like that musician who wore all-white apparel and walked down the market, and as he walked, the people pelted him with rotten tomatoes and dirty water, but he kept moving, not bothered by the distractions, with his face focused on his goal, and at the end, he got his target
Let the abuse continue, let the institutional neglect continue, let it all continue as we walk very straight and ramrod straight towards our destiny
68 plays after, we are only just beginning
We are preparing to launch our N4b IPO – the first in the space- we plan to use the proceeds to expand our UK franchise so that we can compete better in that space
We are also completing work on our 1,000-page book on Nigerian theatre, edited by famous Prof Azeez, with over 22 professors and PhD holders contributing
We are celebrating Prof. Yerima on his 70th with a brilliant play and book launch, and are taking BIANCA to London while celebrating Emeka Anyaoku and Bola Ige in two of the most expository plays.
This Lizard has come to stay and he will clap for himself.
Come and beat me
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: October 5, 2026
