Femi Osofisan at 80: A Tribute to the Mentor, Activist, and Theatre Pioneer

Veteran culture administrator Ben Tomoloju painted a vivid portrait of Femi Osofisan during an eight-day celebration at the J.K. Randle Centre in Lagos. He traced their relationship from 1973, when he first performed in Osofisan’s A Restless Run of Locusts, to their work together at the University of Ibadan and the All Africa Games. Tomoloju highlighted Osofisan’s humility, intellectual activism, and groundbreaking plays such as The Chattering and the Song. He recalled the playwright’s fiery debates on publishing discrimination, his witty rebuttal to critics of Who’s Afraid of Tai Solarin?, and his pioneering use of music and spectacle. Beyond the stage, Osofisan mentored generations of writers and theatre practitioners. Tomoloju credited him for establishing the Lagos chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors and for shaping The Guardian’s Arts Desk. The tribute ended with a heartfelt birthday prayer: “Happy Birthday, Sir. May God grant you many more years of accomplishment.”

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