Biography

Onuekwuke Nwazulu Sofola was born on June 22, 1935, in Issele-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria to Nwaugbade Okwumabua and Chief Ogana Okwumabua of Ogbeutu quarters, Issele-Uku. Professor Zulu Sofola or “Mama” as she was known, enjoys the enviable distinction of being the Matriarch of the Nigerian theatre and the first published female author in Nigeria. A true pioneer in every respect, Zulu Sofola was Africa’s first female Professor of Theatre arts and a true embodiment of the essence of African womanhood in their traditional position of power and respect. (Full bio)

Plays

The Disturbed Peace of Christmas (1968)

Titi, who is playing the role of Mary for the community’s Christmas play is pregnant by Ayo, who is playing the role of Joseph. The entire Christmas programme for the community is threatened by the adolescent’s “sinful act” which in turn threatens the message of peace for the period as both families are initially tense and poise for conflict. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 13+

Characters: Títí Ajayi, Mr. Ajayi, Mrs Ajayi, Ayò Ládipò, Mr. Ládipò, Mrs. Ládipò, Olu, Mrs. Bandele, The Director, Mrs. Olufèmi, Two Shepherds, Three Wise men, A Singing Chorus

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2003. (Link)*

The Deer and the Hunters Pearl (1969)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: N/A

Publication Info: N/A

Wedlock of the Gods (1973)

Taboos are broken when a young woman defies the law of the land by reconnecting with her true love following the death of a husband she was forced to marry. Full of drama, intensity and suspense, Africa’s first female professor of theatre arts, Dr. Zulu Sofola, sets William Shakespeare’s beloved classic Romeo and Juliet in Nigeria during the nineteenth century. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 12

Characters: Ogwoma, Ibekwe, Nneka, Uloko, Ogoli, Anwasia, Odibei, Otubo, Diokpa Ata, Udo, Okolie, Ike

Publication Info: Wedlock of the Gods. ed. London: Evans, 1983. (Link)

King Emene (1974)

King Emene dramatizes the story of Emene who, due to his youthful exuberance, pride, raw determination and, perhaps, destiny, to do what he wants, leads him to his sudden death. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 25+

Characters: King Emene, Nneobi, Queen, Ojei, Jigide, Ezedibie, Obiageli, Iyese, Odogwu, Onishe, Omu, Nwani, Odogwu Omu, Diokpa, Ifeme, Okolo, 1st Voice, 2nd Voice, Sekwute, Two young boys, A young girl, Three male servants, Horn player, Two guards, A dancer

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2003. (Link)*

The Wizard of Law (1976)

In The Wizard of Law, Sofola portrays how the evil of exploitation and corruption were affecting the poor in contemporary Nigerian societies. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 9+

Characters: Ramoni Alao, Sikira, Rafiu Sanni, Lamidi, Akpan, The Judge, The Constable, The Clerk, Okon, People in Court

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2003. (Link)*

The Sweet Trap (1977)

The Sweet Trap underscores the imbalance of power between women and men as Nigerian society attempts to transition from tradition to modernity. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 20+

Characters: Femi Sotubo, Mrs. Clara Sotubo, Dr. Oyegunle, Mrs. Fatima Oyegunle, Dr. Jinadu, Mrs. Jinadu, Mrs. Cecilia Ajala, Mr. Daudu Ajala, Professor & Dr. Eriko, Dr & Mrs. Azuka, Dr & Mrs. Okon, Professor & Mrs. Davis, Salami, Yetunde, Bola, Olu, Ngozi, John, Amos, First Intruder, Second Intruder, Guests at the Party, Meter Reader

Publication Info: The Sweet Trap. Ibadan: Oxford University Press, 1977. (Link)

Old Wines Are Tasty (1981)

Old Wines are Tasty dramatizes the travails of Okebuno who returns home to Olona in pursuit of his political ambition, but due to his ignorance of the mindset of the local people and their tradition, he meets a brick wall. (Source)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: Okebuno, Anyasi, Ndudi, Akuagwu, Owezie, Ego, Modi, Haidome, Okolo, Enuma, Azu, Dumkwu, Iyese, Odogwu, Ogbelani, Onishe, Party Members, Adaeke

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2003. (Link)*

THE OPERATORS (1982)

The Operators deals with a topical issue, the plague of armed robbery in Nigeria. Chief Onireke lives a double life - that of a business tycoon by day and gangster boss by night. Eventually, the law catches up with him and his syndicate. (Source)

Cast Requirement: Unknown

Characters: Unknown

Publication Info: Lost Dreams and Other Plays, Heinemann, Ibadan, 1982. (Unknown location)

The Showers (1982)

Part of the Maternity Series written for the National Television Authority, Ibadan. The play engages men and women in a “chat” over the exploitation of women and the traumas they undergo during childbirth. Written in 1991, the Director’s Note to the premiere of The Showers in Africa Hall, University of Illorin on September 24 states: “As no bird can fly effectively, if at all with one wing, so also it is that a nation cannot grow and develop effectively with only one wing” Thus, Nigeria is advancing towards self destruction if it perpetrates the female exploitation.(Source)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: N/A

Publication Info: Lost Dreams and Other Plays, Heinemann, Ibadan, 1982. (Unknown location)

Memories in the Moonlight (1986)

Memories in the Moonlight celebrates choice as a viable approach for women’s self-definition. The story follows a woman named Abiona’s refusal to marry Otakpo, the eighty year old man who greets her birth with a bunch of firewood. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 15+

Characters: Abiona, Balogun, Ndudi, Ugo, Oyege, Onogwu, Obi, Ikem, Anazia, Okafo, Uzochikwa, Diei, Nwulio, Otakpo, Unoma, Anwuli, Umejei, Adaoha, Bola, Nkechi, Ebube, Ogo, Etune, Ebele, Ngozi, Bisi, Ozo

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2004. (Link)*

Queen Omu-Ako of Oligbo (1989)

Queen Omu-Aku of Oligho is a historical play, which celebrates the courage, power and dignity of African womanhood. The play features the dual-sex system of government functions with an Omu, the leader of women, controlling the female arm of the government. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 15+

Characters: Omu Ãkò The Eze Omu of Oligbo, Odogwu Omu, Iyecedil; Secedil; Omu, Onish Ecedil; Omu, Oka&ocedil;gba Omu, Ukwunije di Omu, Otu Omu Omu Council, Okwumabua Odogwu, Isagba, Rev˙ Nwadie Martin, Omu Messenger, Leut˙ Ndukwe, 1st Biafrian Soldier, 2nd Biafrian Soldier, 3rd Biafrian Soldier, Ndubisi, Balogun, Mama Iyabocedil, Iyabocedil, Titi, Eze Omu Agbor, Okaocedil, Omu Agbor, Otu Omu Agbor, Capt Usman Leader of Agbor Operation, Capt˙ Raleigh, Leut Akindele, Captain Idemudia — Leader of Iabodo Operation, Young Mother Citizen, Her Child, Lucy Ebeye, 1st Federal Soldier, 2nd Federal Soldier, Eze Omu Ahaba, Otu Omu Ahaba, Azagba of Asaba King of Asaba, Capt˙ Ghenga Leader of Asaba Operation, Capt. Nicholas Smart Otite Member of Asaba Operation, Capt. Iyoha, Leut. Sule Momo, Okwakpecedil; Horn player, Town Crier, Wife, Mothers, Young Men of Asaba, Soldiers, Citizens

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2003. (Link)*

Eclipso and the Fantasia (1990)

Eclipso and the Fantasia looks at the state of the academia in all its ramifications. The play centres on the need to find solutions to the problems inside the Nigerian University system. The problems include government's incessant orders to the universities to increase the number of intakes before funds can be released to them and to give priority to admissions into Sciences against the Humanities. Others problems include sexual harassment, mental health, and lack of spaces and hygiene in the hostels and classrooms. A meeting takes place to discuss these problems, but 
is postponed on short notice after the meeting’s participants have already arrived. As they wait, they discuss amongst themselves but in the end no meaningful conclusion is reached and so the problem continues. (Source)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: N/A

Publication Info: Illorin, Nigeria, 1990. (Unknown location)

Song of a Maiden (1991)

In Song of a Maiden, the river goddess of Shao, a village in Kwara State, Nigeria, organizes a wedding between professor Oduyinka and Yetunde, a maiden of the village. This requires co-operation between the villagers and the academics who have come to conduct a climatogological research project. The wedding is a symbolic expression of the fruitful and symbiotic relation that is supposed to exist between the critiqued elite and the rural poor. The play is an exploration of class as well as life, growth, fertility and continuity of people and the earth. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 15+

Characters: Professor Adeyemi, Professor Oduyinka, Dr. Adisa, Prof. Toledo, Prof. Allison, Dr. Irua, Prof. Ejiogu, Prof. Atanda, Dr. Egonu, Prof. Ajamyi, Dr. Hussien, Prof. Ndem, Yetunde, Alabi, Aduke, Yemisi, Suwe, Oba Adeyinka, Adebesin, Amusan, Animasaun, Priest of Awon Goddess, Priestess, Ogundina, Awawu, Adama, Amina, Kaliatu, Iyabo, Rekiya, Dancing Maidens

Publication Info: University Press PLC, 1991. (Link)

Lost Dreams (1991)

Part of the Maternity Series written for the National Television Authority, Ibadan. Lost Dreams investigates the problems of women’s reproductive rights in Nigeria, especially when negative traditional practices seem to conspire with inadequate health facilities to destroy women. This theme is also explored in The Showers. (Source)

Cast Requirement: 15+

Characters: Kunle Oyefeso, Mosun Oyefeso, Tokunbo Oyefeso, Mrs. Edet, Mrs. Ayodele,Fred Njoku, Sheila Njoku, Manuel Clemmons, Yoruba Adams, Bill Rogers, Dr. Femi Daodu, Dr˙ Uche Okezie, Dr. Musa Maitama, Mrs˙ Effiong, Sister Odigie, Dr. Humphrey, Staff Nurse Adigwe, Nurse Alele, Secretary, Patient, Taxi Driver, 1st Pedestrian, 2nd Pedestrian

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2004. (Link)*

The Adventures of Chike: Episode One, Chike on the High Sea (Date unknown)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: N/A

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2004. (Link)*

A Heart's Desire (date unknown)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: Professor Boniface Etim, Erit, Governess, Professor Araba, Dr. Agbim, Anthony Chief, Chief Iweora, Mama Erit, Uncle Ekanem, Eliza House, Bassey, Judith, Utuk, Philomena, Innocent

Publication Info: Alexander Street Press, 2004. (Link)*

the Ivory Tower (date unknown)

The Ivory Tower is a dramatization of the spirit-filled Kemitia who derives her inspiration from victorious historical queens--Moremi, Amina, Emotan, Nefertiti, etc – to fight the campus cult members (who are mostly males) and end up defeating them. (Source)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: N/A

Publication Info: The Ivory Tower and Other Plays, 1993. (Unknown location)

The Love of the Life (date unknown)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: N/A

Publication Info: Lost Dreams and Other Plays, Heinemann, Ibadan, 1982. (Unknown location)

Unpublished

Celebration of LifE (date unknown)

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: N/A

Publication Info: N/A

The night is dark (date unknown)

Part of the Maternity Series written for the National Television Authority, Ibadan.

Cast Requirement: N/A

Characters: N/A

Publication Info: N/A