National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Delta State Chapter is set to hold the 2026 edition of Zulu Sofola Day, slated for 10:00AM on Monday June 22, 2026 at Unity Hall, Issele-Uku.
Under the theme, ‘Drama as a Vehicle for Cultural Advocacy: Professor Zulu Sofola’s Perspective’, the event features a performance of Zulu Sofola’s popular play, ‘Wedlock of the Gods’, panel discussions and awards.
According to the Delta State NANTAP Chairman, Thespian Judith Akiri, the Executive Chairman of Aniocha North LGA, Hon. Emma Bazim Chinye shall be the Special Guest of Honour while His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna II, MNSE, JP, shall be the Royal Father of the Day. Dr. Veronica Ufoegbune (ED.D, NUPAC, USA) shall lead Distinguished Guests and Award Recipients at the historic event.
Nwazuluwa Onuekwuke Sofola (1935-1995), popularly known as Zulu Sofola, was born in Issele-Uku, present-day Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. After her basic education at the Federal Government Primary School, Asaba and Baptist Girls High School, Agbor, both in Delta State, she earned a scholarship to complete her High School education in the USA, studying at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Virginia Union University where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1959, and the Catholic University of America, Washington DC for her MA in Drama in 1965. In 1966, she returned to Nigeria and became a lecturer at the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan where she obtained a PhD in 1977.
Known to be the first published female Nigerian playwright and first female professor of Theatre Arts in Africa, her iconic works include ‘The Deer Hunter and The Hunter’s Pearl’ (1969), ‘The Disturbed Peace of Christmas’ (1971), ‘Wedlock of the Gods’ (1972), ‘The Operators’ (1973), ‘King Emene: Tragedy of a Rebellion’ (1974) and ‘The Wizard of Law’ (1975). Others are ‘The Sweet Trap’ (1977), ‘Old Wines are Tasty’ (1981), ‘Memories in the Moonlight’ (1986), Queen Omu-ako of Oligbo’ (1989), ‘Eclipso and the Fantasia’ (1990), ‘The Showers’ (1991), ‘Song of a Maiden’ (1992) and ‘Lost Dreams and Other Plays’ (1992).
From historical tragedy to domestic comedy, rich in traditional African settings, she was noted to have applied elements of magic, myth and ritual to interrogate conflicts between traditionalism and modernism in the context of persistence of male supremacy.
Widely considered as one of the most accomplished women in Nigerian literature, Zulu Sofola was a Fulbright Scholar and was honoured with various other awards and fellowships both locally and internationally. She represented Nigeria at the inaugural International Women Playwrights Conference (IWPC) in Buffalo, New York, USA, October 1988 and played key roles in the process towards establishing the International Centre for Women Playwrights (ICWP) which later became Women Playwrights International (WPI).
She was married to Professor Johnson Adeyemi Sofola (also of blessed memory) – a renowned academic and pioneer Head of Department of Sociology and Social Administration, University of Ilorin.
The efforts by NANTAP to celebrate her legacy and further immortalize her name have been commended as part of the Association’s bold commitment to documenting the footprints of distinguished theatre professionals whose trailblazing contributions to national development continue to inspire generations.
Theatre scholars and stakeholders have canvassed the opinion that the Delta State Government should collaborate with NANTAP to transform the Zulu Sofola Day to the Zulu Sofola Festival in honour of the Amazon whose great works have strengthened the place of Issele-Uku, Aniocha, Delta State State and Nigeria positively in global reckoning.
Courtesy:
National Directorate of Media & Publicity
NANTAP
