Acclaimed playwright, producer, director, and cultural advocate, Wole Oguntokun is dead.
According to reports, Oguntokun, aged 57, passed away in Canada on March 26, 2024.
Trained as a lawyer at Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos, Oguntokun’s true passion lay in theatre, where he made significant contributions as a playwright and director.
He was known for his incisive plays that addressed pressing social issues and his exceptional talent for producing and directing theatrical productions.
One of his notable achievements was the creation of the annual Season of Soyinka, now in its ninth season. In this season, the works of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka were staged at Terra Kulture in Lagos.
Oguntokun’s dedication to promoting Nigerian theatre internationally earned him recognition and accolades from various theatrical bodies worldwide.
Throughout his career, Oguntokun produced and directed plays by some of Nigeria’s most renowned playwrights, including Soyinka, Femi Osofisan, Professor Ola Rotimi, Zulu Sofola, and Athol Fugard.
Born on July 15, 1967, Oguntokun held multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Laws from Obafemi Awolowo University and a Master of Laws (LL.M) and Master of Humanitarian and Refugee Studies from the University of Lagos.
He emerged as a prominent figure in Nigerian theatre in the late 1990s, with productions such as “Who’s Afraid of Wole Soyinka?” – a satirical critique of the Nigerian military regime.
Throughout his career, Oguntokun continued to produce thought-provoking works, including adaptations of classics like “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” and Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.”
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