Literature & Ideas
Landmark
Zulu Sofola
1935 – 1995
Nigeria's first published woman playwright, and Africa's first woman professor of theatre arts
Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Nigeria Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
She wrote the first plays published by a Nigerian woman, and then became the first woman professor of theatre arts anywhere in Africa.
Zulu Sofola was born on 22 June 1935 and became the first published Nigerian woman playwright.
She returned to Nigeria in 1966, lectured in theatre arts at the University of Ibadan and took a doctorate there in tragic theory in 1977, going on to become the first woman professor of theatre arts in Africa. Her plays include Wedlock of the Gods (1972), King Emene: Tragedy of a Rebellion (1974), The Sweet Trap (1974), Old Wines are Tasty (1979) and Memories in the Moonlight (1986). She died on 5 September 1995.
She returned to Nigeria in 1966, lectured in theatre arts at the University of Ibadan and took a doctorate there in tragic theory in 1977, going on to become the first woman professor of theatre arts in Africa. Her plays include Wedlock of the Gods (1972), King Emene: Tragedy of a Rebellion (1974), The Sweet Trap (1974), Old Wines are Tasty (1979) and Memories in the Moonlight (1986). She died on 5 September 1995.
- Wikipedia — Zulu Sofola
- African Studies Centre Leiden — Zulu Sofola
- Archivi.ng — Zulu Sofola gave African theatre a bold female voice
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