By Prisca Sam-Duru

May 17 and 18, 2025, being Saturday and Sunday, will most assuredly turn out as memorable days for theatre lovers, as a bold new voice emerges from the African theatrical landscape.
The stage play billed to wow the audience is titled, “House of Naira”, a stunning original musical from Nigerian playwright, Musician, director, and composer, Kehinde Oretimehin.

Coming from Oretimehin who was the music director and composer for most entertaining stage plays in the country such as, Saro, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens (South Africa, Egypt, Dubai Expo), Awo (Lagos and London), Afropop, Moremi, Oluronbi, Wakaa, Ije (Hollywood Los Angeles) Habiba, Chosen, Omemma, Speaking Out, History Sings, Hearword Pidgin, Love and Recession, Chioma, Dear Kaffy etc, House of Naira promises to be the best ever.

Produced and created by Kabiyesi Studios in collaboration with DBO Productions and the Oto Entertainment Company, the musical is poised to take the international stage by storm. Loaded with its rich symbolism, electrifying music, and a cast of acclaimed global actors, the production tells a provocative yet ultimately redemptive story about unity, power, and the cost of division; all set in the metaphorical house of Nigeria.

The music of the House of Naira is as diverse and resonant as the story itself, blending Afrobeat, Highlife, tribal percussion, choral traditions, and contemporary theatre scores. Audiences will be moved by its emotional depth, cultural richness, and moments of sheer theatrical spectacle; all guided by a world-class production team.

Elevating the show further is its extraordinary ensemble cast – Dr. Debbie Ohiri, Bridget Nkem, Sharon Adaeze, Tosin Adeyemi, Oluchi Odii, and Ralph Okoro. These are international stage and screen veterans with over two decades of experience performing across Nigeria, the UK, the US, and South Africa. While touring the world, these actors performed different plays, working with different production companies such as, Iopeneye (Hearword), Terra Kulture (Bolanle Austen-Peters Production) Beeta Universal Arts Foundation, Paws studios, Doyenne Circle, Lufodo Group, AMTA (Association of Musical Theatre Artists), MUSON (The Musical Society of Nigerian), The British Council, Goethe institute, Alliance Francaise, United States Consulate etc.

Their commanding performances bring authenticity, gravitas, and global relevance to a deeply local story.

Directed by Tosin Adeyemi, ‘House of Naira’, centres on a patriarch who, influenced by his mother’s beliefs as a traditionalist, turns into a polygamist with four women. Each of the women represents one of Nigeria’s major ethnic groups: Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and South-South. Expectedly, love turns into rivalry as the household becomes a battlefield of competing identities, grievances, and emotional warfare. The man, symbolic of Nigeria itself, succumbs to the weight of it all; dying amid the chaos his home has become.

With the highest optimism, the writer- Asa’ah Samuel, refuses to allow House of Naira to end tragically. In a dramatic final act, the man is revealed to be alive. What follows is a moment of transformation. The wives — once divided by language, pride, and pain — pledge to work together in tolerance and solidarity. It is a hopeful, poetic resolution that mirrors the dream of a truly united Nigeria, forged not by force but by understanding and interdependence.

“This story is about Nigeria,” says Oretimehin. “It’s raw, painful, beautiful — but also resilient. It asks what happens when we finally see beyond our own tribe, our own struggle, and realize we’re stronger together. It’s not just about one nation. It’s about any society wrestling with its identity.”

With its premiere at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island Lagos, at 3pm and 7pm on May 17 and 18, House of Naira is set for an international tour, with engagements in London, New York, and Johannesburg under negotiation. Plans for a film adaptation and global streaming partnership are also underway.

Commenting further, the creator of the musical said, “This is not just a show, it’s a movement. Investors and global partners are invited to support what promises to be a defining work of African theatre, one that bridges continents while holding a mirror to the world’s oldest conflicts and boldest hopes.”

With House of Naira, Oretimehin delivers a theatrical experience rooted in heritage, driven by innovation, and destined for international acclaim.

Speaking about the musical, the husband to the four women in the play, Ralph Okoro, said, “We are a collaborative network, and I call us triple threads. That means we sing, we dance, and we act. So, in some cases, we help with music. It’s a collaborative process as we do music, I do web designing, and I also come in as an actor. I’m playing the role of the husband to the four wives who symbolically represent the major tribes in Nigeria.”

Interestingly, Okoro, who was also lead actor in Kakadu the Musical, owes his exploits in the theatre to Mr. Nwokedi, who brought him into the industry. “The last time we had Kakadu was when we marked the 10th year anniversary, and that was when I started. So, Kakadu discovered me, Kakadu brought me into the industry, and the reason why I’m doing musical theatre today is because of Mr. Nwokedi of blessed memory; so, shout out to him,” he said.