By Prisca Sam-Duru

The Black Musical Masterpiece Theatre is set to celebrate the personality traits of the inimitable professor of literature, Wole Soyinka, who turns 91 on July 13th, raising the bar in its sophomore edition with the addition of more dance, drama and drums into an already mesmeric storyline.

Lovers of inspiring stories and enlivening theatre productions in Lagos are in for a big treat this July 2025. The planned stage production is the re-enactment of the internationally acclaimed stage play titled, The Noble Warrior (Eni Ogun), written in honor of Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature— Professor Wole Soyinka, by Nigerian-American playwright, poet, and producer, Cash Onadele, also known as Aiye-ko-ooto.

Scheduled to run from July 11th to 13th at the historic Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Island, the production will feature two shows daily— Matinee at 3PM and Champagne at 6PM.

At a recent press briefing in Lagos, Cash Onadele stated that the performance received endorsements from the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC). While anticipating more sponsorships, partnerships, and endorsements, Onadele, who noted that the 2024 production was a success under the artistic direction of Segun Adefila said he hoped to build on that momentum to ensure African creativity thrives on a global scale, and continues to celebrate the enigmatic literary legend annually, even after he has transitioned.

Aiye-ko-ooto also shed light on plans to engage the next generation of theatre lovers while outlining initiatives to bring the production to UNILAG and potentially the University of Ibadan. “With UNILAG’s ample seating capacity, all tertiary institutions in the vicinity could attend. Students with valid ID cards will benefit from significant discounts, making this rich cultural experience accessible to a wider youth audience. This initiative, focused on youth development and integration, is a key way the production aims to give back. We are actively seeking sponsors to bring it to fruition”, Onadele stated.

The Programme Director, Samuel Osaze stated that “The Noble Warrior  which premiered last year in Abeokuta at the Cultural Centre and in Lagos at the prestigious MUSON Centre, this year, returns bigger, Blacker, and better—enhanced with fresh dimensions and seasoned with more dance, drama, and drums, making it even more spellbinding and suspenseful for audiences across all social strata.”

Eni Ogun, a suspense-filled Black Musical theatre celebrative production, opens on July 11th and will run for three days (July 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2025) at Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos. Two shows are scheduled each day: Matinee at 3PM and Champagne at 6PM.