The celebrated playwright, theatre scholar and literary icon, Professor Femi Osofisan has expressed concern over the slow pace of development in Nigeria, saying the country is still grappling with many of the difficulties that inspired his writings decades ago.
Osofisan spoke after students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) performed his celebrated play, Who Is Afraid of Solarin?, at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, to commemorate his 80th birthday and honour his lasting contributions to Nigerian literature and theatre.
The concerns addressed by the play remain unaddressed, the acclaimed dramatist stated, musing on the enduring relevance of the play, penned under the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We move two steps forward and four steps backward,” Osofisan remarked of Nigeria’s development trajectory, which has been marked by recurring failures despite periods of improvement.
He encouraged Nigerians to take a critical look at the direction the nation was going and devote themselves to the task of building a country of accountability, justice and sustainable development.
The occasion brought theatre lovers, professors, students and admirers who celebrated Osofisan’s tremendous career and his impact on generations of authors, actors and researchers.
Regarded as one of Africa’s leading playwrights, Osofisan has written many plays, poems and critical essays interrogating social injustice, governance, inequality and the drive for national transformation.
The play Who is Afraid of Solarrin? not only as a celebration of his 80th birthday, but also as a reminder that literature remains a vibrant and relevant vehicle for social reflection and change.
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