Theatremania Africa Festival Inaugurates 2025 Awards Jury

…..Veteran Nollywood Actor, Norbert Young Heads Jury

The International Central Working Committee (ICWC) of the TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF) has on Sunday, March 16th, 2025, inaugurated virtually the 2025 TAF Awards JURY with the sole aim of midwifing the Awards Segment of the TAF project scheduled for October 14^th to 17^th, 2025 in Lagos.

At the Virtual Inauguration, TAF Board of Trustee (BOT) Members/Partners and Ambassadors/Selected Media Partners were updated on the project after the TheatreMania Africa Summit in November, 2024 was given and the projection for the 2025 TheatreMnaia Africa Festival was discussed, reviewed and agreed upon.

The Strategy Session/Inauguration had stakeholders within and outside the shores of Africa.

The TAF Legal Adviser, Otunba (Barr.) Olu Adenodi (Managing Partner, Olu Adenodi & Partners) Commissioner of Oath administered the Oath of Commitment to the members of the JURY and also to the Pan- African Marketing and Sponsorship Team. 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Co-Founder TAF, Mr. Alayande Stephen in his remarks appreciated all the stakeholders and promised that no stone will be left unturned to ensuring a successful event come October, 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Lydia Gifty Hagan

In his words, “we are working assiduously to bring Theatre Players and Practitioners within and outside Africa to be full involved in this project and to celebrate and appreciate stakeholders in this unique form of arts.

“The Festival will be a Pot-Pourri of activities ranging from Thespian Nite, Street Theatre, Generation Next Theatre for Secondary Schools, Stakeholders Roundtable, Africa Rise Against Malaria (ARAM) Advocacy, Peace Walk, Theatre + Fashion (The METALIC), Command Performance and Awards Nite etc” he averred.    

He stated that this year’s TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF) 2025 is scheduled for

Tuesday to Friday October 14th to 17th, 2025 at  Shodex Gardens, Ilupeju and Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria while the Awards Nite is Friday 17th, October, 2025 with the theme “Beyond Borders: Celebrating the Global Reach of African Theatre”.

He added: “The TAF Awards is conceptualized as an annual reward platform to reward stakeholders and recognizes creativity, spontaneity, innovation, charismatic delivery on stage and excellence in theatrical productions/stage plays and creative expressions across Africa.

“It will also acknowledge prolific leadership, achievement, distinguished service and quality stage production within the theatrical space across Africa. The Awards focus mainly on unique talents of the theatrical companies and individuals who create, produce, and perform in a Stage Production Pan-African. The Awards shall take great care to be DETAILED, UPRIGHT AND CREDIBLE,” he said.

Jacinta MacJob

The Five Man JURY include Mr. Norbert Young – Chairman (Nigeria); Lydia Gifty Hagan -Secretary- (Ghana); Kehny Obafemi -Publicist (Canada); Mamela J. Aisha J. Rafahlema (South Africa) and Jacinta MacJob (Nigeria).

Kehny Obafemi

In his acceptance remarks, Nollywood Veteran and Theatre Practitioner, Mr. Norbert Young who spoke on behalf of the members of the JURY said “we are extremely grateful for the call to serve the Industry especially from the Theatre Space which is very dear to my heart, we promise to do our best to be unbiased, just and credible in discharging our duties.

“Every Awards strive on credibility and fairness in its adjudication process of picking the eventual winners, hence, we shall uphold this thrust. So, let the submission begins.” He said.    

Mamela Aisha Rafahlema

Call for entries and submission for the Awards is now opened from today March 17^th, 2025 till August 30^th, 2025, interested participants are to log on to www.theatremaniaafrica.com/awards to fill the submission form and submit a link (youtube or google drive) of the full HD video coverage (Camera or via a Quality Phone) of the stage productions that represents the category to be entered.

2025 TAF AWARDS CATEGORIES

• Best Play of the Year – this is the biggest category where we reward the best play of the year across the continent.

•  Best Actor of the Year – this is where we reward Best Actor over-all in the continent.

• Best Actress of the Year – here we want to appreciate the Best actress in the continent.

• Discovery of the Year – this is the category where we encourage a new actor/actress who made an impression on stage throughout the year.

• Best Producer of the Year – this is where we reward Best Producer in the continent.

• Best Well Lighted Production- here we want to take curious look at the best well lighted stage production in the continent.

• Best Costume – this is the category where we reward best costume for a production.

• Best Contemporary Dance Group of the Year – this is the category where we look at the Dance Group with a lot of creative contemporary routines yet no losing their African touches.

• Best Traditional Dance Group of the Year – this is the category where we look at the Dance Group with a lot of creative traditional routines on stage.

• Best Script Writer of the Year – this is where we reward Best Script in the continent.

• Best Stage Design – here we want to take curious look at the firm/individual who gave the best stage effect design in any play across the continent.

• Best Musical Play – this is the category where we reward the best musical stage play across.

•  Best Africa Diaspora Stage Production – this is the category where we reward the best Africa Diaspora Stage production.

• Best Actor in a Supporting Role – this is the category where we look at the actor who has thrived in a supporting role on stage.

• Best Actress in a Supporting Role – this is the category where we look at the actress who has thrived in a supporting role on stage.

• Best Artistic Director of the Year – this is where we reward Best Artistic Director in the continent.

• Best Theatre Company of the Year – this is the category where we look at the most outstanding theatre group across the continent.

• Most Outstanding Child Actor of the Year – this is the category where we look at the most outstanding child actor/actress across the continent.

• TheatreManiac of the Year – this is the category where we look at movie/screen actors who still actively participate in Theatre Productions/stage play with passion.

• Best Theatre/Arts/Creative Writer/Reporter of the Year- this is the category where we look at writers/reporters who devotes columns and reports theatre/Arts/Creative pieces in Newspapers, online and on TV.

BV.