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Vision
AfriCan Theatre Ensemble recognizes the power of live art to inspire and renew the human spirit and to forge human relationships across cultures, creeds, ethnicities, ideologies, genders, and social classes. To that end, our work presents the different theatrical idioms, traditions and experiences of Africa and in so doing creates an avenue for cultural exchange between Africa and Canada.
In addition to staged productions/performances, the company creates opportunities for international collaborations and exchange of ideas. ATE recognizes Africa’s creative dialogue with its Diaspora and with other parts of the world. Collaborations that reflect this dialogue constitute a part of the Ensemble’s work. In presenting distinct African traditions, creations and techniques in the theatre arts, the Ensemble corrects the assumptions of a homogeneous Black experience.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to make African theatre accessible to Canadians through performance, education, community outreach, and professional development of classic and new creations originating from or inspired by Africa.
Leadership
Modupe Olaogun (Board Liaison) was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. She is the founder of AfriCan Theatre Ensemble, and has provided artistic leadership since the company’s inception in 1998. Under her leadership, the company has staged 10 productions, most of which were Canadian premieres. She has organized guest lectures and workshops in collaboration with the University of Toronto and York University for the visiting playwrights of some of these productions: Nigerian Ola Rotimi (deceased), South African Zakes Mda, and Nigerian Femi Osofisan; and for Dr. Tess Onwueme, one of Africa’s leading women playwrights.
Ms Olaogun has degrees from the University of Ibadan and a PhD degree from York University, Toronto, where she is a professor of English, specializing in African and postcolonial literature and drama. She provides public awareness for African theatre traditions through published articles and presented papers on different genres of African literature. Her current research focuses on the aesthetics of African drama and on African literature which explores the subject of migration and dispersals from Africa. In 2006, Modupe Olaogun was appointed Master of Stong College at York University, Toronto. She is the Chair of the Board of Directors of AfroGlobal Television Network.
