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THE ENGAGEMENT & FLOOD! 2011
FEMI OSOFISAN -- Playwright
FEMI OSOFISAN enjoys a reputation as the most regularly performed playwright in Nigeria. Professor of Drama since 1985 at the University of Ibadan where he has spent most of his adult career, he was until recently the General Manager and Chief Executive of the National Theatre, Lagos. In addition to his work in the theatre—where he is to be found playing diverse roles as actor, director, song writer, composer and company leader—Osofisan, aka Okinba Launko is also an outstanding poet, translator, critic and theorist of literature, and features as one of the regular columnists in Nigeria’s leading newspapers.
Osofisan has written over fifty plays, which have been performed in various parts of the world, and some of which were commissioned by theatres in Europe and America. He is a Fellow of Interweaving Performance Cultures, International Research Center, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany (2009).
MUMBI TINDYEBWA OTU – Director, The Engagement
Mumbi Otu is a director, writer, theatre educator and actor. Directing credits include Softown (AfriCan Theatre Ensemble), Toast (Mussorgsky Project, Obsidian Theatre), Keen(Summerworks), 27 Weeks (New Ideas, Alumnae Theatre), For Coloured Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf (Hart House Theatre). Assisting directing credits include, Turn of the Screw (DVxT Theatre), Rock n Roll and It's a Wonderful Life(Canadian Stage Company), Late and Black Medea (Obsidian Theatre), Stephen and Mr. Wilde (Hart House Theatre), Love's Labour's Lost (York University.) Otu holds an Honours BA degree from York University in Theatre, as well as a BSc from the University of Toronto.
JUDE IDADA -- Director, Flood!
and
Medayekan, The Engagement
Jude Idada graduated from the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Ibadan, where he majored in Film and Theatre Studies. Jude is the Principal Partner of Broken Manacles Entertainment Inc and Filmworksmagnifica, both based in Toronto. He has worked severally in the Canadian and African theatre & film industries. Recent theatre directing credits include In the Name of the Father (2008), The Seed of Life (2008), Love is the Word (2007) and film directing credit, The Tenant (2009)—Best Screenplay, African Movie Awards 2010, Audience Choice Award, Hollywood Black Film Festival 2009, Best Film, Toronto Moving Image Festival 2008. Jude has written several plays, including The Twilight of Freedom (2009), Vendetta (2005), Oduduwa, King of the Binis (2003) and Your Enemy, Your Friend (2000).
AWOBA BOB-MANUEL – Associate Director, Flood!
In her decade-long experience of film, television and theatre directing, Awoba has developed a reputation for her ability to draw grand performances from her subjects. Her stage credits include AbOriginal Productions’ Oluronbi: The Musical, Joke Silva's Lufodo Productions Shylock, Private Lies, and Game of Wit, as well as Ola Rotimi's World premiere of Man Talk, Woman Talk (Director-in-Training). Her film credits include Catch Them Young, I am Prepared, and Four Eyes. She has also directed commercials for corporate clients that include MTN, Ecobank, and Dangote.
SNEZANA PESIC – Production Designer
Snezana is a graduate of the MFA Theatre Design program at the University of Alberta and the BFA in Costume Design from the Academy of Applied Arts in Belgrade. Some of Snezana's theatre credits include: Production design for One (Red to Blue Performance/Ghostriver Theatre), Souvenirs of Home (Third Floor Office Theatre, SummerWorks), The Cherry Orchard (Timms Centre for the Arts); Set and costume design for Three Little Birds and Mighty Carlins (Workshop West Theatre); Costume design for Roberto Zucco (Timms Centre for the Arts) and Seussical (Keyano Theatre). Recently she assisted on Set design for opera Otello ( Norrlandsoperan, Sweden) and Africa Trilogy (Volcano Theatre, Luminato Festival), as well as on Set and Costume design for Doc (SoulPepper Theatre). Upcoming: Costume Design for "The Fan" for Odyssey Theatre in Ottawa.
ARI MILLEN – Elemude, The Engagement
Since graduating from Ryerson University’s Theatre School, Ari has had the pleasure of performing in theatres across Canada and at the Fadjr Festival in Tehran, Iran. Selected theatre credits: MacBeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Jack And The Beanstalk Market, (Shakespeare By The Sea),The Veil, (Onelight Theatre), Language Of The Heart, (The Renaissance Collective), Vimy (Eastern Front Theatre), The Red Devil, (Lemon Tree Theatre), Finer Noble Gases, (Bleeker Theatre Co.) Upcoming: Monster Brawl, and Exit Humanity, two horror films slated to be released in 2011.
BAYO AKINFEMI – Chief Medayekan
Bayo Akinfemi has worked as an actor and a director for almost two decades. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Performing Arts from University of Ilorin, Nigeria and worked for a few years in the entertainment industry, acquiring several screen credits including, Bitter Encounter, Sango and Days of Vulture. In 1998, Bayo moved to Canada and quickly established himself as a fine actor, acquiring credits on blockbusters such as The Tuxedo (Jackie Chan), Bulletproof Monk (Chow Yun Fat), Soul Food, Eleventh Hour, Mayday and Blue Murder. He was nominated for the GEMINI and the ACTRA Best Actor Awards in 2004 for the lead role in the CBC’s miniseries, Human Cargo and for the GEMINI in 2008 for his portrayal of a Sudanese warlord in CBC’s high octane series, The Border. Bayo’s directing credits include The Gods Are Not To Blame, Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, The Marriage of Anansewa, Wedlock of The Gods, A Christmas Carol, The Trials Of Brother Jero, Peppersoup and Soulmate. He studied Films and Television Production at the Toronto Film School, after which he acquired several years of practical experience as an Assistant Director on numerous Hollywood feature films, T.V programs and commercials before he started making films. His short films directing credits include A Novel Ending, Behind Closed Doors, My Little Package and Days Away. His first feature length movie is Scoundrels of Faith. Bayo’s Toronto based company, Greenland Entertainment, has numerous feature length and documentary film projects in various stages of development.
JANINE JOHN – Ronke, The Engagement
Janine John is from Scarborough, Ontario. She discovered her love of theatre very early on in life. Janine’s interest in performing began at the age of three when she was performing in a show that her daycare put on. She sang, danced and acted with such verve and enthusiasm that everyone knew a theatrical career would be perfect for her. She became known as “Janine, Janine the dancing machine”. From this auspicious start, Janine continued to act in local theatre throughout her formative years and went on to minor in Drama at the University of Toronto. She has since been deeply involved in theatre around the GTA and has had her first film role, a role in the movie “Affairs Across America.”
MUSTAPHA LAWAL – Musician/ “Spirit of the House”
Since age 11, Mustapha has been honing his skills to reproduce dialogue through his drum so that it can be understood by the audience. In addition to performing at small and large scale venues across North America, Mustapha has performed all around the world, including with King Sunny Ade & the African Beats for ten years. A talented percussionist, who plays a wide range of instruments besides the talking drum, Mustapha is a song composer, teacher and choreographer. He is in demand for independent and collaborative creations. Mustapha plays the role of “Spirit of the House,” a creation of Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu, in AfriCan Theatre Ensemble’s interpretation of The Engagement, and has choreographed the show.
JOHN PHILLIPS – Father, Flood!
John Phillips is an award-winning actor originally from Guyana. His recent stage credits include “General Macbeth Castle pun de Sand”, an adaptation of Shakespeare Macbeth, “Jump for your Wife”, “Big Yard”, “Mi get mi Landed”, “Moon on a Rainbow Shawl”, and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” His short film credits include “Money Nuh Funny”, “It Pays To Be Honest”, and “Contractions”. John is presently working on his DVD of storytelling call, “Making Sense out of Nonsense. His awards (Guyana) include supporting actor, Beaf No Chicken, and New York New York; best actor, Moon On A Rainbow Shawl, and Is We Big People.
CHISOM DARLINGTON – Osumare, Flood!
Chisom was born in Nigeria. He moved to Canada for his higher education. Trained as a computer engineer, his deep love is acting. Chisom is making his debut as an actor with AfriCan Theatre Ensemble.
Softown 2010
Adapted from SOPHIATOWN
Junction Avenue Theatre Company – Playwrights
The Junction Avenue Theatre Company was formed in 1976 by a group of students at the University of Witwatersrand interested in creating historical plays about South African Society. From 1979 to 1982, the company produced a series of controversial short plays on contemporary social issues that toured townships across South Africa. Plays produced and written by Junction Avenue Theatre Company include: Fantastical History of a Useless Man (1976), Randlords and Rotgut (1978), Will of a Rebel (1979), Marabi (1982) and Tooth and Nail (1989). The Junction Avenue Theatre Company also wrote and produced Sophiatown, which was awarded the AA Life Vita Award for Playwright of the Year in 1985.
Adaptation/ abridgment by Modupe Olaogun
Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu – Director
See credits for THE ENGAGEMENT & FLOOD! 2011
Catherine Rainville – Ruth Golden
Born in Toronto and raised in Ottawa, Ont., Rainville’s theatre credits include 100% Cotton (Ottawa Fringe Festival), Lysistrata, and performances at the City of Wine festival in The Bakers Wife, and Women. As a Theatre Major, she has performed on stages in productions such as in Blood Relations, Othello, Misalliance, Uncle Vanya and The Schoolmistress. Rainville is a recent graduate from the George Brown Theatre School in Toronto.
Antonio Cayonne – Jakes
Antonio is an actor, producer, poet, and arts educator. Theatre Credits include Softown (AfriCan Theatre Ensemble), The MiddlePlace (Project: Humanity, SummerWorks and School Tour ‘09), Rap Around Mozart (Op-Erratic Productions), Ghandi High (Tetrault Productions) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (CanStage). As an actor, Cayonne has had the opportunity to collaborate on new works with artists of different disciplines and well as work with professional companies in Toronto. As co-founder of “Project Humanity”Cayonne has had the opportunity to initiate and develop new theatre as well as engage and educate the community through a variety of artistic events. As an arts educator, Cayonne has been involved with educational outreach as a guest artist for Soulpepper’s Youth Groups, as well as a lead Facilitator for Canadian Stage’s Youth Leadership Program. Cayonne holds a B.A. from Ryerson University in Theatre.
Patience Mpumlwana – Lulu
Patience is a South African/Canadian, actress, dancer, singer/song writer and recording artist. Her musical theatre experience includes Cabaret, Miss Saigon, The Sound of Music and the South African Musical, Amakhos (Kings of Africa). Recent dramatic theatre roles include “Aya” in The Marriage of Anansewa produced by the African Theatre Ensemble in 2009. Other dramatic credits include,The Buddha, South African Pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk and Turnstyle Warrior (New York). Mpumlwana studied Music at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and Musical Theatre, at the Randolph National Academy of the Performing Arts in Toronto and the Pretoria Technikon in South Africa, where she specialized in choral, opera and Jazz music.
Marc Senior – Mingus
Marc is an actor, stand-up comedian, live improviser, singer and writer who is deeply passionate about his craft. Selected theatre credits include, Barack to the Future (The Second City [Understudy]), Gas (Next Stage Festival/ Factory Theatre), TOUGH! (Luminato Festival/Factory Theatre). Selected stand-up comedy includes: Nubian Disciplines of Pryor (Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club-Toronto), The Great Canadian Laugh-Off Semi-Finals (Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club-Toronto), Altdot Comedy Lounge (The Rivoli).
Mafa Makhubalo – Choreographer
Mafa is an award-winning dancer, who started his craft at the age of five. Currently he is dancing with the Premier Dance Company and Collective of Black Artists (COBA) in Toronto. Makhubalo has collaborated with the Alvin Alley Dance Company in South Africa and has toured globally with the Vuyane Dance Theatre and performed at events such as the FIFA Soccer World Cup Conference in Morocco, Grahams-town Arts Festival, FNB Vita Dance Umbrella and Arts Alive Festival. He has also performed across Africa in the Sun International Extravaganza shows as well as the Africa Foot Print Musical. Mafa received a three year diploma in dance from the Tshwane University of Technology and has completed a two year program with Ballet Creole as well as serving as an apprentice with Tshwane Dance Theatre and OMO Dance Company.
Akufuna Sifuba – Music Director and Musicologist
Akufuna has been performing as a musician and singer for more than 15 years. Upon moving to Namibia from Zambia, he took a job with his church – thus beginning his career as a professional musician. Sifuba was a music teacher in Namibia, teaching in both primary and secondary schools and has extensive experience in directing several choirs as well as conducting brass bands and small musical ensembles. As a clarinetist, he has performed and recorded as a guest soloist with the Namib Marimbas. As a vocalist, Sifuba (tenor) has performed and recorded with the acclaimed Mascato Coastal Choir of Namibia. He has conducted numerous drumming workshops throughout the Greater Toronto Area and sings with the renowned Nathaniel Dett Chorale, since immigrating in 1996. He is currently pursuing a BA in Arts from York University.
Ebaita Okunbo – Stage Manager
(Props Keeper, Messenger, Post Office Worker & Contractor in “Anansewa!”; Stage/Production Manager for the show) is excited to join AfriCan Theatre Ensemble for the second year in the Canadian debut of "Softown.”
Mimi Amatu – Costume Designer
Mimi was born in Cameroon and raised in Lesotho. She learnt designing from her mother, Abby Amatu, and her Gogo, who are notable textile and beadwork artists. She moved to Toronto in 2006. Past work includes: Marriage of Anansewa (African Theatre Ensemble.)
Maria Nansereko – Understudy: Lulu
Maria is originally from Uganda. She immigrated to Canada in 2001 and holds a Speciailzed Honours BA in English and Professional Writing from York University. She is exploring a career in creative writing and performing arts.
Anansewa! 2009
Lucky Ejim (Ananse) graduated from the Toronto Film School where he majored in Directing for Film. Lucky is also a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Benin. He directed the feature film The Tenant (2006), which won the award for Best feature film at the Moving Image Film Festival and was nominated for best feature film at the Bite the Mango Film Festival. Lucky has over forty professional acting credits to his name, most of which showcase him as a lead in plays both in Nigeria and Canada. He has also acted severally in various films and television features in Canada, including the award winning feature film, A Winter’s Tale; the groundbreaking Canadian television crime series, The Border; and a two-part political television drama, The Summit. At the Toronto Film School, he produced and directed four short films, including Sounds of the Past (a film about the Rwanda genocide) which won the award for Best Screenplay at the Moon Rock film festival and Best Actor and Best sound at the Toronto Film School Film Festival. It was screened at Sithengi Film Festival in South Africa and the Zimbabwe Film Festival. A best actor nominee at the Toronto Film School Festival for Milton, Lucky is currently working as an actor on three plays: Shine your Eyes, The Lockdown and Anansewa! Also under development are two other feature films: Intersection and Alaba Market.
Olunike Adeliyi (Anansewa) was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. After graduating from high school she went to study at the Canadian Academy of Method Acting. She continued her studies at the Professional Actors Lab working with one of Canada's well known artistic directors, David Rotenburg. Olunike is a recent graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She has performed in theatres throughout Canada and the U.S playing lead roles in Blue Window, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Children's Hour, Jitney, and Michael Cristofer's The Shadow Box. Olunike recently starred as Julia Augustine in Wedding Band, by award winning playwright Alice Childress and as Fatumata in How To Stay Sane in Paris written and directed by award winning director Omonike Akinyemi. Olunike recently performed in the musical Zinzi, written and directed by award winning playwright, Phyllis MacBryde.
John Alexander Campbell (Storyteller; Musician) was Curtis in Dreamgirls productions in Winnipeg (MTC) and Hamilton (Theatre Aquarius) in 2008; and Josiah Henson in the Bicentenary to Commemorate the Abolition of Slavery in December 2007,a role he enjoyed playing for Dresden's Emancipation Day in 2008. John also appeared on the Treehouse Network television show 4Square, and an appearance on the sci-fi television show, Missing. John's stage credits also being a cast member of the Dora award winning 2002 & 2004 productions of The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God, and Orphesus Descending at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. An accomplished singer, pianist, and songwriter, John currently performs weekly at the acclaimed Rosewater Supper Club and Pantages Martini Lounge in Toronto. Music performances also include choir direction for Grammy winner, Speech, from Arrested Development, Harbourfront World Leaders festival tributes to legendary musicians Quincy Jones and Peter Gabriel, and the "Canada Loves New York" commercial campaigns.
Bayo Akinfemi (Director) has worked as an actor and a director for almost two decades. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Performing Arts from University of Ilorin, Nigeria and worked for a few years in the entertainment industry, acquiring several screen credits including, Bitter Encounter, Sango and Days of Vulture. In 1998, Bayo moved to Canada and quickly established himself as a fine actor, acquiring credits on blockbusters such as The Tuxedo (Jackie Chan), Bulletproof Monk (Chow Yun Fat), Soul Food, Eleventh Hour, Mayday and Blue Murder. He was nominated for the GEMINI and the ACTRA Best Actor Awards in 2004 for the lead role in the CBC’s miniseries, Human Cargo and for the GEMINI in 2008 for his portrayal of a Sudanese warlord in CBC’s high octane series, The Border. Bayo’s directing credits include The Gods Are Not To Blame, Wedlock of The Gods, A Christmas Carol, Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, The Trials Of Brother Jero, Peppersoup and Soulmate. He studied Films and Television Production at the Toronto Film School, after which he acquired several years of practical experience as an Assistant Director on numerous Hollywood feature films, T.V programs and commercials before he started making films. His short films directing credits include A Novel Ending, Behind Closed Doors, My Little Package and Days Away. His first feature length movie is Scoundrels of Faith. Bayo’s Toronto based company, Greenland Entertainment, has numerous feature length and documentary film projects in various stages of development.
Have You Seen Zandile?
Joke Silva
(Gogo/Grandmother; Lulama; Old Woman)
Joke is a household name in the world of Nigerian cinema. Since the early eighties, she has carved out a successful career as an actress on stage, film, television and radio primarily in Nigeria and England (BBC, British Film Institute, Royal Court Theatre Sloan Sq) and the South of France.
Her acting credits include The Secret Laughter of Women with Nia Long and Colin Firth (’97 Film), Mirror in the Sun (’84 TV), Second Chance (’84 TV), Jero’s Metamorphosis (’81 Stage), Owuro Lojo (’93 Video), Mind Bending (’92 TV), Sisters (2002 Stage), The King Must Dance Naked (’93 Stage), Tight Rope (2000 – 2002 TV), Twins of the Rainforest (’98 Film), The Kingmaker (2002 Video), A Husband’s Wife (2003 Stage), Brave Heart (2003 Film), Shylock (2004 Stage) and A Past Came Calling (2004 Stage), Digging for Gold (2005 Stage), The Sisters (2007 Stage- London), to mention a few.
Joke has also directed to critical acclaim: Digging for Gold, Jonah, The Drummer Boy, Footprints and The Vagina Monologues. She is an alumnus of Holy Child College, Obalende, Weber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, University of Lagos Akoka and Fate Foundation, Ijora.
Silva is a recipient of several awards, including the AFRICAN MOVIE ACADEMY Best Actress Award 2006, EMOTAN Award by African Independent Television and the SOLIDRA Award. She is also a Member of the think tank for the Blair Commission for Africa, a trustee of Advocacy for Women and Children, a board member and a grief counselor for AART of Life Foundation.
African Theatre Ensemble is honoured to bring Joke Silva to the Canadian stage for the first time with Who Has Seen Zandile?
D’bi young anitafrika (Zandile)
Hailing from the trenches of Maxfield Avenue kingston 13 jamaica and the concrete jungles of toronto city canada | d'bi.young stands firm as the hybrid-oasis where roots-rock-reggae meets dub-poetic-politix | infused by dangerous dancehall riddims and funked out punk [rock]. she is the future of dub poetry today | in 2007 she won the toronto arts council emerging artist award.
From headlining at the international reggae festival [havana cuba '02 | '03 | '04], co-billing with saul williams / michael franti [calgary folk festival '04] and opening for antibalas afro-beat band [montreal '02] to starring in canada's hit musical 'da kink in my hair which earned her a dora nomination [princess of wales theatre '05 | san diego repertory theatre '05] and lord have mercy [1st afro-canadian tv sitcom] to also being featured on bravo's playwrights & screenwriters, hbo's def poetry jam lll, cbc's zed tv | artspots | spinoff, and cuba's cuerda viva. d'bi.young is a worldclass roaring torrent who leaves her audiences awed and inspired.
She has independently produced four dub albums | a demo | and a single: [when the love is not enough...'00 | xperimentin dub with dub trinity reggae band '01 | xperimentin dub in havana cuba '02 | ky.ky '06 | blood demo '03 | animal farm single '05], and written a trilogy of plays [bloodclaat l featured at danny hoch's nyc hip hop theatre fest '03 | androgyne ll | chronicles in dub lll] which are being supported by theatre passe muraille | buddies in bad times theatre | and nightwood theatre respectively.
Her music has been highlighted on compilations such as: lost tribes of the sun: renewal | ribsauce: a cd anthology of words by women | wordlife: tales of the underground griots | and la vache enragee. and she co-produced the cuban-canadian feminist documentary blood based on her poem of said title featuring political exile nehanda abiodun and las krudas [one of havana's leading feminist hip hop groups] with filmmaker judy singh.
In Mar '06, d'bi.young launched her first book of poetry art on black [by women's press]
In June she began a two-year theatre arts residency at soulpepper theatre academy | in aug she launched a bilingual [english/spanish] edition of her critically acclaimed play blood.claat [playwrights' canada press] | in sept she remounted blood.claat at theatre passe muraille [nominated for five dora awards two of which it won - best new play and best female performance] | in october she was shortlisted for the toronto arts council emerging artist award | and now she is preparing to premiere with 'da kink in my hair in london england in november 2006. all this while mothering her sun: moon.
'best dub poet and storytelling actor...she calls herself a storyteller but who cares about titles when you're so mesmerized by the heartfelt truths she communicates.' - jon kaplan, now magazine
Olivia Duodu (Lindiwe) was born in Ghana and arrived in Canada at the age of six. She has been exposed to the arts since the age of nine when she joined the Westview Choral Project under the inspiration of conductor Brainerd Blyden-Taylor. In 1996 she landed the role of Dorothy in Stanley’s production of The Wiz. Olivia is a graduate of Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts and a former member of the Tarragon’s Young Playwrights’ Unit. In 2003, Duodu wrote, directed and choreographed her first major production, Rising Sun, a complex production with a cast of fifty. This outreach model was designed to reach out to youth on issues of racism and discrimination. In 2004 Olivia played the role of Tituba in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible produced by Staged and Confused. Olivia joined AfriCan Theatre Ensemble in 2006 and played the role of Sinsin in the company’s production of Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels in 2006 and 2007; and the role of Lindiwe in Have You Seen Zandile? in 2008. Olivia is a member of the Ontario Education Service Corporation for art schools
Gcina Mhlophe (Playwright)
Gcina Mhlophe is an internationally celebrated poet, actress, storyteller, writer, and director. She was born in Hammersdale in KwaZulu Natal, but her teenage years were spent in the Transkei. A lover of language, Gcina grew up in a home where education was embraced and reading was important: “Reading became a very strong pillar for me. It was something that I held on to.”
At the age of 17, Gcina decided to become a poet after being mesmerized from hearing her first praise poet. Her first play, Have you Seen Zandile? was written in 1985. In 1992, Gcina founded Zanendaba Storytellers. Zanendaba means “tell us a story.”
Gcina has travelled extensively as a visiting lecturer nationally and internationally, to the United States, Japan, and Europe. In May of 1994 Gcina was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Open University in England. Other awards include a 1987 Obie Award (New York) for Best Actress in Born in the R.S.A. She is also a recipient of a 1988 Joseph Jefferson Award (Chicago) for Best Actress in Have You Seen Zandile?
In 2000 she released an award-winning storytelling CD entitled Fudukazi's Magic for German audiences, which was also produced for video in collaboration with Anant Singh of Video Vision Entertainment. In 2001 her CD and book, Nozincwadi Mother of Books, was produced as part of her nationwide reading road show to South African rural schools.
Gcina's writings have been translated into German, French, Italian, Swahili and Japanese. Her honours include BBC Africa Service Award for Radio Drama, The Fringe First Award at Edinburgh Festival, Joseph Jefferson Award in Chicago, OBBIE in New York, and Honorary Doctorates from London Open University and University of Natal, and the Sony Award in Britain for Best Actress for the title role Have You Seen Zandile?
(Photo credit: Paul Weinberg. Major source of Mhlophe’s biography: the interviews in Kathy Perkins (ed.), Black South African Women: An Anthology of Plays. London, New York: Routledge, 1998, pages 80-81).
Bunmi Oyinsan (Director) has written, directed and produced stage and television plays in a career going back twenty years in Nigeria. She has published three novels, one book for young people, and several short stories. She has written and directed three stage and two radio plays, and has written/produced nine major television dramas and serials.
Bunmi’s writing, directing and production credits include The Kingmaker (Script Writer 2003), Aditulaye (Feature film. Script Writer/ Producer – 2002), Bottom line (Script Writer/ Producer 2000), We The People, (Drama serial. Script Writer/ Producer 2000), What’s Your Price? (13 part Drama serial. Script Writer/ Producer 1999), Hands That Rock The Nation (Documentary. Researcher/Producer - 1998), The Golden Cage ( Feature film. Script Writer/ Producer – 1996), Omoyele (Feature film Script Writer/ Producer – Drama, Nigeria’s Entry for the Made For T.V. Film Festival - the Prix Futura Berlin, Germany 1995), Owuro Lojo (26 part drama serial. Script Writer/ Producer – 1995).
Bunmi moved to Canada in 2004, first living in Nova Scotia before moving to Ontario. Bunmi is pursuing a doctoral degree in Women’s Studies at York University and exploring the intersections of orature, theatre and film in work by African women.
Ayodele Adewumi (Stage Manager) actor, director, filmmaker, started his professional acting career with Jimi Solanke and refined his craft while studying at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, at first obtaining a Master’s degree in Philosophy then a postgraduate diploma in Theatre Arts, with a specialization in directing and media.
In Nigeria Ayo worked professionally in the theatre, television and film industries. As an actor, Ayo has worked with most of the notable directors in Nigerian theatre and film, including Bayo Oduneye, Dapo Adelugba, Femi Osofisan, and Ahmed Yerima.
Ayo has played major/lead roles in many stage, television and film productions both in Nigeria and Canada, and worked in various capacities as stage manager, production manager, soundman, cameraman, assistant director and director.
Ayo immigrated in 2004 to Canada where he studied Documentary Film Production at Humber College.
His theatre directorial credits include his 2002 post-modernist interpretation of Esi-Kinni Olusanyin’s “Bamgbose Sango.” He also directed Dolapo Sikuade’s “Toy Soldier, Boy Soldier” for the 2003 Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, in Abuja, Nigeria, and AfriCan Theatre Ensemble's production of Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels in 2006 and 2007.
Michael McLay (Set & Lighting Design; Technical Director,) is very excited to work with AfriCan Theatre Ensemble. Michael is a Theatre Trollop, working as a Set Designer, Director, Producer, Technical Director, and an Actor. He just loves to work in Theatre. Michael is recently back from a successful tour in the Mid-West, and North-East US, and is looking forward to working the Greater Toronto Area for a while.
Gideon Akufuna Sifuba (Music director; percussionist) has been performing as a musician for more than 15 years. He began as a member, then a soloist and finally a conductor of his church choir. He taught himself to play the clarinet and began also to play in the church orchestra. Upon moving to Namibia from Zambia, Akufuna took a job with his church, establishing choirs in new church communities – thus beginning his career as a professional musician.
Akufuna was a music teacher in Namibia, teaching in both primary and secondary schools. He led several choirs as well as conducted a brass band and a small recorder group. He also worked for the Namibian College of the Arts, teaching music as an extra curricular activity to under privileged children.
As a tenor, Akufuna has performed and recorded with the acclaimed Mascato Coastal Choir of Namibia. As a clarinetist, he has performed and recorded as a guest soloist with the Namib Marimbas. In addition, as an African drummer, Akufuna has toured with the Ongoma Drummers giving performances and workshops to tourists throughout Namibia.
Akufuna immigrated to Canada in the spring of 2006 and is currently a music student at York University. He conducts full day chorale and drumming workshops throughout the Greater Toronto Area and sings with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale.
He is currently studying in the Department of Fine Arts at York University.
Teddy Masuku (Choreographer) was born in the “City of Kings” Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. His interests in the arts began from primary school. In 1997, he took up dance full time as a performer and choreographer specializing mostly in traditional and modern dance fused with poetry, as well as Southern African cultural and modern dances. He has worked with different groups and toured extensively in and outside Zimbabwe teaching and learning.
Since coming to Canada in 2004, Teddy has developed further skills as a freelance singer and actor. In the past two years he has worked with a number of professional and community organizations and schools in projects including theatrical storytelling, educational seminars and dance workshops. One of his objectives is to use the arts as a vehicle to effectively communicate with the diverse and multicultural groups in Canada. Projects include Harbourfront Canada Day Celebrations (2007); Caribou 2007; Eritrean Community Festival ( 2007); Tarragon Theater Music Seminars (2007); Verao Vibes, Monayr Asha Aid Foundation at Lula Lounge (2006); Loreto Abby Catholic School Heritage Month Celebrations (2006); Dusk Dances( 2005 & 2006); Music Africa Afri-Youth Nite (2006); TDSB Dance Workshops- Various Schools (2006); Metro Housing Corporations Dance Workshops ( 2005); African Theatre Ensemble, Market of Tales (2005 & 2006).
Mimi Amatu (Costume Design) was born in Cameroon and raised in Lesotho. She learnt designing from her mother, Abby Amatu, and her Gogo, who are notable textile and beadwork artists. She moved to Toronto in 2006. This is her debut with AfriCan Theatre Ensemble.
Modupe Olaogun (Artistic Director; Producer) was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. Modupe has a PhD degree from York University, Toronto, and is associate professor of English at York, where teaches African and postcolonial literature and drama, and currently Master of Stong College. She is the founder of AfriCan Theatre Ensemble, and has been its Artistic Director since the company’s inception in 1998.
Under her leadership, the company has staged nine productions, including seven plays at Artword Theatre in Toronto. Her production credits include The Gods Are Not to Blame, by Ola Rotimi (1999); Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, by Ola Rotimi (2000); And the Girls in Their Sunday Dresses, by Zakes Mda (2001); Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka (2004); Fate of a Cockroach by Tawfik al-Hakim (2004); Market of Tales by AfriCan Theatre Ensemble (2005); and Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels (2006 & 2007).
Modupe 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.
Modupe hosts a play-reading series at Stong College’s Samuel Beckett Theatre, which she helped resuscitate in 2006.
Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels
Anna Aidoo (Chief, 1st Woman, 2nd Stranger, Female Leper & Yeye Osun) is making her debut with AfriCan Theatre Ensemble. Since her childhood in Ghana, the arts have been part of Aidoo’s life and have now become an integral part of her living. Aidoo is a motivational speaker who has spoken at many community, company and school events. She organizes functions that motivate, encourage and inspire people around her to be the best they can be; she is frequently called upon to speak at conferences, workshops, weddings and other festive functions. Aidoo is the founder of “A Woman’s Worth Conference and Awards” which has been running for four years, the founder of the Ghanaian Women’s Courage Awards and the publisher of Unique Magazine (www.annaaidoo.com).
Tony Adah (Esu) is currently a PhD candidate in Theatre Arts at the University of Toronto Graduate Drama Centre. He completed a BA and an MA in theatre at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. In the 1980s, he was active in Nigerian theatre, playing many major roles in plays by renowned playwrights Wole Soyinka and Femi Osofisan, as well as other African dramatists. As the artistic director of Scene One, the leading alternative theatre company in Ibadan, he directed Soulmates and Lipstick by Femi Kayode, and Face Up by Chuks Okoye, including others. In 1991, We, The Beasts, which he dramaturged and directed, won a national Association of Nigerian Authors award for best play of the year. From 1991-1998, he taught theatre at the University of Papua New Guinea, where he directed Molière’s Scoundrel Scapin, J. B. Priestly’s An Inspector Calls, and other plays. In 1996, he was invited as a distinguished director by the Drama Department of the University of Capetown, and directed Edufa by Efua Sutherland at the Arena Theatre. At the University of Toronto, he directed Wole Soyinka’s Madmen and Specialists (October 2001), and was the Cultural Consultant for the production of Things Fall Apart, based on the novel by Chinua Achebe, directed by Chuck Mike (April 2003). More recently, he played the role of the Praise Singer in AfriCan Theatre Ensemble’s production of Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman (May 2004) and Adil in Tawfik al-Hakim’s comedy, Fate of a Cockroach (April 2005). He served as assistant director in the Ensemble’s creation and production of Market of Tales (2005). Currently exploring the medium of film, he recently played a lead role as Thomas in Terrance Odette’s feature film Sleeping Dogs screened at the Toronto Film Festival 2006.
Ayodele Adewumi (Director) started his professional acting career with Jimi Solanke and refined his craft while studying at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, at first obtaining a Master’s degree in Philosophy then a postgraduate diploma in Theatre Arts, with a specialization in directing and media. He worked professionally in the theatre, television and film industries in Nigeria, then immigrated to Canada in 2004 where he studied Documentary Film Production at Humber College. As an actor, Ayo has worked with most of the notable directors in Nigerian theatre and film including, Bayo Oduneye, Dapo Adelugba, Femi Osofisan, Ahmed Yerima, Ladi Ladebo, Tade Ogidan, Tunji Bamishingbin and Charles Novia. He played major/lead roles in many stage, television and film productions both in Nigeria and Canada, and worked in various capacities as stage manager, production manager, soundman, cameraman and assistant director. His unpublished play, “Girigiri: Pandemonium,” was critically acclaimed when it appeared on stage in Nigeria in 2002, and his theatre directorial credits include his 2002 post-modernist interpretation of Esi-Kinni Olusanyin’s “Bamgbose Sango.” He also directed Dolapo Sikuade’s “Toy Soldier, Boy Soldier” for the 2003 Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, in Abuja, Nigeria. He is currently working on a documentary film which deals about the issue of secret cults in Nigerian institutions of higher learning.
Seifu Tesfaye Belachew (Epo Oyinbo) graduated in Theatre Arts from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. For eleven years he worked as an actor and director for the Hager Fikir Theatre in Addis Ababa, where he also wrote short plays. He was assistant director and actor in Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, playing Lord Windermere, as well as Shakespeare’s King Lear, playing King Lear. He joined AfriCan Theatre Ensemble in June 2005, participating in the fall 2005 production of Market of Tales. He has recently played a lead role as the Templar in Gotthold Ephrem Lessing’s play Nathan the Wise.
Donald Carr (Oga Redio) is widely known as an actor, dancer, director, choreographer, writer and storyteller. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, he trained as a dancer with Toronto Dance Theatre, Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company and the National Ballet of Canada, and danced with the Pavlychencko Dance Theatre and Isintu African Dance Company. As an actor/director, he began working with Black Theatre Canada, going on to perform in Paris, Amsterdam, London, Munich and Johannesburg. His stage credits include the title role in R. Murray Shaffer’s Ra (Toronto, Holland), the title role in Oedipus (Festival d’Avignon, France), Duke of Buckingham in Shakespeare’s Richard III, Jesus in The Gospel According to St. John, the lead in Death and the King’s Horseman, and Joe in Trevor Rhone’s Smile Orange. Donald Carr has written and directed a steady stream of creative works that have progressively explored the boundaries of dance and theatre. Most recent works are Absent Fathers, Vanishing Sons, Afrodisiac and The Full Nelson (In Praise of Nelson Mandela). Last year, he received a Harold award for his contributions to Canadian theatre and dance. He is currently working on a new show From Rage to Courage.
Olivia Duodu (Sinsin) is a native of Ghana and arrived in Canada at the age of six. A recent member of AfriCan Theatre Ensemble, she has been exposed to the arts since the age of nine when she joined The Westview Choral Project under the inspiration of conductor Brainerd Blyden-Taylor. In 1996 she landed the role of Dorothy in Stanley’s production of The Wiz. Duodu is a graduate of Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts; a former member of the Tarragon’s Young Playwrights’ Unit; and currently a final year student at York University’s Department of English. In 2003, Duodu wrote, directed and choreographed her first major production Rising Sun, a complex production with a cast of fifty. This outreach model was designed to reach out to youth on issues of racism and discrimination. In 2004 she played the role of Tituba in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible produced by Staged and Confused. Duodu is currently a member of the Ontario Education Service Corporation for art schools.
Lucky Ejim (Omele) is an actor and filmmaker with a lengthy experience in African theatre both in Nigeria and, since 2000, in Canada. Lately he has played, among other starring roles, Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Chief Kazi in Dance of the Leopard and Ereniyi in The Inspector and the Hero. His exploration of other African playwrights has included the work of Ghanian dramatist Ama Ata Aidoo, in which he assumed the role of Kofi Ako in the play Anowa. His interests embrace film as well as theatre. He has acted in the 2006 film A Winter’s Tale, among others, and directed and wrote the screenplay for the short film Sounds of the Past. The Tenant (2006) marked his directorial debut on feature film. Ejim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Benin, Nigeria, and is a graduate of the Toronto Film School.
Carole Enahoro (Assistant to the Director) has worked as a producer and director in the film, television and IMAX® industry for twenty years, producing programmes such as Scala (winner of the Chicago Film Festival Best Documentary award) and Oyinbo Pepper (funded by the Arts Council of Great Britain and featured in Peter Gidal’s book Materialist Film). She has also managed localization for Electronic Arts, the world’s largest independent game developer, on projects such as the James Bond and Harry Potter series. She has written two political comedies about issues affecting African development (Doing Dangerously Well represented by the Cooke Agency and Nomads funded by the Ontario Arts Council). Her academic qualifications include MAs in African Art & Archaeology (SOAS, University of London) and Film & TV Studies (University of Westminster). She currently directs live interactive distance learning television programming and lectures on creative writing and narrative structure at the University of Ontario, Institute of Technology.
Khareme Lambie (Prince, Wounded Man, Obaluaye) has been acting for the past seven years and has previously performed with AfriCan Theatre Ensemble in Our Father Has Gone Mad Again. His repertoire ranges from films, such as Blue Turning Grey Over You (2000), to network television including an episode of Mayday airing on the Discovery channel, and theatre. Currently, he is working on a book of poetry entitled Deep Breath (working title) while pursuing life in the performing arts.
Muoi Nene (Ade, Impotent Man, 1st Stranger, Male Leper/Orunmila) was in born in Nairobi, Kenya to a family of artists. His mother – an actor and playwright – wrote award winning plays while his father introduced Nene to music through his proficiency with the guitar. The tradition of storytelling has always called to him, initially in the form of spoken word and lately in a range of other media, including film, theatre and dance. He has served as choreographer and actor/dancer/storyteller as part of AfriCan Theatre Ensemble’s Market of Tales and acted in Fate of a Cockroach written by Egyptian playwright Tawfik al-Hakim, one of the most important authors in the Arabic world. He was a member of the Toronto-based African dance troupe Nouvel Exposé. In September 2005, he co-wrote An Unexpected Guest, which won first place in the Write Movies A/Exposure script writing contest in Hollywood.
Modupe Olaogun (Artistic Director; Producer) was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. Olaogun has a PhD degree from York University, Toronto, and is a professor of English at York and currently Master of Stong College. She is the founder of AfriCan Theatre Ensemble, and has been its Artistic Director since the company’s inception in 1998. Under her leadership, the company staged seven productions at Artword Theatre in Toronto. 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. Her production credits include The Gods Are Not to Blame, by Ola Rotimi (1999); Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, by Ola Rotimi (2000); And the Girls in Their Sunday Dresses, by Zakes Mda (2001), Ama Ata Aidoo’s Anowa (2003), Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman (2004); Tawfik al-Hakim’s Fate of a Cockroach (2004); Market of Tales (2005); and Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels (2006). In 2006-07, she will be hosting a play-reading series at the resuscitated Samuel Beckett Theatre at York University’s Stong College.
Funmi Olumade (2nd Woman, Pregnant Woman, 3rd Stranger) is a skilled dance leader, comedian, and actress, who has performed in various stage productions. A member of AfriCan Theatre Ensemble since its inception, she performed in the company’s production of The Gods are not to Blame, Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again and Death and the King’s Horseman. Recently, she acted in the movie God’s Own Country by Femi Agbayewa. Olumade is active in the Nigerian community in Toronto and currently serves as the Vice President of the Yoruba Community Association. She is a graduate of York University and holds a B.A. degree in Sociology.
Femi Osofisan (Writer) is the author of fifty plays, many of which have been performed in different countries around the world. One of Africa’s foremost writers, he is also the author of four novels, four collections of poetry and four volumes of essays and a contributor from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s of popular columns in Nigerian newspapers. Dr. Osofisan was born in Erunwon village in the old Western Region of Nigeria and educated at the universities of Ibadan, Dakar, and Paris; he is a professor of drama at the University of Ibadan. Osofisan has extended the entertainment forms of the moonlight tales of the Yoruba, crossing them with contemporary literary forms to forge a theatre that is enchanting, socially relevant and highly popular. His ability to dramatize the local experience while exploring universal themes places him in the ranks of such well-known playwrights as the Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka- with whom he has been frequently compared, the Egyptian Tawfik al-Hakim, and the South African Athol Fugard and Reza de Wet. He wrote and premiered Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels in Nigeria in 1984. In June 2006 Osofisan turned sixty. His achievements as a playwright, director, poet, novelist, and literary and drama critic were celebrated in Nigeria through many activities: productions and readings of his plays, symposia and the launching of a Festschrift in his honour entitled Portraits For An Eagle, edited by Sola Adeyemi.
Tracy “Niambi” Stewart (Jigi) has been involved in the performing arts since her early childhood in Jamaica, taking to the stage in church and school. Her current interests span theatre, film, dance and song. She studied performing arts at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica and then pursed further studies in Radio and Television Arts at Seneca College and performance at the Humber School of Creative and Performing Arts. She is a seasoned dancer with African troupes Le Groupe des Arts Bassan and COBA Dance Company. Her interest in acting has led her to star in films as wide-ranging as Superbob (lead), Closure (lead), Sweet Partings (lead) and taken supporting roles in such films as The Big Ticket. She is currently recording her debut album, Sistah Rock Steady.
