Africa’s Theater Scene Gets Ready to Shine: TheatreMania Festival Unveils Star-Studded Jury for 2025
In an exciting development for Africa’s performing arts, the TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF) is gearing up for its 2025 edition with powerhouse Nollywood veteran Norbert Young at the helm of its prestigious awards jury. The announcement, made during a virtual meeting on March 16, sets the stage for what promises to be a spectacular celebration of African theatre in Lagos this October.
Young, whose commanding presence has graced countless Nigerian productions, will lead a diverse five-member jury representing the continent’s rich theatrical landscape. Joining him are Ghana’s Lydia Gifty Hagan as secretary, Canadian-based Kehny Obafemi as publicist, and distinguished members Mamela J. Aisha J. Rafahlema from South Africa and Nigeria’s own Jacinta MacJob.
Speaking about his appointment, Young emphasized the cornerstone principles that will guide the jury’s decisions. “Every award thrives on credibility and fairness, and we promise to uphold these values,” he declared, setting a tone of transparency for the selection process.
Aspiring participants have from March 17 to August 30 to submit their entries through the festival’s official website (www.theatremaniaafrica.com/awards). Productions must include full HD video recordings for consideration across various categories, including Best Play of the Year, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Stage Design, and Best Artistic Director.
The festival itself, running from October 14-17, 2025, in Lagos, embraces the theme “Beyond Borders: Celebrating the Global Reach of African Theatre.” Theatre enthusiasts can look forward to a vibrant program featuring Thespian Night, Street Theatre performances, engaging Stakeholders Roundtable discussions, and the innovative Theatre + Fashion event known as The METALIC.
The awards ceremony, scheduled for October 17, will serve as the grand finale to this celebration of African theatrical excellence, recognizing outstanding achievements in stage production, acting, directing, and design. As the countdown begins, the continent’s theatre community eagerly anticipates this showcase of African creative talent on the global stage.
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