Nigeria’s Damilola Apotieri, Monday, became the first Nigerian to study and graduate in the field of Applied Drama at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Apotieri who already has two degrees in the field of Theatre Arts from Lagos State University (LASU) and Redeemer’s University respectively and now a Masters degree in the field of Applied Drama, is a theatre maker, developmental playwright, Activist, Actor, Director, Producer, media consultant and the theorist of the Theatre For Advocacy methodology. He is currently the CEO of the Media Advocacy and Development Initiative (MADinitiative) based in South Africa.
Apotieri, who from the age of 9 has been involved in social work says he went ahead to obtain an additional B.A with Honours and Masters degree in the field of Applied Drama at Wits because he understands that Nigeria is in dare need of someone in the practise. He says, “Although my discipline is new to the Nigerian community, I am committed to helping Nigeria get through these hard times of security and social challenges. A lot of people are left traumatized after each bomb blast or social set back we experience in Nigeria. People need to be healed and my training as an applied dramatist is the right tool to take people through their healing. I am able to facilitate learning across fields with my training on critical pedagogy and Drama in Education”.
He confirmed that he has applied to write his PhD thesis on “how Applied Drama technique such as playback theatre can help heal victims of terrorist attack in Nigeria”. Damilola was recognised by the president of the International Playback Theatre Society as the first Nigerian to ever do a playback performance in Nigeria. This he did in November 2013, while opening the performance of his 2nd play “ACCURSED… story of children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS”.
He has grown to be an excellent and experienced Event Moderator, Dramatist, Playwright, Scholar, Media Content Creator, Consultant for major organisations and also convener of major summits, performances, workshops and conferences for young people in Nigeria. He is a former member of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament, United Nations Young General Assembly, UNICEF Speak Africa Project (South Africa), British Council Belongings Project and other international organisations. He challenges societal and cultural norms and he has greatly been influenced by the writings of dramatist and theorists like Femi Osofisan, Ola Rotimi, Wole Soyinka, Augusto Boal and majorly 3 of his lecturers in Redeemer’s University, Late Bunmi Julius-Adeoye, Dr. Sola Adeyemi and Eunice Uwadinma-Idemudia.
CTBB