Oguntokun died in Canada on Wednesday, though details of his death are sketchy. He was aged 57. 

Nigerian playwright, producer, director and culture advocate, Wole Oguntokun has died.

Oguntokun died in Canada on Wednesday, though details of his death are sketchy. He was aged 57. 

Though trained as a lawyer at the Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos, Oguntokun was known as a quintessential playwright and director who displayed so much passion for theatre and popularised it.

Not only was he known for his incisive plays that often tackled pressing social issues, he was also famous as a producer and director.

Before he relocated to Canada, he had created the annual Season of Soyinka, which is entering its 9th season. In each season, the plays of the Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, are staged at Terra Kulture in Lagos. His works, which resonated with audiences globally for their depth and cultural significance, received international recognition. He was also a fellow of many international theatrical bodies.

Not only was Oguntokun a multiple award- winner, he produced and directed plays by many of Nigerias best-known playwrights including Soyinkas (Kongis Harvest, Madmen & Specialists, The Lion and the Jewel, The Swamp Dwellers, Death and the Kings Horseman, The Strong Breed, Childe Internationale, Camwood on the Leaves, The Jero Plays); Osofisans Morountodun, Once Upon Four Robbers, The Engagement, The Inspector and the Hero; Professor Ola Rotimis The Gods Are Not To Blame; Zulu Sofolas King Emene, Wedlock of the Gods, Wizard of Law, as well as Athol Fugards Sizwe Banzi is Dead.

Known for his tireless passion and enthusiasm for theatre, his career was marked by a series of notable achievements. It included the establishment of the Theatre Republic in Lagos, a creative space that has nurtured countless Nigerian artistes and performers. His commitment to the arts was unwavering, and he played a pivotal role in promoting Nigerian theatre on the world stage.

His plays, characterised by their poignant storytelling and sharp wit, have been staged in various countries, bringing Nigerian narratives to a broader audience.

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