Nwazuluwa Onuekwuke Sofola, widely known as Zulu Sofola, was a trailblazing Nigerian playwright, academic, poet, music lover, and theatre director. She holds the distinction of being the first published female Nigerian playwright and one of Africa’s foremost female voices in dramatic literature. Celebrated for blending traditional African theatrical elements with modern storytelling, she remains a monumental figure in Nigeria’s literary and academic history.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Education
Zulu Sofola was born on June 22, 1935, in the former Bendel State of Nigeria. Her parents, Nwaugbade Okwumabua and Chief Ogana Okwumabua, were of Igbo heritage from Issele-Uku, in Aniocha North Local Government Area, now in Delta State.
She began her education at Federal Government Primary School in Asaba and proceeded to the Baptist Girls High School in Agbor, both in Delta State. Her brilliance in academics earned her a scholarship to study in the United States, where she completed her high school education in Nashville, Tennessee.
Zulu Sofola went on to study at the Southern Baptist Seminary, then earned her Bachelor of Arts in English at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, graduating in 1959. In 1965, she obtained her Master’s degree in Drama (Playwriting and Production) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
After returning to Nigeria in 1966, she joined the University of Ibadan as a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, where she later earned a PhD in Theatre Arts (Tragic Theory) in 1977.
Academic Career
Zulu Sofola had a distinguished academic career spanning decades and multiple institutions. She taught, mentored, and led departments with an unyielding passion for the arts and education.
- Lecturer and Coordinator, Adult Education Extra-Mural Program, University of Ibadan (1968–1972)
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts, University of Ibadan (1972–1983)
- Department Head and Senior Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin (1983–1995)
- Lecturer (Part-time), English Department, University of Ibadan (1968–1969)
- Teacher, Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan (1968–1969)
- Lecturer (Part-time), Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia (1965–1966)
She was a mentor to generations of scholars, dramatists, and theatre enthusiasts across Nigeria and beyond.
Literary Contributions and Themes
Zulu Sofola’s literary legacy is rich and multidimensional. Her plays explored a wide range of themes, from historical tragedies to domestic comedies, often incorporating elements of African oral tradition, myth, ritual, and magic. A key recurring theme in her work was the conflict between traditionalism and modernism, especially as it related to male supremacy, power dynamics, and societal change.
Her most famous and frequently performed plays include:
- Wedlock of the Gods (1972)
- The Sweet Trap (1977)
These works continue to be celebrated for their poetic depth, cultural insight, and emotional resonance.
Selected Works
Zulu Sofola authored numerous plays, many of which have become cornerstones of African literary and theatrical studies:
- The Deer Hunter and the Hunter’s Pearl (1969)
- The Disturbed Peace of Christmas (1971)
- Wedlock of the Gods (1972)
- The Operators (1973)
- King Emene: Tragedy of a Rebellion (1974)
- The Wizard of Law (1975)
- The Sweet Trap (1977)
- Old Wines Are Tasty (1981)
- Memories in the Moonlight (1986)
- Queen Omu-Ako of Oligbo (1989)
- Eclipso and the Fantasia (1990)
- The Showers (1991)
- Song of a Maiden (1992)
- Lost Dreams and Other Plays (1992)
Her play King Emene was translated into Norwegian and produced for radio in Oslo, demonstrating the international reach of her work.
Awards and Recognitions
Zulu Sofola received numerous awards and distinctions for her literary and academic achievements:
- Literary Award, International Book Fair, University of Ife
- Prize for Wedlock of the Gods, Black Culture Center, University of Missouri
- Recipient, Fulbright Scholarship, State University of New York, Buffalo (1988)
- Ford Foundation Fellowship for PhD Research
- The World’s Who’s Who of Women in Education, International Biographical Society, Cambridge, England
- Men & Women of Distinction, International Biographical Society, Cambridge, England
Music and Faith
In addition to her scholarly and literary pursuits, Zulu Sofola was a devout Christian and accomplished musician. She served as a choir director for various churches throughout her life, including:
- All Souls Church, Bodija, Ibadan (1979–1983)
- Mount Olive’s Church, Ilorin (1983–1995)
She arranged and conducted a record album of sacred music titled All Soul’s Voices in 1984, showcasing her talent as a pianist and musical arranger.
Legacy and Death
Zulu Sofola passed away in 1995, but her legacy lives on through her published works, her students, and the generations of writers and dramatists she inspired. She remains a symbol of literary excellence and cultural pride, particularly for women in African literature. Her pioneering contributions continue to shape discourse in literature, theatre, and cultural studies across the continent.
References
- Official biography, Zulu Sofola website
- Sun Newspaper (Nigeria), December 2005
- The News Nigeria, June 2021
- The Guardian Nigeria, May 2014
- Issele-Uku Association of North America
- Zulu Sofola Profile, ZODML
- Lagos Books Club
- Wikipedia
Related posts:
Dehlia Umunna
Ituma Chukwuemeka Enviable
Obinna Nwafor (Saint Obi)
Views: 4
N:B Please send your updated CV to: info@igbopeople.org – Editor
© igbopeople.org
All entries on this website will be periodically updated to add, modify, or amend the information or content of existing entries. Consequently, no legal action will be entertained against the biographer for any information considered incomplete or insufficient.