It was an evening of creativity, storytelling, and celebration at Terra Kulture in Victoria Island, Lagos, as the Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA), in partnership with MasterCard, staged two original one-act plays — Kingmaker and Book Cover.
The event, part of the TAFTA Action Learning Project (TALP X), brought together emerging talents from TAFTA’s training program and showcased their original scripts, exploring themes of resilience, identity, and self-discovery.
Before the curtain rose, the atmosphere was energized by saxophonist Timileyin Sax Monac, who opened the evening with a vibrant performance of Davido’s hit With You and another crowd-pleaser, setting the perfect tone.
A Platform for Emerging Voices
Both Kingmaker and Book Cover featured standout performances from TAFTA trainees, who brought their stories to life with passion and professionalism, earning enthusiastic applause from a full house.
Bolanle Austen-Peters, Founder and CEO of TAFTA, expressed her pride in the performers:
“I am so proud of what our trainees are doing. TALP is giving them the opportunity to practically showcase what they’ve learned. My vision is to expand TALP beyond Lagos so more young creatives can share their voices with the world.”
TAFTA’s General Manager, Joseph Umoibom — also a producer at BAP Productions — highlighted the program’s broad reach:
“Through MasterCard’s support, we’ve trained over 50,000 young creatives across Lagos, Ogun, and Kano. Many of these participants are staging their work for the first time on Nigeria’s biggest theatre platform.”
He noted that TAFTA is not only training students in performance but also encouraging them to write, produce, and own their creative narratives.
More Than Just a Stage
TAFTA, founded by the award-winning director Bolanle Austen-Peters, is a creative institution offering free, world-class training in scriptwriting, lighting and sound design, animation, and creative entrepreneurship. Using both online and in-person methods, it equips young Nigerians with the tools and mentorship needed to thrive in the creative industry.
Veteran actor and theatre consultant Dr. Afeez Oyetoro commended the initiative:
“The creativity and professionalism displayed by these young talents is remarkable. TALP X is not just entertainment; it is education, social commentary, and a training ground for Nigeria’s next generation of theatre professionals.”
Hands-On Learning in Action
TALP (TAFTA Action Learning Project) is the final stage of TAFTA’s program, where students are grouped into production teams to collaboratively write and perform original plays. This real-world approach transforms learning into lived experience, preparing trainees for careers in theatre and beyond.
By the end of the evening, the audience left inspired — a testament to the power of storytelling and the promise of Nigeria’s growing creative community.
