Hubert Ogunde The Doyen of Nigerian Theatre

While Hubert Ogunde is commonly praised as the father of modern Nigerian theatre, his impact transcends theatre.

To many older Nigerians familiar with actor, theatre manager and playwright, musician, folklorist, policeman and teacher, activist and nationalist, Hubert Ogunde was a mystical figure. His movies relayed ancestral stories; some who knew him remember him fondly as the father of Nigerian theatre, a claim that while true does not capture the legitimacy of his legacy as one of Nigeria's founding fathers.

Born in present-day Ogun State, to Jeremiah and Eunice in July 1916, Hubert Adedeji Ogunde’s family hailed from a long line of Ifa worshippers. Jeremiah, however, was a Baptist missionary and young Hubert was raised as a Christian. Hubert attended St. Johns Primary School, Ososa (1925-28) and St. Peters School, Faji, Lagos (1928-30) for his primary education. He then studied at Wasimi African School for secondary education before returning to his alma mater, St John’s Primary School, as a teacher. Like his father, Hubert played the organ and was the church choirmaster. While on holiday in Ibadan sometime in December 1941, he passed by a police recruitment centre, and decided to join the Nigerian Police Force. As a young police officer, he was posted to Ebute Metta Police Station in Lagos, and he began directing plays for church events. On 12 June 1944, at the height of the Second World War, his first play, ‘The Garden of Eden and The Throne of God’, premiered at Glover Hall in Lagos. The play combined Biblical themes with elements of Yoruba culture, and it formally marked the beginning of Ogunde’s career as a dramatist...