History met destiny in Lagos this weekend as Bolanle Austen-Peters, the trailblazing filmmaker and theatre director, delivered a heartfelt reflection during the reopening of Nigeria’s iconic National Arts Theatre, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.
The acclaimed director, who headlined the reopening with a breathtaking stage performance, shared her deeply personal journey from law to the arts, calling it a “divine redirection.” Quoting Proverbs 22:29, she wrote: “We hustled till we got to this proverb: ‘Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.’”
Bolanle Austen-Peters
Austen-Peters recounted how her decision to leave law for theatre was once viewed as a misstep, but has since evolved into a story of divine purpose.
“When I left the practice of law, many thought I had made a mistake. Yet, that leap of faith led me to a life beyond anything I could have imagined. Through theatre, I have travelled the world — and performed before two Nigerian Presidents so far.”
With emotion, she recalled being inspired as a young girl at FESTAC ’77, when her mother took her to see Ipi Tombi at the National Theatre — an experience that unknowingly set her on her artistic path.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that nearly fifty years later, I would be the main act to reopen that same National Theatre.”
The newly refurbished Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts stands as a modernized cultural hub, a collaboration between the Bankers’ Committee, Central Bank of Nigeria, and key creative industry stakeholders. Austen-Peters extended her gratitude to Tola Akerele, Lai Mohammed, Toyin Subair, Ronke Kuye, Sanep, and others “whose vision and commitment made this renaissance possible.”
For many, Austen-Peters’ story mirrors that of Nigeria’s reborn theatre scene — resilient, visionary, and full of promise. Her words captured the spirit of creative evolution in a nation rediscovering the power of art as cultural diplomacy.
“The rebirth of this iconic space,” she said, “is a reminder of how essential infrastructure is to the growth of the arts, and of the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.”
From law courts to global stages, Bolanle Austen-Peters’ journey is now forever intertwined with the legacy of Nigeria’s cultural heart — proof that faith, focus, and diligence can indeed turn dreams into destiny.
