Zulu Sofola Day 2026: ‘Wedlock of the Gods’ spotlight celebration in Issele-Uku, Delta State
By Dorothy Onwuemene
WHEN culture stakeholders and others gathered on Monday, 22 June, 2026, at Oligbo Royal Palace in Issele-Uku, Delta State, for the Professor Zulu Sofola’s Day and Awards 2026, performance of the celebrated play, Wedlock of the Gods, became the talking point. Organized by the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Delta State Chapter, the event honoured the enduring legacy and contributions of Sofola, Nigeria’s first published female playwright, academic and distinguished icon of African theatre. The occasion attracted theatre practitioners, cultural enthusiasts, traditional leaders, and members of the public.
The Royal Father of the day, His Royal Majesty, Obi of Issele-Uku, Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna, Agbogidi II, was in attendance alongside members of the Chiefs-in-Council of Oligbo Royal Palace and other distinguished members of Issele-Uku community.
The Chairperson of Delta State Chapter of NANTAP, Princess Judith Tamara Akiri, welcomed guests and members at the opening, where she emphasized the need to preserve the legacies of great African literary icons such as Professor Sofola. She further encouraged young people to embrace theatre as a tool for cultural education, social transformation, and national development.
“June 22nd every year is a very remarkable day for us theatre arts practitioners in Delta State, ” Akiri said. “It is a day we have dedicated to celebrate Professor Zulu Sofola, a theatre icon and daughter of Issele-Uku, who made great achievements in the literary world.”
The National Chief Whip of NANTAP and resource person for Zulu Sofola Day 2026, Mr. Alex Akpuh, delivered a lecture on the theme of the event ‘Drama as a Vehicle for Cultural Advocacy: Professor Zulu Sofola’s Perspective.’ A remarkable highlight of his lecture was that Sofola, through her plays, advocates for cultural advocacy, saying, “Every community or society has well established tradition, norms, and belief systems. These traditions guide their way of life, ensure order, decorum, and spiritual balance and stipulate sanctions for deviants.
“Drama, either through the written dialogue or live performance, has been a channel for creating awareness for the institutionalized norms and belief systems and a call for reconsiderations for change in certain aspects of traditional practices.”
He also explored the tragic dimenstion in her dramatic vision, when he said, ”Professor Zulu Sofola, through her plays, imbibes a very unique tragic approach to address the intricacies of Africa societal norms and the consequences of deviation from these established traditions. Her perspective of this dramatic concept expresses a collective experience which takes a toll on the entire community. Her style of tragedy goes beyond unveiling consequences of deviation to providing a platform for society to confront and address its collective transgressions. This unique concept of tragedy is well established in Wedlock of the Gods, a beautiful literary work. In that play, the two main characters, Uloko and Ogwoma, described as ‘ill-fated lovers’ defy tradition through their unmatched love adventure and this decision spirals into serious consequences.”
Akpuh concluded thus, “There is no gainsaying the fact that Zulu Sofola’s intellectual brilliance and immense contributions to literature set her apart as a celebrity. Her works continue to be studied and performed globally, making her a testament of excellence. Her fight for fair treatment for the female gender earned her respect among the female folks. Professor Zulu Sofola was indeed a legend.”
The artistic segment featured a captivating stage performance of one of Sofola’s most celebrated plays, Wedlock of the Gods. The production was presented by Blaze Africa Theatre House in collaboration with NANTAP, Delta State Chapter, and directed by Mr. Akpuh. The performance drew admiration from the audience for its compelling interpretation, professional delivery, and relevance to contemporary societal issues.
Akiri later presented awards to two deserving Isele-Uku community on behalf of the association. They included Obi of Issele-Uku, HRM Ezeagwuna. Akpuh presented his profile, highlighting his contributions to cultural preservation, community development, and the promotion of the arts. Another recipient was Dr. Veronica Ufoegbune, a prominent daughter of Issele-Uku community and renowned academic, whose remarkable contributions to theatre, education, culture, and community development earned her recognition at the event.
Zulu Sofola Day 2026 provided an opportunity for theatre practitioners and cultural stakeholders in Delta State to reflect on the immense contributions of Sofola to African literature and drama while also honouring individuals who continue to advance the ideals she championed.
The traditional ruler expressed delight at NANTAP’s efforts in championing the creative arts, particularly drama and the performing arts as well as promoting the legacies of the daughter of Issele-Uku community, Sofola. He equally commended Delta State Chapter of NANTAP for sustaining the annual celebration and promoting the rich heritage of Nigerian theatre. The gathering reaffirmed the commitment of stakeholders to preserving and advancing the legacy of Professor Sofola for future generations.
National Chief Whip, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Mr. Alex Akpuh (left); NANTAP Delta State Chairperson, Princess Judith Akiri; His Royal Majesty, Obi of Issele-Uku, Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna, Agbogidi II and former NANTAP Delta State Secretary, Mr. Pius Emekpe at the Zulu Sofola Day 2026 celebration… in Issele-Uku, Delta State
Other plays by Professor Sofola include King Emene, The Wizard of Law, Old Wines Are Tasty, and The Sweet Trap, among others.
* Onwuemene, the Planning Committee Secretary, wrote in from Asaba
