Bolanle Austen-Peters Explained

Bolanle Austen-Peters
Birth Date:4 February 1969
Birth Place:Ibadan, Nigeria
Nationality:Nigerian
Alma Mater:
Occupation:Director, Producer, Entrepreneur
Organization:Terra Kulture, BAP Productions, Terra Academy For The Arts (TAFTA)

Bolanle Austen-Peters (born 4 February 1969), is a lawyer, a multiple award-winning movie director/producer, theater director/producer and cultural entrepreneur. [1] She is the founder and artistic director of BAP Productions and the arts and culture center Terra Kulture in Lagos.[2] [3] She has been described by the CNN as the "woman pioneering theater in Nigeria", named one of the most influential women in Africa by Forbes Afrique and been recognised with several awards for her contribution to the arts.[4]

Her movie, based on the life of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti is known as the "All time highest grossing biopic in West Africa" [5]

Her movie, House of GA'A, in the first week of it's release made it to top 10 Global Chart for Non-English Films [6]

She is also the founder of Terra Academy for the Arts in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, empowering young people. She had previously worked with the United Nations.[7]

Early life and career

Austen-Peters was born in 1969 in Ibadan, the Oyo State in the south-western region of Nigeria. She is the daughter of Emmanuel Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Rtd Major, Mrs Bisi Babalola.[8] She gained a BA in Law from the University of Lagos and an MA from London School of Economics and Political Science.[3] In the 1990s she worked as a lawyer in Afe Babalola and Co Barristers and Solicitors and with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Switzerland .[9]

In 2003, she founded Terra Kulture, an educational and cultural hub for Nigerian languages, arts, and culture. It includes a restaurant, art gallery, auction house, bookstore, language school, theater, film production studio, and Academy for the study of art. Located on Tiamiyu Savage Street in Lagos, its Arena is the first privately owned theater in Nigeria.[10]

In 2013, she established her own production company Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (BAP Productions). BAP Production is the production house, set up to change the narrative about Africa by promoting women as example from FRK, Fela and the Kalakuta queens;[11] social issues e.g. The Bling Lagosians and Collision Course (2021 film) and 93 Days. The company entered the Nigerian theater industry with its first production Saro, the musical.[12] The musical was staged in Lagos and in 2016 went on tour to London's West End.[13] The musical tells the story of four young men who decide to embark on a journey to Lagos where they seek to realize their dreams.

In 2015, Austen-Peters produced the film 93 Days .[14] [15] It tells the story of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria and premiered on 13 September 2016 in Lagos. It was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival,[16] The Chicago Film Festival,[17] the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles,[18] the Johannesburg Film Festival,[19] and at the Africa Film Festival in Cologne/Germany,[20] and nominated for a Rapid Lion Award.[21] It won the award for Best Lighting Designer at the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, and received thirteen nominations.[22] [23] [24] 93 days was also nominated for the Rapid Lion Award and in 7 categories for the 2017 Africa Movie Academy Awards, which was the highest nominated film in 2017 AMAA.[25]

In 2016, Austen-Peters directed the musical Wakaa, which tells the story of the trials, successes and experiences of a group of graduate students.[26] It was the first Nigerian musical to be staged in London’s West End, and recorded sold out shows at the Shaw theatre in London.[27]

In 2017, Austen-Peters directed the musical Fela and The Kalakuta Queens.[28] [29] It chronicles the life of the Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, and the women that were an integral part of his band. It was produced and created with the support of Fela Kuti’s estate. It was shown in Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa. The musical is one of the biggest to come out of Africa with over 120,000 people having watched it.[30]

In 2019, Austen-Peters directed the film Bling Lagosians which the individual feuds within a wealthy Lagos family..[31] [32] It was nominated for two awards including Best Art Director, Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards. It starred Nollywood actors and actresses including Gbenga Titiloye, Elvina Ibru, Osas Ighodaro, Toyin Abraham, Jide Kosoko, Sharon Ooja, Bisola Aiyeola, Denola Grey, Monalisa Chinda, Helen Paul and Alex Ekubo.

In the same year, she also directed the musical ‘Man Enough’ which is a monologue in three voices; a man crying to be heard, a man yelling to be saved from a world that thinks he is ‘Superman’ and a man fearing to speak. It is a story of a man proving his worth and when he is man enough.[33]

In 2021, Austen-Peters directed the movie Man of God (2022 film) which tells the story of a man who is caught between religion, expectations and his own belief.[35] The movie was produced for Netflix and became the most viewed movie of the month.[36] [37] It stars the actors Akah Nnani, Osas Ighodaro, Prince Nelson Enwerem, Dorcas Shola Fapson, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, Patrick Doyle, Jude Chukwuka, Eucharia Anunobi, Shawn Faqua, Mawuli Gavor and Olumide Oworu.

In 2022, Austen-Peters directed the movie Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti which tells the story of Funmilayo; from her pioneering days as the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School to her marriage to Israel Ransome-Kuti.[38] The movie the won ‘Best Overall Feature Film’ and the ‘Best Screenplay’ awards.[39] [40] The film features movie stars like Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankole, Ibrahim Suleiman, Jide Kosoko, and Dele Odule..

The movie is also known as the "All time highest grossing biopic in West Africa" [41]

In 2023, Austen-Peters directed the movie, House of GA'A [42] which tells the story of a ruthless Prime Minister desperate for revenge ferociously rises to power, stopping at nothing to become more powerful than the kings he served. In the first week of it's release, the movie made it to top 10 Global Chart for Non-English Films [43]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef
2023Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest DirectorMan of God[44] [45] [46]
Best Costume Designer

Philanthropy

She founded Terra Academy For The Arts (TAFTA) in partnership with MasterCard foundation to train 65,000 young adults over five years. Terra Academy for the arts offers FREE education to its students in sound, stage and set design, animation and scriptwriting.[47]

Austen-Peters has collaborated closely with the Nigerian Ministry of Culture to empower the creative industries through jobs and artistic projects.[48] She was in 2015 recognised with the Award in Appreciation of Contribution to the Development of National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.[49] In 2017, she collaborated with Lagos State Government to celebrate Lagos 50th anniversary.[50] More than 9 sculptures were commissioned and placed around Lagos to bring light to the city’s history, culture and people. Perhaps the most well-known sculpture is Nigerian artist Abolore Sobayo’s sculpture of Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti. The sculpture salutes every Lagosian who has at one time or the other, fought for liberation. The sculpture is a celebration of Lagos and recognises the struggle of its citizens. Some of the other artists included in the project were Ade Odunfa, Hamza Atta, Segun Aiyesan, Umeh Bede, Gerald Chukwuma, Tayo Olayode and Terfa Adingi. She has been involved in the preservation and development of Nigerian languages throughout her career, and interviewed Nigerian author and Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka for the New York Times.[51] Terra Kulture is collaborating with Mastercard Foundation to support 65,000 young creatives with job opportunities.[52] [53]

In 2021, Austen-Peters collaborated with Google Arts & Culture, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and six cultural institutions to celebrate the city of Lagos and its creative communities.[54] The project ‘Èkó for Show: Explore Lagos’ highlighted the young generation of talented individuals and communities spanning music, art, photography, fashion, theatre, literature and food.[55] Terra Kulture contributed with Street View imagery, photographs, videos and immersive stories about Lagos cultural hub. For the project launch, Austen-Peters created a dedicated behind-the-scenes YouTube series with Afrobeats artists Teni, Kizz Daniel and Reekado Banks, explaining their creative journey.

Personal life

She is married to Adegboyega Austen-Peters, a Nigerian executive and board member.[56] They have a son and daughter, and live in Lagos, Nigeria.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Watch the Behind-The-Scenes Video of Bolanle Austen-Peters Interview . The Guardian. 10 March 2018.
  2. Web site: Bolanle Austen-Peters' 'Man of God' movie to be released on Netflix April 16 . 16 April 2022 . Vanguard.
  3. Book: The "Girl" Entrepreneurs. Ibukun Awosika. 2009. Xulon Press. 47–61. 9781607915072. Ibukun Awosika.
  4. Web site: The woman powering Nigeria's theater industry . 14 September 2022 . CNN.
  5. Web site: T‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’ sets new standard for Nollywood biopics . 2 June 2024 . Premium Times.
  6. Web site: With 1.6 million views 'House of Ga'a' retains spot on Netflix's Global Top Chart . 8 August 2024 . Pulse NG.
  7. Web site: Terra Kulture, Mastercard Foundation partner to create opportunities for creatives . The Guardian. 19 June 2022 .
  8. Web site: Demilade Oresanya . Terra Kulture @10: Making Nigerian Arts, Culture and Lifestyle a priority . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180917192518/http://www.cp-africa.com/2014/11/06/terra-kulture-10-making-nigerian-art-culture-lifestyle-priority/ . 17 September 2018 . 23 November 2014 . CP Africa.
  9. Web site: 2019-03-30 . BOLANLE AUSTEN-PETERS: I would have been a dancer . 2021-04-29 . Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics . en-US.
  10. Web site: Custodian. Culture. 2017-04-03. Nigeria's first privately owned theatre, Terra Kulture Arena is here.. 2021-04-29. The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014). en-US.
  11. Web site: Fela and The Kalakuta Queens returns to South Africa . The Nation. 5 September 2021 .
  12. Web site: Meet The Team* Terra Kulture. 2021-04-29. en-US. 2021-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20211006200324/https://terrakulture.com/meet-the-team-2/. dead.
  13. Web site: Saro The Musical in London's West End. August 24 – 29, 2017 . Linda Ikeji. 13 August 2017.
  14. Web site: Archived copy. 22 June 2017. 1 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190701092553/http://wakaathemusical.com/yahoo-news-smash-nigerian-musical-set-to-hit-london-stage/. dead.
  15. News: 93 days: The Ebola story needs to be told – Bolanle Austen-Peters. The Vanguard. 28 August 2015. 10 October 2015.
  16. Web site: 93 Days. Toronto International Film Festival .
  17. Web site: Chicago Film Festival: 93 days . 22 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170627072938/http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/film/93-days/ . 27 June 2017 . dead .
  18. Web site: Pan-African Film Festival: 93 days . 20 December 2016.
  19. Web site: 93 Days: The Movie that Brought Nigeria International Respect. 19 January 2017.
  20. Web site: African Cinema Shines in the 24th Annual New York African Diaspora International Film Festival. November 2016. 2017-06-22. 2021-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20211006160144/https://www.filmcontact.com/news/united-states/african-cinema-shines-24th-annual-new-york-african-diaspora-international-film. dead.
  21. Web site: RapidLion Award Nominees. Bsharp Entertainment.
  22. Web site: 93 Days Top AMVCA Award Nominations List. The Guardian. 16 December 2016.
  23. Web site: '93 Days' And '76' Lead The AMVCA 2017 Nominations – 'A Trip To Jamaica' Shows Up Too . 22 June 2017 . 1 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190701094052/http://www.konbini.com/ng/entertainment/93-days-and-76-lead-the-amvca-2017-nominations-a-trip-to-jamaica-shows-up-too/ . dead .
  24. Web site: Nigeria: '93 Days' Gets Highest Nominations in 2017 Amaa List. Daily Trust. Daily Post . 5 March 2017.
  25. Web site: Nigeria: '93 Days' Gets Highest Nominations in 2017 Amaa List - allAfrica.com. 22 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711061145/http://allafrica.com/stories/201705160082.html. 11 July 2017. dead.
  26. Web site: BBC on Wakaa The Musical Live in London . 14 September 2022 . BBC.
  27. Web site: Page . Thomas . Stage sensation 'Wakaa!' becomes first Nigerian musical to hit London . 14 September 2022 . CNN.
  28. Web site: FELA'S REPUBLIC & THE KALAKUTA QUEENS . 14 September 2022 . BAP Productions.
  29. Web site: Uhakheme . Ozolua . 5 September 2021 . Fela and The Kalakuta Queens returns to South Africa . The National.
  30. Web site: South African Cinemas to screen musical about Fela, Kalakuta Queens . 14 September 2022 . CTV News.
  31. Web site: 2019-06-18 . 'The Bling Lagosians' is a much better film than you think it is . 2021-04-29 . Pulse Nigeria . en.
  32. Web site: STEP INTO THE WORLD OF THE 1% OF THE 1% – THE BLING LAGOSIANS – A BOLANLE AUSTEN FILM . 14 September 2022 . The Guardian.
  33. Web site: Aigbokhaevbolo . Oris . 24 November 2019 . BAP Productions considers what it is to be Man Enough . 15 September 2022 . Catchoris.
  34. Web site: Austen-Peters' Collision Course to close film festival . 30 October 2021 . Punch.
  35. Web site: Man of God (2022) IMDB . IMDB. 7 May 2022 .
  36. Web site: 23 April 2022 . Bolanle Austen-Peters speaks on ' Man of God' . 14 September 2022 . vanguard.
  37. Web site: 12 April 2022 . Magical night as Bolanle Austen-Peters' debut Netflix film, 'Man Of God' premieres . 14 September 2022 . vanguard.
  38. Web site: FULL LIST: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti biopic wins big at 2023 AFRIFF Awards . The Cable Lifestyle. 17 November 2023 .
  39. Web site: FULL LIST: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti biopic wins big at 2023 AFRIFF Awards . The Cable Lifestyle. 17 November 2023 .
  40. Web site: AFRIFF Awards: Bolanle Austen-Peters celebrates as she wins Best Feature Film award . Gist Reel. 12 November 2023 .
  41. Web site: T‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’ sets new standard for Nollywood biopics . 2 June 2024 . Premium Times.
  42. Web site: Movie Review: Bolanle Austen-Peter’s ‘House of Ga’a’ models history brilliantly . 3 August 2024 . Vanguard.
  43. Web site: With 1.6 million views 'House of Ga'a' retains spot on Netflix's Global Top Chart . 8 August 2024 . Pulse NG.
  44. Web site: Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees . 2023-04-23 . AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees . en .
  45. Web site: FULL LIST: Who won what at AMVCA 2023 . Daily Trust . 2023-05-21 . 2023-06-10.
  46. Web site: Adedayo . Adedamola . AMVCA 2023: How It Happened . The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.) . 2023-05-22 . 2023-06-10.
  47. Web site: Terra Kulture, Mastercard Foundation partner to create opportunities for creatives . The Guardian. 19 June 2022 .
  48. Web site: Stage sensation "Wakaa!" becomes first Nigerian musical to hit London . CNN. 16 March 2016 .
  49. Web site: Sowole . Tajudeen . 1 June 2013 . On museum day, Memory + Creativity, patrons celebrated . 14 September 2022 . African Art with Taj.
  50. Web site: Roadside Art: 9 Spectacular Sculptures in Lagos . 14 September 2022 . Google Arts & Culture.
  51. Web site: Maclean . Ruth . 25 September 2021 . Wole Soyinka Is Not Going Anywhere . 14 September 2022 . The New York Times.
  52. Web site: 'Terra Kulture, Mastercard Foundation Partner to Empower 65,000 Young Nigerians . 29 June 2022 . This Day Live Newspaper.
  53. Web site: 'Terra Kulture, Mastercard Foundation partner to create opportunities for creatives . 19 June 2022 . The Guardian.
  54. Web site: Coker . Folorunsho . 28 April 2021 . 5 ways to explore Lagos creative communities on Google Arts & Culture . 14 September 2022 . Google Africa.
  55. Web site: Èkó for Show: Explore Lagos . 14 September 2022 . Google Arts & Culture.
  56. News: Bolanle Austen-Peters steps out with hubby. The Punch. 23 November 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129075358/http://www.punchng.com/spice/society/bolanle-austen-peters-steps-out-with-hubby/. 29 November 2014.