Kashimawo, a stage play inspired by the life of late businessman and politician Moshood (MKO) Abiola, will make its international debut at the Shaw Theatre in London on October 4 and 5.
The play comes to London months after its premiere in Lagos on March 31 and April 1, 2024, at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre.
The debut, produced by the Duke of Shomolu Foundation (DOSF) founded by investment banker and theatre producer Joseph Edgar, was directed by Prof. Rasaki Bakare and attracted members of the Abiola family.
Produced under the Elesin Productions platform by filmmaker Tayo Elesin, the London edition is again directed by Prof. Bakare and will star veteran actor Biodun Abbey as Kashimawo alongside an international cast.
Director of DOSF-UK, Chantal Edgar, said: “Kashimawo is the second in a series of historical expositions designed to bring these productions into Europe and the diaspora. The beauty of Kashimawo is its wild pull out from the life of MKO who inspired the play to the confusing mischief of the gods as they seemed to play a different kind of game with the life of this ‘poor orphan.’”
The play, backed by Kola Abiola, son of the late politician, also has the support of sponsors including First Bank, LEMFI, Datamellon, Cruxstone and Unified Payments. Organisers added that all previous ticket holders to DOSF plays can use the same tickets for the London run.
The Duke of Shomolu Foundation has staged more than 33 plays with over 200,000 attendees across Nigerian cities including Lagos, Abeokuta, Uyo and Abuja. Its earlier play Awo also showed at the Shaw Theatre to critical acclaim.
Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, is remembered as a symbol of Nigeria’s democracy struggle. He was honoured posthumously with the GCFR in 2018, while June 12 is now marked as Democracy Day.
