TheatreMania Africa Festival Announces Jury for 2025 Awards

The TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF) has inaugurated the jury for its 2025 awards, with veteran Nigerian actor Norbert Young appointed as the jury chairperson.

The announcement was made during a virtual session on March 16, 2025, where festival stakeholders discussed updates and projections for the upcoming event scheduled for October 14–17, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria.

The awards segment, designed to recognize excellence in African theatre, will highlight creativity in stage production, acting, directing, and design. The five-member jury includes:

• Norbert Young (Nigeria) – Chairperson
• Lydia Gifty Hagan (Ghana) – Secretary
• Kehny Obafemi (Canada) – Publicist
• Mamela J. Aisha J. Rafahlema (South Africa) – Member
• Jacinta MacJob (Nigeria) – Member

Young emphasized the importance of credibility and fairness, stating that the jury will ensure a transparent selection process for winners.

“Every award thrives on credibility and fairness, and we promise to uphold these values,” he said.

Submissions for the 2025 TAF Awards are open from March 17 to August 30, 2025. Eligible productions must be submitted via www.theatremaniaafrica.com/awards, along with a full HD video recording of the performance.

Award categories include Best Play of the Year, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Stage Design, Best Artistic Director, and more. The awards ceremony will take place on October 17, 2025, as part of the festival’s closing events.

This year’s festival, themed “Beyond Borders: Celebrating the Global Reach of African Theatre,” will feature activities such as Thespian Night, Street Theatre, Stakeholders Roundtable, and Theatre + Fashion (The METALIC).