Abdullahi, Obi, clinch SONTA awards

Denja Abdullahi and Nwagbo Patrick Obi have been given awards for playwriting of published and non-published works by the society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA). This took place at the opening ceremony of the 28th edition of SONTA’s conference with the theme; ‘Repositioning Nollywood for the Promotion of Nigeria’s Cultural Diplomacy and National Security,’ at […]

Denja Abdullahi and Nwagbo Patrick Obi have been given awards for playwriting of published and non-published works by the society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA).
This took place at the opening ceremony of the 28th edition of SONTA’s conference with the theme; ‘Repositioning Nollywood for the Promotion of Nigeria’s Cultural Diplomacy and National Security,’ at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre Abuja.
Abdullahi, who is the vice president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), won the category of the published plays and Obi won in the unpublished plays category, with ‘Death and the King’s Grey Hair’ and ‘When Women Go Naked,’ respectively.    
The published play clinched SONTA-Chris Iyimoga Master Playwright Prize because it was endowed by Dr. Chris Iyimoga to stimulate continuous creative output by established playwrights. The prize is worth N300 000. 
The unpublished play has SONTA-Olu Obafemi Playwriting Prize endowed by Prof Olu Obafemi to encourage the art of playwriting among young writers for the theatre. It is worth N100, 000.
Theatre professors, Nollywood actors, top government functionaries, captains of industry, stakeholders in the theatre profession, culture sector and Nigerian film industry graced the occasion.