ABOUT
Our Mission
Illuminatetheatre is a movement reshaping Nigeria’s cultural landscape by bringing dance and theatre into public spaces—parks, markets, bus stops—to make the arts free, dynamic, and inclusive. Through workshops, performances, and community engagement, we empower youth, celebrate African heritage, and foster confidence‑building, socially conscious leaders.
Our Vision
We envision a vibrant Nigeria where performance art thrives in everyday life—where street corners, parks, and markets become stages for cultural expression. By harnessing the power of dance and theatre, we seek to inspire personal growth, strengthen community ties, and redefine how Africans experience and share their artistic narratives.
OUR CORE VALUES
Empowering
Youth Through Art
We give young people the tools and platforms to create, tell their stories, and lead their communities.
Igniting
Creativity & Innovation
We experiment with hybrid forms, improvisation, and new expressions, blending tradition with modern tech.
Honoring
Culture & Heritage
Our work is deeply rooted in ancestral performance, knowledge, and movement, reimagined for today.
Advancing
Social Justice
We use performance to challenge injustice, spark dialogue, and drive change for a better world.
Building
Global Solidarity
We forge transnational connections across Africa and its diaspora, strengthening a worldwide network of resistance and imagination.
WHAT WE OFFER
Experimental Art & Research Projects
We support bold, interdisciplinary work in theatre, dance, multimedia, and visual arts that pushes boundaries and sparks dialogue on social and cultural issues.
Socially Engaged Art Interventions
Our site-specific art projects tackle issues like inequality, unemployment, and climate justice, using creativity as a catalyst for awareness and action.
Youth Training & Empowerment
Through workshops and mentorship, young people develop artistic voice, critical thinking, and leadership skills to become creators and facilitators of change.
Decolonial Education & Knowledge Systems
We build alternative learning spaces rooted in indigenous knowledge, cultural identity, and critical inquiry that challenge colonial education models.
Community Arts & Organizing
We train youth as cultural organizers to lead public art projects that address local challenges, foster community, and inspire collective action.
Collaboration, Residency & Consultancy
We foster global exchange, host interdisciplinary residencies, and advise partners on inclusive, decolonial programming and participatory art practices.
Decolonial Education Formats
Artistic Mentorship
Workshops
Community Art Projects
Theatre Performances
Dance Performances
Youth-Led Productions
Body Memory Work
Public Space Projects
International Exchanges
Site-Specific Interventions
Artistic Labs
Interdisciplinary Residencies
Text-Based Performance
Voice Work
Cultural Festivals
Curated Events
Creative Consultancy
Sound Archive Exploration
Storytelling Sessions
Street Performances
Participatory Curation
Movement-Based Practice
Cross-Cultural Collaborations
Non-Gated Performances
OUR STORY
Born from a shared dream in Lagos, Nigeria, our journey began with a simple yet profound desire: to wield art as a tool for change. Facing a Nigerian cultural scene where public performances were rare and costly, and access to spaces limited by privatization, we were determined to use dance to speak to the nation's realities. For us, dance transcended performance; it was a powerful means of communication, education, and empowerment, bridging local communities with the global village. We relentlessly brought dance projects directly to people, transforming streets, parks, and open areas into vibrant stages for creativity and connection. What started as a journey of a few young individuals, fresh from their dance and theatre studies, was fueled by an unwavering belief in art's transformative power.
​
Over the years, Illuminatetheatre has blossomed into something far bigger. What began as a small group of idealistic artists seeking their path has become a vibrant, international collective that continually inspires, challenges, and engages audiences in ways we never thought possible. We're incredibly proud to have trained and collaborated with countless artists, many of whom have gone on to pursue their own creative paths, now creating art, sharing stories, and driving change within their communities. Our humble project has evolved into a thriving ecosystem of artists, each contributing their unique voice to the larger narrative we're building together. We see the profound impact our work has had on the Nigerian cultural scene. Our initial act of passion, an attempt to bring art to the people, has evolved into a movement of young artists who are not merely creating art but using it as a powerful means of empowerment, education, and transformation. Illuminatetheatre is no longer just an idea; it's a force of change, a collective dedicated to pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and building a future where art is accessible to all.
Our journey is far from over. We're still evolving, learning, and growing, yet one thing remains constant: our unwavering commitment to making a difference, to using art as a means of connection, communication, and social change. As long as we continue to come together, to share our stories and our vision, the best is truly yet to come.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Cultivating Community Within Our Projects
For those directly involved in our projects, community development is deeply embedded in our approach. Since our founding, we have engaged over 10,000 young Africans through participatory artistic projects across Nigeria and internationally. These initiatives are not simply about performance; they are about building cultural infrastructure from the ground up, creating platforms where young people can lead, reflect, and reimagine their futures. We don’t just bring art into communities; we co-create with them, believing that change happens through collaboration, presence, and shared ownership.
Our mission centers on community development and co-creation. We use performance to activate public spaces, amplify young voices, and build relationships rooted in cultural memory, dialogue, and creative resistance. These projects offer platforms for artistic expression, critical reflection, and personal agency. From street corners and parks in Nigeria to international festivals abroad, we embed ourselves in local contexts, fostering sustainable collaborations that center participation, inclusion, and shared ownership.
Young people are at the heart of our work. Through workshops, residencies, and mentorship, we provide tools for self-expression, critical thinking, and leadership. Many participants have gone on to become independent artists and cultural workers, continuing to influence their communities through their creative practices. Our impact lies not only in skill-building but in fostering confidence and the capacity to imagine alternative futures.
Engaging Communities Beyond the Stage
For those who are not directly involved but are watching, our approach to community engagement meets people where they are—whether in marketplaces, parks, or town squares—transforming everyday spaces into sites of creative encounter. Our work blurs the lines between performer and audience, turning spectators into participants and public spaces into platforms for exchange.
This approach extends globally. Through performances and partnerships abroad, we share performances that reflect on cross-cultural dialogue. These encounters broaden our practice, enabling us to connect creativity to global movements for justice, heritage, and renewal. We believe that art should be everywhere and for everyone. By activating public spaces—markets, bus stops, street corners, parks—we transform everyday life into a stage for creative exchange. These shared artistic experiences foster collective memory, connection, and belonging. We reject exclusivity and affirm that art is a right, not a luxury.
We are dedicated to democratizing access to the arts. High ticket prices and institutional barriers often exclude marginalized communities from cultural participation. By activating public spaces as performance venues and offering free programming, we ensure that the beauty and power of the arts reach audiences who are often left out, bridging class, geography, and social divides.
Social Responsibility and Inclusiveness in Practice
Our commitment to social responsibility and inclusiveness is fundamental. Our work reflects the full spectrum of human experience. We cultivate spaces that are welcoming to all, regardless of race, gender, class, ability, or background. We challenge barriers—financial, spatial, social—that limit access to the arts. Our commitment to equity is not abstract; it is built into every action we take.
We operate with transparency, ethical integrity, and a deep sense of care for our members and volunteers. We are responsible to the communities we serve, the collaborators we work with, and the land we stand on. Our work is guided by respect, accountability, and a shared desire to build a just and imaginative future. We envision the arts as a space for all people, reflecting the full spectrum of human experience. Our programming centers inclusion, equity, and the dismantling of oppressive systems. We embrace diverse identities and voices, using performance to highlight urgent issues from gender justice to environmental sustainability and inspire new possibilities for social transformation.
Our Impact
The impact of our work extends far beyond individual performances. We use art to confront issues such as political corruption, gender inequality, youth marginalization, and cultural erasure. Our performances provoke dialogue, challenge power structures, and invite collective reflection. Equally important is the work of cultural recovery. We reconnect local knowledge, indigenous practices, and cosmologies.
Our approach emphasizes sustained mentorship, community-rooted collaborations, and long-term artistic development. By nurturing emerging creators and cultural leaders, we support the revitalization of social and cultural ecosystems locally and globally. Our mission includes creating platforms for youth to express themselves and engage directly with the pressing issues affecting their lives and communities. Through performance, we promote civic engagement and social responsibility, helping young people develop as confident, compassionate leaders who can inspire change at both local and global levels.
We are aiming at a generative network of artists, connected to global solidarities. One project at a time, we are reimagining the role of art in shaping a just and liberated future.
-12.jpg)
