Freedom Songs Blends Theatre with Civic Engagement in Lagos

More than 100 theatre enthusiasts and civic-minded Nigerians gathered at Fired and Iced, Lekki, recently for ‘Freedom Songs,’ a cabaret by Created by Tomilola Productions that fused musical theatre with civic engagement and public dialogue.

Held on Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, the production explored themes of voice, hope and civic responsibility through songs from the musical theatre canon, highlighting the gap between freedom proclaimed and freedom experienced.

The production followed the success of ‘The Wait,’ which was staged at the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF) 2025.

‘Freedom Songs’ starred Tomilola Adeniran (The Wait, Love is Like a Butterfly), alongside Abiola Lepe (Dear Kaffy, High Octave, Trials of Brother Jero), Bukeh Ikang (The Wait), and newcomers Chukwuemika Dan-Chigwalu, Tamilore Oduola and Adaure Ibekwe, who made their stage debuts.

In partnership with Fired and Iced Outdoor Lounge, the event also featured collaborations with Flutterwave’s Send App, which sponsored tickets for attendees, as well as WiiCreate and Ara Concepts, which supported the event through merchandise and experience design.

Attendees also had access to a voter engagement desk organised by Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), where they received assistance with voter pre-registration, polling unit transfers, voter status verification and other electoral inquiries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the production, Founder and Creative Director of Created by Tomilola Productions, Tomilola Adeniran, described theatre as a powerful tool for inspiring civic consciousness.

“‘Freedom Songs’ came from a simple belief that theatre is one of the clearest ways of holding up a mirror to society. It can hold reflection, urgency and responsibility all at once. With this piece, we wanted to use performance to bring people closer to the idea of participation—not just as audience members, but as citizens,” she said. “Ultimately, it’s a reminder that there is still a fight left in us, and that how we choose to show up, speak, and engage with one another still matters.”

The event concluded with a post-show discussion featuring the Head of Voter Education at INEC Lagos, Ayopo Lawal, and Enough is Enough Nigeria’s Senior Media Associate and RSVP campaign lead, Akindeji Aromaye. The speakers engaged the audience on voter participation, democratic awareness and the importance of civic engagement.