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Bolanle Austen-Peters, a pioneering Nigerian director, producer, and cultural entrepreneur, is widely recognized for her transformative contributions to the arts.
Born on February 4, 1969, in Ibadan, she holds degrees from the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics. She founded Terra Kulture in 2003, Nigeria's premier arts and culture center, promoting Nigerian heritage through various cultural offerings, including theater, an art gallery, and a language school.
Through her company, BAP Productions, Austen-Peters has directed renowned musicals like Wakaa and Fela and The Kalakuta Queens, both of which achieved international acclaim. Her film, 93 Days, on Nigeria’s Ebola crisis, and other works like The Bling Lagosians and Collision Course, have expanded Nigerian storytelling globally.
Additionally, Austen-Peters' recent biopic on Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti became West Africa’s highest-grossing biographical film. Her philanthropic Terra Academy for the Arts, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, has trained over 24,000 students, underscoring her dedication to empowering Nigeria’s creative youth.
In a recent interview with Pulse, she said many things about her career as an Award-Winning Director.
Interviewer (Dami):Additionally, Austen-Peters' recent biopic on Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti became West Africa’s highest-grossing biographical film. Her philanthropic Terra Academy for the Arts, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, has trained over 24,000 students, underscoring her dedication to empowering Nigeria’s creative youth.
In a recent interview with Pulse, she said many things about her career as an Award-Winning Director.
If you want growth in life, you must be open to people criticizing and critiquing your work. If you’re not open to that, then… well, let’s just say growth will be hard to come by. Welcome to the show today! I’m here in this great theater setting, a place of so much creativity, and I’m thrilled to introduce an exceptionally talented and innovative director from Nigeria—Ban Austin Peters. Ban, how are you? It's fantastic to finally have you on here.
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
Thank you, Dami! It’s a pleasure to be here. Thank you for the warm welcome.
Interviewer:
Absolutely. I like to keep these as conversations rather than structured interviews, so let’s dive right in. First, congratulations on your recent film, Fumilayo Ransom-Kuti (FRTK)!
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
Thank you, Dami. It means a lot.
Interviewer:
I’ve heard so much about the film and about Mrs. Fumilayo Ransom-Kuti’s incredible life story. What inspired you to create a film about her?
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
Well, growing up, you mostly hear about American heroes like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and even Winnie Mandela from South Africa. But where are the Nigerian heroes in these conversations? I wanted to bring our own heroes to the forefront. So many young Nigerians don’t know enough about figures like Fumilayo Ransom-Kuti, who paved the way for social progress here. After working on Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, I became curious about the woman who raised such remarkable children. I knew her story needed to be told.
Interviewer:
That’s powerful. I imagine working with the Ransom-Kuti family made it even more meaningful. Now, about casting—do you typically have specific actors in mind when you write your stories, or do you prefer open auditions?
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
For a lot of my projects, I already have actors in mind. For example, having directed Kemi Lala Akindoju in Moremi the Musical, I knew she’d be perfect for Fumilayo because she not only resembles the character but also brings a depth to her performance that I knew would be essential. However, there are times when open auditions or closed calls are necessary, especially for supporting roles. For Fumilayo, all the lead actors were handpicked to ensure authenticity.
Interviewer:
You mentioned that Kemi’s performance is Oscar-worthy. Speaking of the Oscars, the question of Nollywood’s representation there is always a hot topic. How close do you think Nigerian films are to making that mark?
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
We’re definitely getting closer, but it’s a journey. This particular film didn’t meet the Oscar language criteria, which requires a significant portion in the local language. But aside from technicalities, I think we need to continue developing our stories to make them universally relatable yet distinctively Nigerian. It’s all about striking that balance.
Interviewer:
That’s an interesting point. It brings up another question: how do you feel about the current state of storytelling in Nigeria? Are we where we need to be?
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
We’re getting there, but like every industry, we’re a work in progress. There’s room for growth in various areas—storytelling, cinematography, production design, costuming. I’m encouraged, though, by the number of new training programs and academies springing up to bridge these gaps. It’s also why I started my own academy, supported by the MasterCard Foundation, to teach scriptwriting and other skills.
Interviewer:
Encouraging rather than criticizing is definitely a great approach. But do you believe that constructive criticism has a role to play in Nollywood’s growth?
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
Absolutely! Growth isn’t possible without constructive feedback. Whether it’s parents correcting their children or teachers grading students, feedback shapes us. But, as you mentioned, the key is for it to be constructive. Lashing out without a clear point doesn’t help anyone. I’ve learned over the years to filter feedback, taking what’s useful and leaving the rest. Criticism has been one of my best teachers.
Interviewer:
That’s fantastic advice. Now, I want to put you on the spot. Imagine a hypothetical film about a king on his deathbed who summons his four children—two want him to pass on quickly to inherit his wealth, while the other two want him to live. Who would you cast in each role?
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
Let’s see. For the king, I’d cast Femi Branch. For the two children who want him to pass, I’d choose Broda Shaggi and Bovi. And for the two who want him to live, I’d cast Nancy Isime and Bimbo Ademoye.
Interviewer:
Great choices! And what would you title it?
Bolanle Austen-Peters:
I’d go with Survival—short, but it says a lot.
Interviewer:
I love it! Thank you, Ban. This was such a great conversation. I can’t wait to see what’s next for you and Nigerian cinema.
See the video below:
Source: YouTube
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