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.
