“Bintu-the-Musical” Brings Nigeria’s Northeast Crisis to Play
“Bintu-the-Musical,” a drama which chronicled the humanitarian impact of the decade-long crisis that has plagued Nigeria’s north-eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe was premiered at the MUSON Centre in Lagos, courtesy the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
“We hope the play will spark conversations around the crisis in the North East and lead to greater engagement of all parts of society – the private sector, government agencies and individuals – boosting efforts to achieve zero hunger in Nigeria,” said Paul Howe, WFP Representative and Country Director in Nigeria.
Bintu-the-Musical tells the touching story of Bintu, a 16-year-old school girl whose dreams of going to university are dashed when insurgents attack their town. Bintu and her friends find refuge in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), where they receive humanitarian assistance. While in the camp, Bintu slowly begins to rebuild her life.
Written and directed by Agozie Ugwu, a Nigerian playwright who teaches performing arts at the Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja, the play uses powerful song, dance and poetic performances to depict people’s struggles, their will to survive and the vital humanitarian assistance they receive.
“This work goes beyond a theatre piece. It is a call to action from humanity to help humanity,” said Ugwu, whose Mosaic Theatre Production developed the play with WFP.
Bintu-The-Musical, whose premiere in Lagos will be followed by a showing in Abuja in the first quarter of 2020. The drama is part of ongoing efforts of the WFP to attract international attention to issues affecting internally displaced people in the north-eastern region.
Since 2016, WFP has been providing a lifeline for vulnerable families affected by conflict in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, supporting internally displaced people, returnees, young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women with life-saving food and nutrition support. In 2019, WFP and partners have served an average of 800,000 people with food or cash every month.
