Re-centering Cultural Performance and Orange Economy in Post-colonial Africa

This book explores the role of national theatres, cultural centers, cultural policy, festivals, and the film industry as creative and cultural performances hubs for exercising soft power and cultural diplomacy. It offers perspectives on ways existing cultural and non-cultural infrastructures, sometimes referred to as the Orange Economy, can open opportunities for diplomacy and soft power; avenues by which cultural performance and creative practice can be re-centered in post-colonial Africa and in post-global pandemic era; and insights for cultural performers, diplomats, administrators, cultural entrepreneurs, and managers to leverage cultural performance and creative practice on the continent. This volume is positioned within postcolonial discourse to amplify narratives, experiences and realities that are anti-oppressive especially within critical discourse. Taiwo Afolabi, PhD, is a Canada Research Chair in Socially Engaged Theatre; Director, Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre; an Assistant Professor at the University of Regina, Canada; and a Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the founding artistic director of Theatre Emissary International, Nigeria. Olusola OGUNNUBI is a Research Fellow at the University of the Free State and a Visiting Scholar with Carleton University, Ottawa. He received his PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research interests include regional studies, comparative foreign policy, corruption in Africa, African regional power politics and soft power diplomacy. Shadrach Teryila Ukuma, PhD, teaches cultural performances at Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria. His doctoral thesis focused on the utilitarian role of cultural performances in managing collective trauma amongst victims of farmer/herder conflicts in Benue State. He currently directs the fast-growing Kyegh Sha Shwa Cultural Festival in Benue State.