Meet the producer of the highly anticipated movies “House of Ga’a” and “Funmilayo Ransom Kuti.”
She is one of the most influential women in Nigeria and Africa.
Her film, “Funmilayo Ransome Kuti,” is recognized as the all-time highest-grossing biopic in West Africa.
Bolanle Austen-Peters was born in 1969 in Ibadan, the Oyo State in the south-western region of Nigeria
She is the daughter of Emmanuel Afe Babalola, a Senior Adv0cate of Nigeria and Rtd Major, Mrs Bisi Babalola
Bolanle is the brain behind most of your favorites movie
She has been described by the CNN as the “woman pi0neering theater in Nigeria”, and named one of the most influential women in Africa by Forbes.
While most children nurtured lofty career ambitions, envisioning castles on the moon or inventing the pill of immortality, Bolanle Austen-Peters held her dreams close to the world of dance and theatre.
However, she found herself in a different era, a time when parents often steered their children toward more “professional” pursuits.
Consequently, Bolanle didn’t have the opportunity to pursue her passion for theatre arts in her academic journey.
Fast forward four decades, and Bolanle Austen-Peters has proudly earned the title, “Queen of Nigerian Theatre,” despite her initial detour into a “professional course.”
Let’s delve into the remarkable journey that led her to this well-deserved acclaim.
In an interview, Mrs. Austen-Peters shared her early affinity for the arts over the sciences. She recounts,
“I have always wanted to dance, and I loved theatre. In those days, however, you had to study a professional course, so I decided to study law. I continued to love the arts even while studying law.”
This choice may have been influenced by her father’s footsteps or a way to remain connected to her artistic passions.
Bolanle pursued a BA in Law at the University of Lagos and later secured an MA from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Afterward, her journey led her into the realm of professional practice. She practiced law in the 1990s at her father’s firm, Afe Babalola and Co Barristers and Solicitors, and also contributed her legal expertise to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Switzerland.
However, her enduring love for the arts ultimately called her back to Nigeria.