• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Women in Business: Bolanle Austen-Peters

Terra Kulture partners Netflix to support creative industry programmes

Bolanle attended the University of Lagos for her undergraduate studies and earned a master’s degree in International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

She worked with her father’s law firm before working with the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in Switzerland and later moved to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the United Nations Development Program. She founded the Nigerian arts, education and cultural organisation, Terra Kulture in 2003.

With the creation of Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions, in 2013, she raised the bar in the theatre industry with the production of SARO the musical, which received a number of accolades and reviews from international media houses including the BBC and Sky news and has since produced five additional commissioned plays.

In December 2014 and April 2015, BAP productions produced ‘SARO THE MUSICAL’ 2 at the MUSON Centre with even better music, drama and dance. Due to sold out shows and increasing demand locally and internationally, Bolanle Austen-peters further stimulated interest in Nigerian theatrical production with the premiere of Broadway style musical production titled ‘Wakaa The Musical’ from December 30th 2015 to January 3rd 2016 at the MUSON Center, Onikan, Lagos.

BAP Production was ready to move its production to its international audience with WAKAA The Musical becoming the first Nigerian Musical to be staged in London’s West End. WAKAA The Musical recorded a historic sold out show at the Shaw theatre London from July 21 – 25, 2016.

Bolanle worked as a consultant to the Ford Foundation Lagos and helped raise millions of dollars for the Museum through Arts and Business Council.

In 2015, her company co-produced 93 Days, a feature film on the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria which premiered September 13, 2016 in Lagos Nigeria. It was selected for premiering and viewing at The Toronto International Film Festival, The Chicago Film Festival, The Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, The Johannesburg Film Festival, The Africa Film Festival in Cologne/germany, and Rapidlion Award.

With all these achievements, Bolanle Austen-peters sought out to create a safe haven, a space where artistes can discover, create and showcase their works. It was in 2016 that she conceived the plan to build the first ever purpose built private theatre in Nigeria, Terra Kulture Arena. Terra Kulture Arena had its grand opening in March on 25th and 26th of 2017, hosting a total of 1,200 guests in its 400-seats space. Bolanle is married to Adegboyega Austen-peters with children.