Biography of Femi Euba
Femi Euba (born April 1939) is a Nigerian actor, writer, and dramatist, renowned for his contributions to drama, theory, and fiction. As a versatile theatre practitioner, his career spans acting, playwriting, and directing, with a particular focus on themes rooted in Yoruba culture.
Early Life and Education
Femi Euba was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Alphaeus Sobiyi Euba and Winifred Remilekun Euba (née Dawodu). He began his formal training in theatre in England, studying acting at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, where he earned a diploma in 1965.
Euba’s early acting career included performances on the London stage, notably in:
Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel (as Lakunle, the Schoolteacher) at the Royal Court Theatre in 1966.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth, directed by William Gaskill, with Sir Alec Guinness as Macbeth and Simone Signoret as Lady Macbeth.
In 1970, Euba pursued further studies at the Yale School of Drama, earning an MFA in Playwriting and Dramatic Literature in 1973. He later returned to Yale (1980–1982) to obtain an MA in Afro-American Studies. Subsequently, he completed his PhD in Literature-in-English at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1986.
Career
Euba has held academic and creative roles at institutions in Nigeria and the United States. Currently, he is the Louise and Kenneth Kinney Professor at Louisiana State University, where he specializes in playwriting, dramatic literature, and the drama of Africa and the African diaspora. He is also a consultant in Black Theatre.
Directorial Work
Euba’s repertoire as a director is diverse, featuring works from African, African-American, and Western dramatic traditions. Notable productions include:
Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka (2008).
The Trials of Brother Jero by Wole Soyinka (1988).
Monsieur Toussaint by Edouard Glissant (1990).
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson (1994).
The Tempest by William Shakespeare (2005).
Sizwe Bansi is Dead by Athol Fugard (1992–1993).
The African Company Presents Richard III (1998).
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen (1999).
The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney (2012).
Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris (2013).
Contributions and Legacy
Euba’s scholarly work complements his practical contributions to theatre. He has taught at various universities, including the College of William & Mary in Virginia, focusing on the dramatic traditions of Africa and its diaspora.
Euba’s archives are preserved at the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas. His collection includes scripts, recordings, lecture notes, correspondence, photographs, and other materials, reflecting his lifelong commitment to theatre and education.