Bolanle Austen-Peters Biography Introduction

Bolanle Austen-Peters is a visionary Nigerian lawyer, film and theatre director, producer, and cultural entrepreneur celebrated for her transformative contributions to Nollywood and Nigerian theatre. Heralded as the “Queen of Nigerian Theatre” by CNN, she is the founder of Terra Kulture and Bolanle Austen Peters Productions (BAP Productions). These platforms have elevated Nigerian arts and culture globally through critically acclaimed films and musicals, including the record-breaking biopic Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and House of Ga’a.

Basic Information

Early Life and Education

Bolanle Austen-Peters was born on February 4, 1969, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Raised in a distinguished Yoruba family, she is the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), the founder of Afe Babalola University. Her late mother, Retired Judge Major Bisi Babalola, was a former Nigerian military officer. Growing up in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, alongside her four siblings—two brothers and two sisters—she was immersed in a disciplined and intellectually stimulating environment that fostered her ambition.

Bolanle attended Command Secondary School and International School in Ibadan before earning her LL.B. in Law from the University of Lagos. She furthered her education with a Master’s degree in International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Career

Early Career

Bolanle Austen-Peters began her career as a lawyer at her father’s firm, Afe Babalola and Co. Barristers and Solicitors, in 1991. In the 1990s, she worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland, and later with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in various locations, including New York, Ethiopia, and Namibia.

As a consultant to the Ford Foundation in Lagos, she raised millions for museum development through the Arts and Business Council.

Founding Terra Kulture

In 2003, after returning to Nigeria in 2001, Bolanle founded Terra Kulture, a cultural hub in Lagos that promotes Nigerian languages, arts, and culture through a restaurant, art gallery, bookstore, language school, and theatre. Terra Kulture’s Arena, which opened in 2017, is Nigeria’s first privately owned ultra-modern theatre, hosting over 300 art exhibitions, 200 theatre performances, and 100 book readings, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually.

Rise in Film Production

In 2013, Bolanle established Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (BAP Productions), which has produced over 135 plays and nine films, reshaping the narrative of African storytelling. Her theatre productions include Saro the Musical (2013), the first Nigerian musical staged in London’s West End in 2016, Wakaa the Musical (2016), and Fela and the Kalakuta Queens (2017–2020), which drew over 120,000 viewers across Lagos, Cairo, and Pretoria.

Her films, known for addressing social issues, include 93 Days (2016), a critically acclaimed depiction of Nigeria’s Ebola outbreak, The Bling Lagosians (2019), Collision Course (2021), Man of God (2022), Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024), the highest-grossing biopic in West Africa, and House of Ga’a (2024), which ranked No. 7 globally on Netflix’s Top 10 Non-English Films chart in its first week.

Educational Initiatives

In 2021, Bolanle Austen Peters partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to establish the Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA), a training program for young creatives. She also owns a film village in Lagos, joining industry peers like Kunle Afolayan.

Filmography

Bolanle Austen-Peters has an impressive portfolio that includes numerous films and theatre productions. Notable works include:

Films

• 93 Days (2016, Producer)
• The Bling Lagosians (2019, Director/Producer)
• Collision Course (2021, Director/Producer)
• Man of God (2022, Director/Producer)
• Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024, Director/Producer)
• House of Ga’a (2024, Director/Producer)

Theatre Productions (Selected)

• Saro the Musical (2013)
• Wakaa the Musical (2016)
• Fela and the Kalakuta Queens (2017–2020)
• Moremi the Musical (2018)
• Man Enough (2019)
• Death and The King’s Horseman
• The Oluronbi Musical
• The Trials of Brother Jero

Awards and Nominations

Bolanle Austen-Peters has received several accolades for her contributions to the film and theatre industry, including:

• Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA): Best Movie (West Africa) for Collision Course (2022); Best Lighting Designer for 93 Days (2017); 13 nominations for 93 Days (2017)
• African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA): Seven nominations for 93 Days (2017), the highest-nominated film
• Rapid Lion Award: Nominated for 93 Days (2017)
• Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF): Four nominations for Collision Course (2021), including Best Film and Best Performance
• Forbes Afrique: Named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Africa (three consecutive years)
• National Museum, Onikan, Lagos: Award for Contribution to Development (2015)
• Other Recognitions: Multiple awards for contributions to arts, culture, and women’s empowerment

Social Media

Bolanle Austen-Peters actively engages with her audience through various social media platforms. You can follow her on:

• Instagram: @bolanleap
• Facebook: Bolanle Austen-Peters
• Twitter: @bolanleap

Personal Life

Bolanle Austen Peters is married to Adegboyega Austen-Peters, a lawyer, and the couple has two children: a son, Tife, and a daughter, Tamilayo. A devout Christian, her faith informs her commitment to storytelling, which reflects Nigerian values and social issues.

Her passion for the arts stems from a childhood love for dance and theatre, which she pursued despite initial parental expectations to focus on law. Known for her mentorship, Bolanle has trained numerous young creatives through Terra Kulture and TAFTA, emphasizing job creation and cultural preservation.

Residing in Lagos, she balances her roles as a mother, entrepreneur, and creative visionary, drawing inspiration from her Igbo heritage and her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Her commitment to authentic Nigerian narratives, as evident in her portrayal of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Fela’s wives, reflects her dedication to historical accuracy and the empowerment of women’s stories.

Net Worth

Bolanle Austen-Peters has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million, derived from her successful career in film and theatre production. Her wealth comes from her extensive work as a producer, director, and writer, with significant earnings from box office hits such as Hire a Man and Hire a Woman. Additional income streams include her cultural initiatives and production company.

Conclusion

Bolanle Austen-Peters’ journey from a lawyer to a leading figure in Nigerian arts exemplifies her dedication, talent, and entrepreneurial spirit. As she continues to inspire aspiring filmmakers and artists, her contributions to Nollywood and the preservation of Nigerian culture remain invaluable.