Kwagh-hir Theater

The Kwagh-hir Theater: A Weapon for Social Action represents a significant milestone in the documentation and theorization of non-Western theater. The book describes how the Tiv people of Nigeria used their indigenous theater to fight against British colonialism and oppression by dominant groups in Nigeria. It celebrates the power of the theater to give voice to the voiceless and to become a catalyst for positive change.

“Professor Hagher reveals and analyses these theatrical performances with keen insight and deep knowledge. A wonderful addition to the literature on African masquerade and theater.”, “This book is an occasion for anyone who cares about theater, scholarship, and cultural survival.”, “Hagher’s trenchant defence of the Kwagh-hir’s collective capacity for community well-being and social change makes this study important and highly significant for practitioners of applied theater in the globalized twenty-first century.”, “The authenticity of this book is the result of a combination of lived experience and rigorous research that has spanned over three decades. It is a unique book that will continue to be an asset to scholars and students of culture, and especially for those who want to understand the interface between culture, voice and change.”

Iyorwuese Hagher is a professor of theater and drama and former chair of the Department of Theater and Communications Arts at the University of Jos. A scholar, diplomat, and activist, he was Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico, the high commissioner to Canada, and a former Nigerian senator and minister. He is also a playwright, poet, and the founder and head of the African Leadership Institute in Dayton, Ohio.