PRESS RELEASE
TheatreMania Africa to Host Global Webinar for World Theatre Day 2026: “Building Bridges, Not Borders”
In a world increasingly defined by fragmentation, TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF) is set to champion the unifying power of the stage. To commemorate World Theatre Day 2026, TAF has announced a high-level global webinar scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM (GMT+1) via Zoom.
This year’s celebration centers on a poignant and timely theme: “Theatre and the Culture of Peace: Building Bridges, Not Borders.” The session aims to explore how the performing arts serve as a diplomatic tool, capable of dismantling physical and ideological barriers to foster a global community rooted in empathy.
The 2026 webinar isn’t just a celebration; it is a call to action. As conflict and division dominate global headlines with warmonger voices echoing, TAF believes that the “wooden boards” of the stage are the strongest foundations for peace. The vision is to see Art as a Catalyst for Peace.
Alayande Stephen T., CEO and Co-Founder of TheatreMania Africa Festival, emphasizes that theatre practitioners hold a unique responsibility in the modern era. Reflecting on the essence of the event, he stated:
“Theatre is the ultimate mirror of our shared humanity. In an age where walls, both mental and physical are being erected, the stage remains the only space where we can truly walk in another person’s shoes. Our goal for this webinar is to remind the world that through storytelling, we don’t just entertain; we heal, we reconcile, and we build bridges that no border can withstand” he proudly declared.
To dissect this year’s theme, TAF has assembled a Global Pantheon of Voices, a powerhouse panel of creative icons, activists, and intellectuals from across the globe:
Serge Aime Coulibaly is the Creative Director, Ankata Dance Company, Burkina Faso. From the United Kingdom is Titilola Aboyade-Cole, Creative Entrepreneur & Actor; CEO, Podium Empire International. Also, joining the list of the Panelists are Dr. Sam Uche Anyamele fta., a Veteran Nollywood Actor & Thespian and AJ Dagga Tolar, an Award-Winning Author, Musician, Poet & Activist both from Nigeria.
Joining from Oakland, United States is the popular Afro-Soul song sensation, actor, culture activist and MD, NKAN Media, Kemisola Otekaiye-Colloraffi.
To show the importance of this global conversation, Alayande Stephen T. | CEO/Co-Founder, TAF, an emerging voice in the Creative Space in Africa will be be moderating the panel from Lagos, Nigeria.
These experts will engage in a cross-continental dialogue on how dance, drama, and poetry can be weaponized for social change and used as a “soft power” to mediate international tensions.
For TheatreMania Africa, World Theatre Day is also a moment to spotlight the African continent’s contribution to the global creative economy. By bringing together voices from the US, UK, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, the webinar highlights the “borderless” nature of African talent. This is a practical step by TAF in redefining the African Narrative.
Speaking on the strategic importance of the webinar’s timing and focus, Alayande Stephen T. further remarked: “We are moving past the era where theatre is viewed merely as leisure. We are treating the stage as a sanctuary for dialogue. By connecting the diaspora with the continent in this session, we are proving that the African creative spirit is a singular, unbreakable force for peace. This webinar is our contribution to a world that desperately needs a script for harmony rather than a manual for war” he alluded.
Theatre enthusiasts, students, practitioners, arts lovers, and the general public are all invited to join this transformative conversation.
Registration is important to receive the Zoom access link.
* Registration Link: www.theatremaniaafrica.com/wtd
* Date: Friday, March 27, 2026
* Time: 2:00 PM (GMT+1 / Local Time)
About TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF)
TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF) is a premier organization/platform dedicated to the promotion, development, excellence, sustainability of the performing arts in Africa and celebration of African theatre and cultural heritage. Through festivals, workshops, stage performances, Awards activation, Generation Next Theatre and digital engagement, TAF provides a platform for African creatives to showcase their talent to a global audience while driving social change through the arts and continues to bridge the gap between African talent and the global stage.
Media Contact:
Ms. Wealth Alabi
Communications Directorate
TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF)
+234-0903 786 9205
Email: info@theatremaniaafrica.com
Website: www.theatremaniaafrica.com
