‘The Trials of Brother Jero - The Opera’ returns to Lagos stage
The Vesta Orchestra is bringing its operatic adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s 'The Trials of Brother Jero' back to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos. The production aims to blend traditional African storytelling with operatic music to reach new audiences.
Why it matters
This production highlights the growing global interest in African narratives and the effort to make classical art forms more accessible through familiar cultural stories.
0 Fresh from packed-out runs, Vesta Orchestra’s critically acclaimed operatic adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s satirical classic ‘The Trials of Brother Jero – The Opera,’ heads back to the newly minted Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The event begins with a pre-show school concert at 4pm, featuring four school orchestras. This will be followed by the main opera at 5pm.
The opera is an adaptation of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka’s celebrated satirical play, ‘The Trials of Brother Jero’ (1963). The production reimagines the story of Brother Jeroboam, a charismatic self-proclaimed prophet whose schemes and manipulations drive the heart of Soyinka’s enduring satire.
Set against the vibrant atmosphere of Lagos and Bar Beach, the production, according to Executive Producer Rosalyn Aninyei, “combines the humour and social commentary of the original play with live orchestral music, powerful vocals and African musical influences.”
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