Stephen Ogheneruro Okpadah

PhD Researcher

Email: Stephen.Okpadah@warwick.ac.uk, okpadahstephen@gmail.com

Phone: +447872235983

Supervisors: Dr. Milija Gluhovic and Dr. Bobby Smith

About Me

Stephen Ogheneruro Okpadah joined the department of Theatre and Performance Studies as a PhD student on October 4, 2021, funded by the Chancellor’s International Scholarship. He undertook his BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts from Delta State University, Nigeria and was subsequently awarded the degree of MA (Performing Arts) at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria in 2016. He has published numerous articles in international journals and chapters in books. Okpadah is a co-editor of Committed Theatre in Nigeriaː Perspectives on Teaching and Practice (Lexington Books, 2020); Locating Transnational Spaces: Culture, Theatre and Cinema (IATC and the University College of the North, Canada, 2020); and The Road to Social Inclusion (UNESCO/Janusz Korczak Chair’s Book Series, 2021), He is Guest Editor, Vol.9 (2) of the journal, Language, Discourse and Society (2021). Okpadah won the 2021 Janusz Korczak/UNESCO Prize for Global South in emerging scholar category, and he is also a Director at the Theatre Emissary International, Nigeria.

Research Interests

I am researching participatory theatre and climate justice in the context of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. A report made by the United Nations in 2020 reveals that the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has become the world’s capital of environmental devastation as a result of gas flaring and oil spillages. Its life expectancy rate averages just 40 years, compared to between 53 and 55 years in other regions in Nigeria. Numerous researchers and theatre practitioners have reflected on the potential of participatory theatre to amplify voices and include indigenous peoples in decision-making processes. In Nigeria, development experts and theatre artists have employed Theatre for Development, a form of participatory theatre, to tackle diverse social challenges. In such engagements, citizens are invited to discuss their challenges and suggest ways in which these problems could be surmounted.

My project draws on participatory theatre approaches and aims to create community based theatre, specific to the Niger Delta region, which advocates for climate justice. In doing so, the project asks a key, overarching, question: What level of climate justice could be attained by indigenous oil producing communities in the region with the participatory theatre alternative? Here, participatory theatre as co-creation will become an urgent alternative to previous methodologies applied to the Niger Delta conundrum. My research on participatory theatre for climate justice (PTCJ) is not a rehearsal for change, but a vanguard for inclusion in decision making and a push for liveable communities, carbon-democracy and environmental transformation. Paramount to my research are the participation of the subaltern public and all stakeholders in decision making on climate justice, inclusion of the opinion of all and sundry and advocacy for climate justice.

Stephen’s research is supervised by Dr. Milija Gluhovic (Associate Professor, Theatre and Performance Studies) and Dr. Bobby Smith (Assistant Professor, Theatre and Performance Studies).

Teaching

Stephen has a cumulative full-time teaching experience of one year. He taught at BOWEN University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria.

Selected Publications

Edited Books/Journals

Stephen, Okpadah and Osakue Omoera. (Guest Editor) (2021). Language, Discourse and Society. Vol. 9 (2) (Scopus Indexed). https://www.language-and-society.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/29-12-2021-LDS-vol-9-2-18.pdf.

Sue Matheson, Stephen Okpadah and Prayer Elmo Raj (eds.) (2020). Locating Transnational Spaces: Culture, Theatre and Cinema. Nigeria and Canada: IATC and University College of the North.

Oyewo, Segun, Stephen Okpadah, and Afolabi, Taiwo (eds.) (2020). Functional Arts: Committed Theatre in Theatre Praxis in Nigeria. U.S.A: Lexington Publishers.

Oklobia, John, Stephen Okpadah, and Onwuliri, Edmund. (eds.) (2022). The New Nigerian Theatre: Politics and Dramaturgy of Ahmed Yerima. Abuja: University of Abuja Press (Forthcoming).

Journal Articles (Peer Reviewed)

Okpadah, S and Omoera, S. (eds.) (2021). Language of Sustainable Development: Discourses on the Anthropocene in Literature and Cinema. Language, Discourse and Society. Vol. 9 (2): 7-8 (Scopus Indexed). https://www.language-and-society.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/29-12-2021-LDS-vol-9-2-18.pdf.

Okpadah, S. (2021). Towards a Marxist Biocentric Climate Justice Theory of African Cinema. Pedagogika Spoleczna Nova. Vol. 1 (1): 185-196 https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/psn/article/view/29799.

Okpadah, S. (2021).Social Reality and Cultural Propagation in Funke Akindele’s Jenifa’s Diary. Critical Review Vol. 3 (1): 99-110. To link to this article: https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/pk/index (Indexed).

Okpadah, S. (2020). The Imperative of Television in Nigerian Politics. Media Literacy and Academic Research Vol. 32. (3). 159-168 (Thomson Reuters Indexed).

Okpadah, S. (2020). Queer Pedagogy and Engaging Cinema in LGBTQIA+ Discourse in Africa. Thesis Journal Vol 9 (1): 137-162. To link to this article: https://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=348877. (Indexed).

Okpadah, S. and Afolabi, T. (2019). The video film medium: A panacea for national development. Journal of English literature and cultural studies. Vol. 2 (3): 17-27. https://jelcsjournal.com/article-1-94-en.html (MLA Indexed).

Okpadah, S. (2020). Queering the Nigerian Cinema and Politics of Gay Culture. Legon Journal of The Humanities. Vol. 31 (2): 95-110 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ljh.v31i2.4 (Indexed).

Okpadah, S. (2017). Theatre for Development as a Model for Transformative Change in Nigeria, Teaching Artist Journal, Vol. 15 (1): 3-8 DOI: 10.1080/15411796.2017.1297620 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15411796.2017.1297620 U K: Routledge Francis and Taylor Group. (Scopus Indexed).

Okpadah, S. (2019). Towards a Transnational Indian Cinema. European Journal of Art, Media and Photography. Vol. 7 (1): 78-89. https://ejmap.sk/towards-a-transnational-indian-cinema/ (Thomson Reuters Indexed)

Okpadah, S. (2019). The Postnormal Condition and the Politics of Migration in Biyi Bandele’s Half of a Yellow Sun. VTU Review: Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences “St. Cyril and St. Methodius” University of Veliko Tarnovo Vol 3 (1): 42-50 (Indexed).

Okpadah, S. (2018). A Study of Neo-folkist Aesthetics in Dramaturgy of Sam Ukala. New Texas: Journal of Literature and Culture, Sul Ross State University, Alpine Texas Can be retrieved from http://www.newtexassulross.org/article/a-study-of-neo-folkist-aesthetics-in-dramaturgy-of-sam-ukala/

Okpadah, S. (2018). The Theatre of War and Counterculture in the Dramaturgy of Ahmed Yerima. Sinestesieonline/Il Parlaggio online - Vol. 24 (VII): A Journal of Associazione Culturale Internazionale Edizioni SinestesieJournal of University of Salerno Italywww.rivistasinestesie.it Can be Retrieved from http://sinestesieonline.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ottobre2018-19.pdf. (Indexed)

Okpadah, S. (2018). From Marxist Ukala to Postmodern Adeoye and the Politics of Experimental Theatre in Nigeria. Portals: A Journal in Comparative Literature: San Francisco State University Vol 15 29-42.

Okpadah, S. (2020). Towards a Theatre of the Niger Delta. Lamar Journal of the Humanities . (XLV): 39-52. Retrieved https://www.lamar.edu/arts-sciences/english-and-modern-languages/lamar-journal-of-humanities.html. (Indexed).

Okpadah, S. (2018). The Influence of Facebook and Twitter on the Academic Performance of Students in University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Media Literacy and Academic Research Vol 1. (2): 36-50. Retrieved fromhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/330359591_Media_Literacy_and_Academic_Research (Thomson Reuters Indexed)

Okpadah, S. (2018). From Festival Theatre to Flekstival Theatre: Ekakpamre Flekstival as a Paradigm. Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies, vol.12, (1): 45-57. Retrieved http://www.jpanafrican.org/docs/vol12no1/12.1-5-Okpadah%20(1).pdf.

Okpadah, S. and Afolabi, T. (2018). Politics, Theatre and Echoes of Separatism in Nigeria. Maska Journal of Humanities Jagiellonian University. (40): 103-114 Can be retrieved fromhttp://www.maska.psc.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/numery/numery- regularne/numery-31-40/numer-xl

Okpadah, S.and Agada, E. (2018). A Study of Folkist Aesthetics of Tales by Moonlight of the Nigerian Television Authority. The quint: an interdisciplinary quarterly from University of the North, Manitoba, Canada.September issue (10.4) Can be retrieved from: https://www.ucn.ca/sites/academics/facultyarts/programofferings/arts/humanities/The%20Quint/The%20Quint%20v9.4.pdf

Okpadah, S. (2018). Alim-Yerima and the Islamic Coda in Attahiru. New Texas: Journal of Literature and Culture, Sul Ross State University, Alpine Texas. Can be retrieved from http://www.newtexassulross.org/article/alim-yerima-and-the-islamic-coda-in-attahiru/.

Okpadah, S. (2017). Eco-terrorism and Nigerian Home Videos in Conflict Resolution. LITERARIA: An International Journal of New Literature across the World Vol. 7, No. 1-2, Jan-Dec 45-63. Special Issue on (Ecological Perspectives in Literature and Media).

Okpadah, S. (2017). An Exploration of Mystical Context in Andy Amenechi’s Oduduwa. Journal of Applied Cultural Studies (International scientific journal) Institute of Cultural Studies Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań Szamarzewskiego 89A 60-568 Poznań Vol (3): Can be Retrieved from http://jacs.amu.edu.pl/index.php?page=volume-3

Afolabi, T. and Okpadah, S. (2017). A Study of the Dramaturgy of Fatalism in Lancelot Imasuen’s Invasion 1897.The quint: an interdisciplinary quarterly from University of the North, Minatoba, Canada. December issue (10.1) Can be retrieved from:https://www.ucn.ca/sites/academics/facultyarts/programofferings/arts/humanities/The%20Quint/The%20Quint%20v9.4.pdf

Bade-Afuye, B and Okpadah, S. (2018). A Study of Semiotics of Properties in the Stage Production of Wale Ogunyemi’s Ijaye. Alarinjo: Journal of Theatre and Media Arts.Vol 1 (1): 15-25.

Okpadah, S. (2017). Politics of Historical Reconstruction in Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Invasion 1897. Kaduna Journal of Humanities Vol 1. No. (1): 76-90.

Okpadah, S. (2017). Islam and Kannywood: The Cinema of Allah. Iroro Journal of Arts: Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. Vol 7 (1-2): 356-368.

Okpadah, S. (2016). The Film Medium and the Born to Rule Mentality in Nigerian Politics. Unilorin Postgraduate Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies. Vol 14 (1): 30-39.

Okpadah, S. (2020). Rethinking Gender Equality: Critical Reflections on Feminist Advocacy in Nigeria. Ibadan Journal of Gender Studies. (3&4): 98-112.

Book Chapters

Okpadah, S., Afolabi, T., and Ogah, O. (2022). Modern African Drama in Crisis? Two African Authors in Search of Identity. Staging 21^st Century Tragedies: Theatre, Politics and Global Crisis. Edited by Evra Sidiropoulou. New York: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Staging-21st-Century-Tragedies-Theatre-Politics-and-Global-Crisis/Sidiropoulou/p/book/9780367495312.

Okpadah. S. (2021). Tunde Kelani and the Canonization of the Yoruba Cinema. Tunde Onikoyi and Taiwo Afolabi (eds). The Cinema of Tunde Kelani: Aesthetics, Theatricalities and Performance. New Castle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Ododo, S., Obi, N, Magbagbeola, O., and Okpadah, S. (2021). The Interview with Olu Obafemi @70. In: Oni, Duro and Ododo, Sunday (eds.). Larger than His Frame II: Further Critical Studies and Reflections on Olu Obafemi. (pp. 631-644). Ilorin: Department of English, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

Okpadah, S. (2021). Politics, Oil and Theatre in Africa. Shubhanku Kochar and Anjum Khan (eds.). Environmental Postcolonialism: A Literary Response. (pp. 47-60). New York: Lexington Books.

Okpadah, S. (2020). A Prognosis on Locating Transnational Spaces: Culture, Theatre and Cinema. In: Sue Matheson, Stephen Okpadah and Prayer Elmo Raj (eds.). Locating Transnational Spaces: Culture, Theatre and Cinema. Canada: IATC and UCN.

Okpadah, S. (2020). Conflict and Peace Building in Postcolonial India. In: Chukwuma, Osakwe., Adam, Ahmed., Lawrence, Udeagbala., and Philibus, Nwamagyi (Eds.). Evolving Socio-Economic and Military History: Festschrift in Honour of Professor Ojong Echum Tangban. Kaduna: Nigerian Defence Academy Publishers.

Afolabi, T.and Okpadah, S. (2020). Film and Campaign against Gender-Based Violence in Africa: A Study of Ije: The Journey. In: Sue Matheson, Stephen Okpadah and Prayer Elmo Raj (eds.). Locating Transnational Spaces: Culture, Theatre and Cinema. Canada: IATC and UCN.

 

Adeoye, A. and Okpadah, S. (2020). Third World Cinema and the Committed Art of Sembene Ousmane. In: Sue Matheson, Stephen Okpadah and Prayer Elmo Raj (eds.). Locating Transnational Spaces: Culture, Theatre and Cinema. Canada: IATC and UCN.

Okpadah, S. (2020). A Committed Writer on the Niger Delta Speaks: An Interview with Ben Binebai. In: Segun, Oyewo, Stephen Okpadah and Taiwo, Afolabi (eds.), Functional Arts: Committed Theatre in Theatre Praxis in Nigeria. United States of America: Lexington Books.

Ogu-Raphael, I. and Okpadah, S. (2020). The Revolutionary Ethos in Sam Ukala’s The Last Heroes. In: Segun, Oyewo, Stephen Okpadah and Taiwo, Afolabi (eds.), Functional Arts: Committed Theatre in Theatre Praxis in Nigeria. United States of America: Lexington Books

Afolabi, T. and Okpadah, S. (2019). The Politics of Representation of Pedagogues in Nollywood: A Critical Analysis of Somewhere in Africa: The Cries of Humanity. In: Monica and Diane (eds.) Portrayals of Teachers and Teaching on Stage and Screen: Dramatic Depictions. USA: Intellect Books.

Okpadah, S. (2016). A Study on Cultural Aesthetics in two Programmes of the Nigerian Television Authority. In: Prayer Elmo Raj (ed.). Literature and Society: Challenges and Prospects New Delhi: Authors Press.

Okpadah, S. (2018). Urhobowood Home Videos and the Poetics of cultural documentation. In: Martins Tugbokorowei and Chukwuma Anyanwu (eds.) New aesthetic dimensions in African drama and theatre: A festschrift in honour of Prof Sam Ukala Delta State: Association of Nigerian Authors.

Okpadah, S. (2017). Urhobowood: Towards a popular film culture in Urhobo Land. In: Chris Ugolo, Okey Okwechime and Nicholas Akpore (eds.). Cultural Rejuvenation, Theatre Administration and Efficiency Aesthetics: A Festschrift in Honour of Prof Muyiwa Awodiya. Benin: Headmark Publishers

Okpadah, S. (2016). Farewell to arms…but the struggle continues: An Evaluation of Black November in the Context of the Niger Delta. In: A. Olatunde, U. Butari, and O. Solomon (eds.), Linguistics, Language and Literature: A Festschrift for Gbenga Solomon Ibileye. Zaria: Ahmadu Bello University Press

Okpadah, S. (2016). The Films “Liquid Black Gold” and “Blood and Oil” as Echoes of Conflict in the Niger Delta. In: A. Odebunmi, A. Osisanwo, H. Bodunde and S. Ekpe (eds), Grammar, Applied Linguistics and Society: A festschrift for Wale Osisanwo. Ile- Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press

Okpadah, S. (2016). Aesthetic language of communication in Urhobo culture. In: K. Eni, B. Binebai, S. Ikibe (eds), Music Scholarship, culture and performance challenges in 21^st century Africa: A critical resource book in honour of Emurobome Idolor. Lagos: Bahiti and Balila Publishers.

Okpadah, S. (2020). Theatre, Feminism and the African Shemale. Froilan Mobo and Samira Ontunc (eds.). Book of Proceedings of the 4^th Asia Pacific International Modern Sciences Congress, Held 12th-13th December, 2020 Philippines: College of Subic Montessori-Subic Bay.

Okpadah, S. (2020). Channeling the Theatre for Revolutionary Engagement in 21st Century Africa. Gulzar, Ibrahimova and Elshad, Mirbeshiroglu (eds.). Book of Proceedings of the International Euro-Asian Congress on Scientific Researches and Recent Trends-VII December 6th-9^th, 2020. (1): 297-301. Azerbaijan: Baku Eurasian University.

Okpadah, S. (2021). Cultural Refrigeration through Cinema in the age of Globalization: From Hollywood to Nollywood. Anjum Khan and Shubhanku Kochar (eds.). Refrigerated Culture and Pluralism: A Literary Perspective. (pp. 34-50). USA: Vernon Press. (Forthcoming).

Okpadah, S. (2021). Resounding Voices of the African Woman on the Global Screen. Book of Proceedings of the World Women Conference-11, Held in Baku Girls University, Azerbaijan: February 11-12, 2021. Nuray Ozturk and Hulya Bingol (eds). Azerbaijan: Baku Girls University (2): 452-458. Retrieved http://www.worldwomenconference.org/

Seminars and Conference Papers

Okpadah, Stephen. Accented Cinema, the Subjugation of the African Exiled and Cultural Diplomacy. Panelist-Prospect for Teaching Transnational Screen Media in the Symposium Transnational Screen Media Practices: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage held in the University of Regina, Canada. June 24^th-26^th, 2021.

Okpadah, Stephen. Towards a Futuristic Pandemic Cinema. A Paper presented at the International Asian Congress on Contemporary Sciences-V by Nakhchivan State University, Azerbaijan, June 1-2, 2021.

Okpadah, Stephen. Theorizing the Child War Film Genre for Global Justice in the Postcolonial Space. A Paper presented at the World Children Conference-II by Ozay Gunsel Children University, Held in Nicosia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, May 21-23, 2021.

Okpadah, Stephen. Towards the Decolonization of the Environmental Other. A Paper presented at the International Scientific Seminar Online "Discourses of Otherness" by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Held in Warsaw, Poland April 28^th, 2021.

Okpadah, Stephen. Transnationalism and Neo-Nollywood: The Nigerian Diaspora Cinema. A Paper presented at the Taras Shevchenko 6th International Congress on Social Sciences, Held in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 04-05, 2021.

Okpadah, Stephen. Social Inclusion, Cinema and the African Woman in the Diaspora. A Paper presented at the International Women Studies Congress, Held in International Science and Art Research Centre, Ankara, Turkey, March 08-09, 2021.

Okpadah, Stephen. Resounding Voices of the African Woman on the Global Screen. A Paper presented at the World Women Conference-11, Held in Baku Girls University, Azerbaijan, February 11-12, 2021.

Okpadah, Stephen. Towards a Marxist Biocentric Climate Justice Theory of African Cinema. Paper presented at the International Paris Conference on Social Sciences-V Held in Paris-France, February 7^th -8^th, 2021.

Okpadah, Stephen. Theatre, Feminism and the African Shemale. Paper presented at the 4^th Asia Pacific International Modern Sciences Congress, Held 12th-13th December, 2020 at Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines, College of Subic Montessori-Subic Bay.

Okpadah, Stephen. Channeling the Theatre for Revolutionary Engagement in 21st Century Africa. A Paper presented in the International Euro-Asian Congress on Scientific Researches and Recent Trends-VII December 6th-9^th, 2020, Held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Okpeki, Philo and Okpadah, Stephen. Music Intervention, Child Development and the Pandemic. A Paper presented at the ASSITEJ Nigeria Festival: Theatre for Children and Young People…Emerging Trends, Held 16^th-18^th December, 2020. (Co-Paper Presenter).

Okpadah, Stephen and Ogunmekan, Damilare. Transculturalism and Culinary Fiesta in Adeola Osunkojo’s The Life of a Nigerian Couple. Paper presented at the Ife Cultural Food Festival held 1st-3rd August, 2018 at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria (Co-Paper Presenter)

Damilare, Ogunmekan and Okpadah, Stephen. Cultural Nationalism and the Imperative of Ogun in Socio-cultural Reconstruction. Paper presented at Olojo festival colloquium The Ogun Factor in Yoruba History at Main Reception Hall, Ooni’s Palace, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on 26^th September, 2018 (Co-Paper Presenter)

Script to Street: Sustaining Quality Film Industry in Nigeria. A Round Table Conference held on 15^th of February, 2016 at the Department of Theatre Arts, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria (Participant)

University of Ilorin Film Workshop organised by the department of The Performing Arts, University of Ilorin, held on 7^th September, 2016 (Participant)

Kwara State University Film Studies Seminar/Workshop, 27^th of July- 1^st of August, 2015 (Participant)

Creative Works

Okpadah, S. (2018). Holocaust in the Delta (A short Story). Albeit online Journal March issue 2018 Can be retrieved from http://albeitjournal.com/holocaust-in-the-delta/

Okpadah S. (2017). The Victims (A short Play). the quint: an interdisciplinary quarterly from the north September issue (9.4) 2017 Can be retrieved from:https://www.ucn.ca/sites/academics/facultyarts/programofferings/arts/human ities/The%20Quint/The%20Quint%20v9.4.pdf