Inua Ellams’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Sokoto’ premieres at Royal & Derngate

The play ‘Once Upon a Time in Sokoto’ by Inua Ellams has made its world premiere at the Royal & Derngate. The production, directed by Roy Alexander Weise, explores the history of Nigeria during the transition from pre-colonial empires to British colonization.

Set between 1865 and 1903, the narrative focuses on the Sokoto Caliphate in West Africa, with elements extending to Libya and Egypt. The play utilizes traditional storytelling techniques, including Hausa language call-and-response chants, to depict themes of gender, status, and the economics of intra-African slavery.

Central to the story are Zinari, a matriarchal entrepreneur, and Nafisa, her former slave who seeks greater agency. The production examines the complex hierarchies of pre-colonial states and the economic shifts caused by international pressures during the era of imperial expansion.