54.60 Africa is an exhilarating new play featuring live music, song, and dance. Tracing the journey of 11 characters across a continent, this pan-African encounter follows the success of Femi Elufowoju jr’s smash hit production for Arcola Theatre, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. Before turning 60, Femi travelled to all of Africa’s then 54 nations, a series of life changing experiences that prompted 54.60 Africa – an original tale of cross-cultural exploration.
Joining previously announced cast members, EastEnders’ Suzette Llewellyn (The Fellowship, Hampstead), actor/comedian Munashe Chirisa (The Play that Goes Wrong) and The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’ Patrice Naiambana (Tree, Young Vic), the 11-strong cast is completed by The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’ actor/singer/songwriter Ayo-Dele Edwards and performer/storyteller Usifu Jalloh, actor/hip hop world champion Liana Cottrill (The Little Mermaid, Bristol Old Vic), Adil Hassan (Providers, Brixton House), Black British Theatre Award nominee Christopher Mbaki (Before I Go, Brixton House), Funlola Olufunwa (All’s Well That Ends Well, RSC), with Daniel Sewagudde and Denis Mugagga of popular African fusion band The Ganda Boys.
Written and directed by Femi Elufowoju jr, with a creative team featuring designer ULTZ, Lighting Designer Charles Balfour, Associate Director/Movement Director Kemi Durosinmi, and Music Director/Composer/Sound Designer Emmanuel Edwards.
The fate of Africa rests solely on the zeal and chivalry of 11 adventurous friends. Their ancestral ‘mother’ gives them seven days to prove to the rest of the world that their fabulous continent is worth celebrating and not burying. Their journeys traverse 54 countries, countless boundaries, and endless risks. Lives, history, and destinies are rewritten forever.
Femi Elufowoju jr: “I am overjoyed for 54.60 Africa to come to Arcola Theatre’s stage and audiences, the next step in a journey that has taken me to the heart of 54 nations, across seven years (despite a paralysing global pandemic!). I set off in search of belonging and identity but found so much more. Africa, not I, became the central character.
“It is thrilling to bring together such an incredible ensemble on stage – reuniting some of my recent The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’ family, joined by multi-talented actors, and the joyous energy of The Ganda Boys.”
Femi Elufowoju jr’s work for Arcola Theatre has included The Glass Menagerie, Richard III, Hoard by Bim Adewunmi, and the 2018 premiere and 2025 revival of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, praise for which included:
‘nothing short of spectacular’ Guardian, 5 stars
‘incredibly enjoyable from start to finish’ WhatsOnStage, 5 stars
‘an exuberantly entertaining show’ Evening Standard, 4 stars
‘an emotional and jubilant production’ Afridiziak, 4 stars
‘an acutely funny piece of theatre’ The Stage, 4 stars
