Assessment of the Influence of Nigerian Theatre on Diaspora Cultural Identity in the United Kingdom

Nigerian theatre productions performed in the United Kingdom by diaspora communities serve important functions in cultural identity maintenance and intergenerational cultural transmission among Nigerians living abroad. This study assessed the influence of Nigerian theatre and performance on cultural identity among Nigerian diaspora communities in London, drawing on diaspora arts programming data and community member perspectives. A qualitative research design employed semi-structured interviews with 18 Nigerian diaspora theatre practitioners and audiences in London, content analysis of 10 Nigerian diaspora theatre productions documented between 2019 and 2023, and analysis of 5 diaspora performance companies' programme notes. Results showed that all 10 analysed productions incorporated Nigerian languages, proverbs, and performance traditions as central elements. Audience members consistently cited diaspora theatre as a site of cultural renegotiation, simultaneously affirming heritage and addressing the challenges of transnational identity. Second-generation Nigerians reported finding diaspora theatre more accessible to their identity experience than purely traditional forms. Theatre companies reported increasing interest from UK-born Nigerians in productions. The study concludes that Nigerian diaspora theatre is a significant cultural identity resource for diaspora communities. Recommendations include formal exchange programmes between Nigerian theatre institutions and diaspora companies, digital archiving of diaspora productions, and academic documentation of diaspora Nigerian theatre as a distinct sub-field of Nigerian theatre studies.

Keywords: diaspora theatre, Nigerian cultural identity, United Kingdom, transnational performance, cultural preservation