Bolanle Austen-Peters is a visionary Nigerian lawyer, film and theatre director, Producer, and cultural entrepreneur celebrated for her transformative contributions to Nollywood and Nigerian theatre.
Heralded as the “Queen of Nigerian Theatre” by CNN, she is the founder of Terra Kulture and Bolanle Austen Peters Productions (BAP Productions). These platforms have elevated Nigerian arts and culture globally through critically acclaimed films and musicals, including the record-breaking biopic Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and House of Ga’a.
Bolanle Austen-Peters Biography
| Real Name | Bolanle Austen-Peters |
| Famous As | Film and Theater Director, Producer, Cultural Entrepreneur |
| Date of Birth | February 4, 1969 |
| Birthplace | Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Ethnicity | Yoruba |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Education | University of Lagos |
| Parents | Afe Babalola, Bisi Babalola |
| Siblings | Four |
| Spouse | Adegboyega Austen-Peters |
| Children | Tife and Tamilayo |
| Relationship | Married |
Early Life and Education
Bolanle Austen-Peters (born on February 4, 1969, 56 years old) is from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. She grew up in a distinguished Yoruba family as the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), the founder of Afe Babalola University.
Her late mother, Retired Judge Major Bisi Babalola, was a former Nigerian military officer. Raised in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, alongside her four siblings—two brothers and two sisters—she was immersed in a disciplined and intellectually stimulating environment that fostered her ambition.
Bolanle attended Command Secondary School and International School in Ibadan before earning her LL.B. in Law from the University of Lagos. She furthered her education with a Master’s degree in International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Career
Bolanle Austen Peters began her career as a lawyer at her father’s firm, Afe Babalola and Co. Barristers and Solicitors, in 1991.
In the 1990s, she worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland, and later with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in various locations, including New York, Ethiopia, and Namibia.
As a consultant to the Ford Foundation in Lagos, she raised millions for museum development through the Arts and Business Council.
In 2003, after returning to Nigeria in 2001, Bolanle Austen-Peters founded Terra Kulture, a cultural hub in Lagos that promotes Nigerian languages, arts, and culture through a restaurant, art gallery, bookstore, language school, and theatre.
Terra Kulture’s Arena, which opened in 2017, is Nigeria’s first privately owned ultra-modern theatre, hosting over 300 art exhibitions, 200 theatre performances, and 100 book readings and attracting over 100,000 visitors annually.
In 2013, she established Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (BAP Productions), which has produced over 135 plays and nine films, reshaping the narrative of African storytelling.
Her theatre productions include Saro the Musical (2013), the first Nigerian musical staged in London’s West End in 2016, Wakaa the Musical (2016), Fela and the Kalakuta Queens (2017–2020), which drew over 120,000 viewers across Lagos, Cairo, and Pretoria, and adaptations of Wole Soyinka’s Death and The King’s Horseman and The Trials of Brother Jero.
Her films, known for addressing social issues, include 93 Days (2016), a critically acclaimed depiction of Nigeria’s Ebola outbreak, The Bling Lagosians (2019), Collision Course (2021), Man of God (2022), Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024), the highest-grossing biopic in West Africa, and House of Ga’a (2024), which ranked No. 7 globally on Netflix’s Top 10 Non-English Films chart in its first week.
In 2021, Bolanle Austen Peters partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to establish the Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA), a training program for young creatives. She also owns a film village in Lagos, joining industry peers like Kunle Afolayan.
Filmography
- 93 Days (2016, Producer)
- The Bling Lagosians (2019, Director/Producer)
- Collision Course (2021, Director/Producer)
- Man of God (2022, Director/Producer)
- Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024, Director/Producer)
- House of Ga’a (2024, Director/Producer)
- Theatre Productions (Selected)
- Saro the Musical (2013)
- Wakaa the Musical (2016)
- Fela and the Kalakuta Queens (2017–2020)
- Moremi the Musical (2018)
- Man Enough (2019)
- Death and The King’s Horseman
- The Oluronbi Musical
- The Trials of Brother Jero
Awards and Nominations
- Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA): Best Movie (West Africa) for Collision Course (2022); Best Lighting Designer for 93 Days (2017); 13 nominations for 93 Days (2017)
- African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA): Seven nominations for 93 Days (2017), the highest-nominated film
- Rapid Lion Award: Nominated for 93 Days (2017)
- Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF): Four nominations for Collision Course (2021), including Best Film and Best Performance
- Forbes Afrique: Named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Africa (three consecutive years)
- National Museum, Onikan, Lagos: Award for Contribution to Development (2015)
- Other Recognitions: Multiple awards for contributions to arts, culture, and women’s empowerment
Social Media
- Instagram Handle: @bolanleap
- Facebook Handle: Bolanle Austen-Peters
- Twitter Handle: @bolanleap
Personal Life
Bolanle Austen Peters is married to Adegboyega Austen-Peters, a lawyer, and the couple has two children: a son, Tife, and a daughter, Tamilayo.
A devout Christian, her faith informs her commitment to storytelling, which reflects Nigerian values and social issues. Her passion for arts stems from a childhood love for dance and theatre, which she pursued despite initial parental expectations to focus on law.
Known for her mentorship, Bolanle has trained numerous young creatives through Terra Kulture and TAFTA, with a focus on job creation and cultural preservation.
She resides in Lagos, where she balances her roles as a mother, entrepreneur, and creative visionary.
Her commitment to authentic Nigerian narratives, as evident in her portrayal of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Fela’s wives, reflects her dedication to historical accuracy and the empowerment of women’s stories. Posts on X praise her as an “intentional creative” and “capacity builder” who consistently raises the bar in African arts.
Net Worth
Bolanle Austen-Peters has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million, derived from her successful career in film and theatre production.
FAQs
Who is the founder of Terra Kulture?
Bolalle Austen-Peters is the founder of Terra Kulture.
Who is the mother of Bolanle Austen-Peters?
Her late mother, Retired Judge Major Bisi Babalola, was a former Nigerian military officer.
Where was House of Ga A filmed?
“House of Ga’a” was filmed at the BAP Productions Film Village in Epe, Lagos State.
How do I email Bolanle Austen-Peters?
Bolanle Austen-Peters direct personal email address is not publicly available to respect her privacy.