Today, the world of performance arts pauses to celebrate an icon whose work has reshaped the contours of contemporary African dance and broadened the horizons of cultural expression in Britain and beyond.
Lord of The Dance Pa Peter Badejo
Peter Badejo OBE – choreographer, actor, musician, teacher, director and indefatigable cultural ambassador – marks his 78th birthday with a legacy that remains as vibrant and compelling as the movements he has spent a lifetime perfecting.
Badejo’s journey through the arts has been nothing short of extraordinary. Long before he became one of the most respected figures in African performance culture, he had built a distinguished career across Nigeria and the United States. His work as a performer, director and academic established him early on as a rare talent capable not only of mastery, but of interpretation and transformation — gifts he would later bring to international stages.
His move to Britain in 1990 marked a turning point not only in his own artistic trajectory but also in the evolution of African dance in the UK. With the founding of Badejo Arts, his contemporary African dance company, he created a powerful platform for transmitting, preserving and innovating African dance traditions. Particularly notable is his work with the Yoruba Bàtá dance form, which he has reimagined for modern audiences without diluting its cultural integrity. In doing so, he has invited generations of dancers and spectators to experience African movement vocabularies as living, evolving expressions of identity.
Pa Peter Badejo, Segun Martins Fajemisin and Franklyn Frantos Snr.
His contributions have been repeatedly recognised. In 2001, he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to dance – a milestone that affirmed not only his artistry but also his influence in shaping Britain’s cultural landscape. Yet, those who know his work understand that his true honour lies in his commitment to opening doors and expanding understanding. Badejo has long served as a bridge: between Africa and the diaspora, between tradition and modernity, between embodied heritage and contemporary performance.
His achievements span continents and decades. He choreographed the dance sequences for Langbodo, Nigeria’s entry at FESTAC ’77, a landmark cultural festival that brought global attention to African creative excellence. In 2003, he served as Head Choreographer and Artistic Director for the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies of the 8th All Africa Games, guiding a 2,000-strong ensemble in a celebration of pan-African unity and expression.
His artistic vision has also intersected with literary giants: in 2008, he choreographed and performed in Wole Soyinka’s Samarkand at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, breathing kinetic life into the Nobel Laureate’s poetic imagery.
Lord of The Dance – Pa Peter Badejo
Today, as a research fellow at the University of Surrey and a respected authority in African performance studies, Badejo continues to shape scholarship as meaningfully as he shapes stages. His influence travels far beyond choreography; it lives in the dancers he has mentored, the institutions he has strengthened, and the audiences he has touched across continents.
At 78, Peter Badejo remains a beacon: steady, generous and profoundly influential. His life’s work stands as a testament to the enduring power of movement to connect cultures, tell stories and affirm humanity.
Today, we celebrate not only an extraordinary milestone, but an extraordinary man. Happy birthday to a master of his craft, a custodian of culture, and a visionary whose steps continue to guide the way.
Franklyn FRANTOS Snr
(c) Feferity Media Group 2025
Masthead photo and choreography image credit: Peter Badejo portrait by Eric Richmond, Marylebone Dance Studio