WTD 2026: “Act In The Best Interests of Your People” – SONTA Tells World Leaders

The Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA) has urged world leaders to act in the best interests of their people and deliver on the promises made to their citizenry to prevent wars and conflicts.

The association made the statement on the occasion of World Theatre Day 2026, held on March 27, with the theme ‘Theatre and a Culture of Peace’.

According to the association, theatre has, from time immemorial, warned against man’s propensity to warring and its consequences on humanity. From Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ to Greek and Roman playwrights and those of the medieval periods, to the American and African, and contemporary playwrights, all have harped on the need for man to rein in his primordial instincts for the world to be a peaceful place for both the present and unborn generation.

Yet, the several intra- and cross-continental conflicts and wars seen today indicate man’s disregard of those warnings.

“In the past few years, no continent of the world has enjoyed enduring peace for an entire year. Daily, nations are building sophisticated war tools capable of wiping out an entire race thousands of miles away. Nations compete to outdo one another in the race to build technologies capable of reaching places far removed from them at the speed of light,” said SONTA official Tunji Azeez.

He continued, “These murderous and bestial acts are enabled by organisations that were established to prevent or stop man from sinking to the level of beasts. As we witness the horrible killings of children and other defenceless and vulnerable members of society in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, we call on world leaders to rethink and reflect on history.

“The theme of this year’s World Theatre Day reminds us that at the end of every war, at the end of every killing, humanity and not the vanquished, loses. The theme reminds us that wars never end on the battlefield but at discussion tables.

“The Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists calls on leaders all over the world, particularly African leaders, to act in the best interests of their people and deliver on their promises to their people. This is the way to prevent conflicts.

“They are enjoined to understand that in any society where only a few feed fat on the resources of the land, war and discontent are inevitable. The wars, ethnic conflicts, and corruption on the continent can only end when leaders lead justly and selflessly.

“This is the message that the theatre has preached for thousands of years. It is the message that the theatre is preaching today.”