2025 3M National Teaching Fellow at the U of R

Dr. Taiwo Afolabi

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA, ART, AND PERFORMANCE, UNIVERSITY OF REGINA

Dr. Taiwo Afolabi is a recognized leader in socially engaged theatre, with a global teaching footprint spanning five continents. His scholarship integrates social justice and decolonization with theatre practice. Taiwo founded the Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre (C-SET), a hub for interdisciplinary learning and social transformation, and co-created the Arts Leadership Training Program (ALTP), empowering BIPOC artists and arts managers in Canada.

Taiwo’s teaching is known for its hands-on, project-based approach, where students tackle real-world issues and engage with diverse community perspectives. His courses inspire students to view theatre as a tool for social change, reflecting his commitment to decolonizing arts education. A student wrote that his classes, “challenge traditional interpretations of classic plays, encouraging students to consider them through a variety of cultural lenses…the result is that his classrooms feel like a community of learning, where each of his student’s insights is valued and explored”

His applied theatre research has led to a Certificate and Diploma in Arts Management and Leadership and a joint doctoral program with the University of the Free State in South Africa. These programs offer students unique opportunities while fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.

Taiwo’s leadership and mentorship is shaping the future of teaching and learning nationally and globally, with impact beyond the classroom, making a difference in students’ lives. A colleague notes he, “has also developed and delivered training in ethical arts practices and leadership, equipping emerging arts leaders with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of the arts landscape.”

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