Team > Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James Ph.D.

Biography

Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James Ph.D. is a Lecturer of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Lagos, and currently the departmental Post-Graduate Coordinator. She earned a Ph.D. in Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos. She is an alumna of the Harvard Mellon School of Theater and Performance Research, Fellow of the Ife Institute of Advanced Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Fellow of Theatre Arts - National Association of Nigerian Theatre and Allied Arts Practitioners. As an academic researcher, her interests are in African Theatre, Film and Gender Studies, interrogating ethnocentric identities and the Trans-sociological hybridization of concepts and forms in African studies. Aside from developing and incorporating theories into performance arts, she equally engages perspectives of Nigeria's creative industry and cultural policy. As a theatre practitioner, Oluwatoyin is a digital content creator, creative enthusiast and has also featured with credits in many film and theatre productions. Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James Ph.D. continues to contribute significantly to the Nigerian creative industry and economy through her multifaceted roles as an academic, researcher and performer.

More information see ORCID identifier: 0000-0002-5841-5204

Selected Publications

• Temitope J. Owolabi, Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James, Oluyemi T. Adeosun & karabo Mahapanele. (2025). “Navigating Equity and Empowerment: Exploring Gender Dynamics and Inclusive Leadership in the Creative Art Sector of Nigeria”. Intergrative Humanism. International Journal of Integrative Humnaism. Vol. 16, No. 1, March, 2025.
• Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin. (2025). “The Aesthetics of Interculturality: Advancing Trado-Modern Choreographies Through Akin Euba’s Ethnomusicology”, in: Keynotes in African Music: African Musicology, Composition, and Pedagogy Essays in Honour of Akin Euba, ed. Bode Omojola. Nigeria.
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James. (2024). “Traditional rites, values and taboos in African evangelical films”. Ghana Journal of Religion and Theology. Vol. 14 No. 2, 19 - 33. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjrt.v14i2.3
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James. (2024). “Aruku-Improv, playwriting and performance devising dramaturgy”. In C.M. Dunn, E.M. Holmes, & L. Hunter (Eds), Decentered Playwriting. Alternative Technique for the Stage. (142-152) New York: Routledge. ISBN: 9781032218151 (hbk), ISBN: 9781032218083 (pbk), ISBN: 9781003270140 (ebk)
• Nweke, Florence., & Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin. (2024). “The Nigerian film industry and culture relocation: A translation of the modes and forms in music and dance culture”. Ghana Journal of Religion and Theology. Vol. 14 No. 2. 49-63. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjrt.v14i2.5
• Akin-Otiko A., Olokodana-James O., Falako F., & Nweke F. (Eds). (2024). Developing and Enriching Curriculum for the Study of Music, Religion, and Theatre in Nigerian University. University of Lagos Press and Bookshop Ltd: Nigeria. ISBN: 78-978-788-320-4
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James. (2024). “African Christians cant be Feminists: A true reflection of reality or religion?”. In A. Akinmayowa, O. Olokodana-James, F. Falako, & F. Nweke (Eds.), Developing and Enriching Curriculum for the Study of Music, Religion, and Theatre in Nigerian University. 78-93. University of Lagos Press and Bookshop Ltd: Nigeria. ISBN: 978-978-788-320-4
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James and Francis Falako. (2023) “Titling and cinematic dialogue: an exposé to Africa’s socio-religious reality”. In L. Rasheedah., & Dugga, Victor (Eds), Regulating Nollywood in a Ritual Cultural Space. 131-148. ISBN:978-978-797-933-4.
• Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin. (2023). “Nollywood Framing of Omo Ale Against the Changing Yoruba Cultural and Ideological Worldview”. Lafia Journal of Theatre and Media Arts. (A Journal of Theatre, Culture and Media Arts). Vol. 2. No. 1. 24-39. K-Success Print Media: Ilorin, Kwara State.
• Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin. (2022). “Festivals and dance as catalysts for ethno-cultural integration and identity formation”. In J. A. Bewaji & R.Omosulu (Eds.), Fragmented Identities in Nigeria: Sociopolitical and Economic Crisis. 151 – 161. London, United Kingdom: Lexington Books (Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group Inc. ISBN: 9781666905830.
• l Akin-Otiko Akinmayowa, Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin, Ehiset Idongesit, and Edisua Merab Yta. (Eds). (2022). RE-examining Gender, Gender Roles and Identity in Nigeria: The Fattening Room Tradition of the Efik. University of Lagos Press and Bookshop Ltd. ISBN: 978-978-998-458-9.
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James. (2021). “Creating, preserving and propagating Nigerian dance through technology: the pros and cons”. Africa Humanity: Creativity, Identity and Personhood. Carolina Academic Press: Durham, North Carolina, United States. 301-315. University of Texas in Austin, USA. ISBN: 978-1-5310-1756-9. E-ISBN: 978-1-5310-1757-6
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James & Itsewah Steve James. (2021). “Articulating and addressing cultural dogmas and complexities through the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood”. Africa Humanity: Creativity, Identity and Personhood. Carolina Academic Press: Durham, North Carolina, United States. 255 - 269. University of Texas in Austin, USA. ISBN: 978-1-5310-1756-9. E-ISBN: 978-1-5310-1757-6.
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James. (2021). “The corpus of choreographic styles in Tunde Kelani’s works: A trans-sociological hybridity discourse”. In T. Afolabi, & T.Onikoyi (Eds.), The Cinema of Tunde Kelani: Aesthetics, Theatricalities and Visual Performance. 94 -107. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
• Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin. (2020). “Trans-sociological hybridity: conceptualizing African contemporary dance identity”. In A. S. Abdussalam., I. S. Aderibigbe., S. T. Babatunde, & O. O. Akindipe (Eds.), Culture and Development in Africa and the Diaspora. 95 – 109. United States: Routledge. Taylor and Francis. ISBN:978-0-429-31629-6. (Online). ISBN: 978-0-367-2766-2 (Print)
• Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin. (2020). “Superficiality and the Nollywood Industry: Pointers on the Censorship of Yorùbá Movie Stereotypes”. In S. V. Dugga (Ed.), Regulating Nollywood in a Global Economy. 275-291. Federal University of Lafia / NFVCB. Ibadan: Kraftbooks.
• Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin. (2020). “Theatrical Intervention towards Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness”. Lagos Notes and Records. Vol. 26. 102 – 120. A Journal of the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos. ISSN: 0075-7640
• Olokodana-James, Oluwatoyin., and Oni, Duro. (2020). “Paradigm Shift and Neo-Theatrical Conventions in Nigeria: “Legend, Kings and Kingdoms” in Discourse”. Akete: Journal of Performing Arts and Cultural Studies. Vol.2, No. 1. 97 – 108. Department of Theatre Arts and Music. Lagos: Lagos State University Press.
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James & Steve James. (2019). “The Evolvement, Myth and Mystery of Olootu as a Facekuerade”. Luminal Margins, Performance Masks, Masquerades and Facekuerades. 602- 619. 2019. Society of Nigerian Artists (SONTA) Akwa: Etchwise Consulting Ltd.
• Femi, A., & Oluwatoyin, O. (2017). “Envisioning dance and motion picture in Nollywood films: a discourse of selected Nigerian movies”. In S. Fosudo., & T. Azeez (Eds), Inside Nollywood: Issues and Perspectives on Nigerian Cinema. 423 – 434. New York, USA: Franklin International Publishers. ISBN: 13:347-0-536-43844-6.
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James. (2016). Akoto Dance of the Ogu People of Lagos State: A Socio-Cultural Inquiry. Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publication. ISBN: 978-3-659-83178-2. 2016.
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James. (2015). “The counteractive power of feminism and womanism: a psycho-analytical discourse of Osita Ezenwanebe’s Adaugo and Stella Oyedepo’s the rebellion of the bumpy chested. In M. Jeremiah., & M. Evwierhoma., (Eds), Snapshots of Female Ethos: Essays on Women in Drama and Culture in Africa. 61-77. Lagos: Concept.
• Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James. (2014). “Voices of power and echoes of moral decadence in bakare ojo rasaki’s ‘rogbodiyan”. In AbdulRasheed., N. Uche-Chinemere., E, Solomon., & A Etop. (Eds), Uncommon Artistry. Understanding Bakare, Ojo Rasaki’s Dance, Drama and Theatre. 336- 347. London: SPM Publications.

Oluwatoyin Olokodana-James Ph.D.
AMRC GDO, Lagos, Nigeria

University of Lagos
Nigeria

E-mail: oolokodanajames@unilag.edu.ng