In this special episode of Future Memories, Kem Kem invites her mother, Aima Lijadu, to take us on a heartfelt journey through the life and legacy of Zulu Sofola, Nigeria’s first female playwright and Africa’s first female Professor of Theatre Arts. Through Mrs. Lijadu’s gentle and reflective narration, we explore Sofola’s creative spirit, her courage, her deep connection to culture, and her enduring faith in the power of storytelling.

Set against a soundscape of music and memory, the episode drifts through songs that evoke the spirit of Sofola’s generation; the highlife, soul, and classic Nigerian sounds that shaped her time and artistic sensibility. This episode celebrates a woman who stood firmly in her truth and used her art to shape the imagination and voices of generations to come.

With Guest: Aima Lijadu is an architect and designer whose life is deeply shaped by creativity, and service to others. Trained as an architect, Aima has spent her life designing spaces that bring people together; she founded the architectural firm Archimage Design Consultants and runs Beryl the Gardener, continuing the legacy of the floral studio founded by her mother Beryl Ediale over thirty years ago.

Guided by her deep faith and love for people, Aima has devoted her life to service, nurturing others, building community, and creating spaces filled with warmth and peace. She believes that beauty and faith can meet in everyday moments, and that both have the power to heal.

In this episode of Future Memories, Aima joins her daughter, artist and filmmaker Olukemi Lijadu, to reflect on the life and legacy of Zulu Sofola; Nigeria’s first published female playwright and the first female Professor of Theatre Arts in Africa. Together, they explore Sofola’s vision, her influence on women’s voices in art and culture, and how her story continues to echo through their own memories of strength, creativity, and faith.