THE LOCAL & FLY

A thought-provoking stage production, For Halima’s Sake, has drawn attention to injustice, insecurity and the abuse of power in Nigerian society. It uses the story of a murdered woman and her daughter’s long struggle for justice to challenge a culture of silence.

The play, written by Patrick Otoro, was staged before theatre lovers, cultural enthusiasts and other guests at the Transcorp Hilton.

The event combined theatre with visual art, comedy and cultural expression, but the central performance delivered a considerably more serious message about the consequences of allowing powerful individuals to operate without accountability.

At the centre of the story is Halima, a woman from a northern community who sells akara to support her family and provide an education for her academically gifted daughter, Aisha. Her hopes for her family are shattered when she is sexually assaulted and murdered by associates of the wealthiest man in the community.

The influence surrounding the perpetrators creates an atmosphere of fear in which residents struggle to challenge those responsible. Halima’s death, however, eventually becomes the motivation for her daughter to confront the system.

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Aisha leaves the community to study law and later returns with the knowledge and determination to pursue justice for her mother. She mobilises her father, community members and the traditional ruler against attempts to bury the case.

For Halima’s Sake Production

The production draws a distinction between forgiveness and accountability, arguing that reconciliation should not become an excuse for allowing serious wrongdoing to go unpunished. Two years after Halima’s death, the case is eventually reopened. The story culminates in a courtroom confrontation in which the culprit is found guilty and sentenced to 75 years in prison.

Audience members described the production as reflective of contemporary social problems in Nigeria. Some said its themes extended beyond the fictional community depicted on stage to wider questions about insecurity, government responsibility and the role citizens can play in demanding accountability.

Members of the cast and production team also described the play as more than entertainment.

They said it was intended to provoke reflection about leadership, justice and the experience of vulnerable people living in environments where wealth and influence can shield perpetrators from consequences.

The performance ultimately leaves its audience with a difficult question, how long should people without political or economic power have to wait for justice?