Wakaa! The Musical

'Wakaa! The Musical' is a Nigerian musical written by Tunde Babalola and produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters. The show follows four young adults after they graduate from university.

Premise
Four young adults, Rex, Kike, Tosan, and Nogzi, all with different backgrounds and experiences, graduate from university and set out to start their adult lives. Kike, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, focuses on living luxuriously rather than pursuing a career. Tosan, who falls in love with Kike, pursues politics, but soon realizes how much corruption is present in the field. Ngozi returns to her village, determined to be an activist who stops child labor and trafficking. Rex travels to England to meet up with his long-distance girlfriend Cassandra and be a dancer on the West End, rather than study to be a doctor like his parents wish. Cassandra turns out to be Bilikisu Kekereekun, a Nigerian man who catfished Rex. Ultimately, Rex is deported, Ngozi's activism takes down corrupt Governor Sagay, Tosan is elected as the new governor, and Kike reignites her relationship with Tosan.

Productions
The show premiered in late 2015 in Nigeria. In early 2016, the show reportedly played to over 10,000 people with over 12 performances in Lagos.

The production ran on the West End at the Shaw Theatre from 21-25 July 2016, making it the first Nigerian musical to be performed in London. All its performances sold out. Due to this success, Austen-Peters expressed interest in taking the show to Broadway.

The show returned to Lagos in April 2017. In September 2017, the show had a week-long run in Abuja.

Reception
The musical saw great success in Lagos, consistently reporting sold-out shows and a diverse audience. Reviews praised the show's music, costumes, and choreography, although the story was considered weak by some critics.