Bikiya Graham-Douglas empowers new voices through Beeta playwright competition

By Rita Okoye

Multi-award-winning actress, producer, and cultural advocate, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, is reinforcing her commitment to nurturing African storytelling through the Beeta Playwright Competition (BPC), an initiative of her Beeta Arts Universal Foundation (BUAF).

Since its launch in 2018, the BPC has grown into one of Africa’s leading platforms for discovering and promoting new dramatic voices.  The competition has spotlighted talents such as Paul Ugbede, Ifesinachi Okoli-Okpagu, Samuel Ibru, Amarachukwu Anukam, Chisom Okafor, and Ozioma Izuora, whose works have been professionally staged, published, and celebrated both locally and internationally.

“The Beeta Playwright Competition has always been more than a contest, it’s a lifeline. I’ve watched shy first-time writers become confident voices shaping how African stories are told to the world,” Graham-Douglas said.  Now in its 7th edition, the 2025 competition is themed “Connected Realities: A Closer World in a Digital Age.”

In a new development, a mandatory pre-submission workshop led by renowned playwright Dipo Agboluaje will provide professional mentorship to entrants before submission.

With the support of partners, this year’s winner will receive a cash prize, a publishing deal, and the opportunity for their work to be fully produced on stage. Graham-Douglas describes the initiative as a cultural movement that bridges generations and amplifies African creativity.

She said: “Every year, I’m reminded why we started this “We are shaping history, one script at a time.”