Port Harcourt’s rich Highlife heritage is set to take centre stage in Lagos as renowned theatre practitioner Yibo Koko secures a major performance slot for his Broadway-style musical, The Cardinal, at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island.
Following a productive meeting with the management of Terra Kulture, the production team has officially confirmed July 16 to 19, 2026, for the much-anticipated stage performance. The landmark show will be presented in collaboration with the acclaimed Bolanle Austen-Peters (BAP) Productions, one of Nigeria’s foremost theatre companies.
The Cardinal is a sweeping cultural tribute to Port Harcourt in the late 1960s and early 1970s — a period widely regarded as the golden age of Highlife music in the Garden City. During that era, the city thrived as a melting pot of rhythm and creativity, powered by live bands, bustling nightclubs, and legendary performers whose music shaped social life and identity.
The production revisits the golden horns, lilting guitars, and vibrant sounds that once echoed through clubs and social halls, celebrating Highlife greats such as Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson, Prince David Bull and The Professional Seagulls Band, Eazy Kabaka Brown, Joe Nez, Boma Bonnie, and Chief Inyang Henshaw, among others. Their artistry defined a generation and placed Port Harcourt firmly on Nigeria’s cultural map.
More than a musical, The Cardinal tells a story of ambition, love, struggle, humour, and determination — themes woven into the rhythms of Highlife that served as both entertainment and a powerful tool of storytelling and communal memory.
With preparations and rehearsals set to begin in the coming months, the production promises to deliver a spectacular celebration of heritage and creativity on one of Nigeria’s most prestigious stages. For audiences in Lagos and beyond, the July performances will offer a rare opportunity to relive the enduring energy of Port Harcourt’s Highlife era and witness its cultural legacy reimagined for a new generation.
