Tori Don Geti Bow Leg – The Vatsa Story explores the intersection between art, courage, sacrifice, and destiny, reflecting the life and times of a man who stood boldly at the confluence of literature and service. Through compelling dialogue, evocative music, and movement, the play captures Vatsa’s poetic essence, his passion for the arts, and the circumstances that led to his unforgettable place in Nigerian history
THE Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) is set to present its 44th International Convention Play titled “Tori Don Geti Bow Leg – The Vatsa Story” — a stage production written by renowned playwright and past ANA President, Denja Abdulahi, and directed by Oko Owi Ocho Afrika, with Jibrin Ahmed serving as Consultant Director.
The play will be staged on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 6:00 PM, at the Association’s national secretariat, KM 2, Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village, Mpape, Abuja.
The production, a major highlight of ANA’s 44th International Convention, chronicles the inspiring and complex story of Major General Mamman Vatsa, the soldier-poet whose vision and generosity gave the Association of Nigerian Authors its permanent home. His contribution, both as a literary figure and a military officer, remains a defining legacy in the history of Nigerian literature and cultural development.
Tori Don Geti Bow Leg – The Vatsa Story explores the intersection between art, courage, sacrifice, and destiny, reflecting the life and times of a man who stood boldly at the confluence of literature and service. Through compelling dialogue, evocative music, and movement, the play captures Vatsa’s poetic essence, his passion for the arts, and the circumstances that led to his unforgettable place in Nigerian history.
The story of the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village began in 1986. That year, Vatsa, then the Federal Capital Territory Minister, allotted large acres of land to the Association of Nigerian Authors to build their permanent headquarters — a sanctuary for writers, poets, and thinkers. His foresight gave ANA a home and a heritage that continues to inspire generations.
Commenting on the play, ANA President Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi described it as “a tribute not only to Mamman Vatsa’s enduring legacy but also to the collective dream that birthed the Writers’ Village.