The Sons of Tafawa Balewa: Paths After a National Tragedy

The Sons of Tafawa Balewa: Paths After a National Tragedy

A rare photograph from the 1960s captures Yusuf Maitama Sule, Federal Minister of Mines and Power during Nigeria’s First Republic, standing with Saddik and Mukhtar, the young sons of Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Taken only months after Balewa’s assassination in January 1966, the image is heavy with symbolism. For the boys, it reflects the comfort of a trusted ally of their late father; for the nation, it marks the abrupt end of the First Republic and the collapse of Nigeria’s early parliamentary experiment.

In the years that followed, the two brothers chose markedly different paths.

Saddik Tafawa Balewa turned away from politics and embraced the arts. He studied Theatre Arts at Ahmadu Bello University and began his career with the Performing Arts Company in Zaria before joining Nigerian Television as a drama producer. He later trained in the United Kingdom, becoming the first Black African graduate of the National Film and Television School. On returning home, he emerged as one of Nigeria’s pioneering filmmakers, producing acclaimed works such as Kasarmu Ce (This Land is Ours) and Kufena: New Earth. He also lectured at the National Film Institute, Jos, and Ahmadu Bello University, mentoring a new generation of storytellers. His contributions earned him the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).

Mukhtar Tafawa Balewa followed a quieter intellectual route, studying social psychology and literature and writing fiction, including the novel Prince of Mali. Decades later, he stepped into politics, contesting the Bauchi State governorship in 2019 under the Peoples Redemption Party, briefly returning the Balewa name to the political arena.

Together, their lives show how the legacy of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa endured—shaped not only through politics, but also through culture, ideas, and public service.