The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • Isashi gets Oba-elect

    The Regent of Isashi Land, Chief M. S Ashade, has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to recognise the Oba-elect of the community, Chief Yahya Fagbayi. He said the Oba-elect was appointed by the community from the Owo Molu ruling house without any controversy.

    Ashade, who spoke at this year’s Isashi Day celebration, said the Lagos State government should help in making the Oba-elect coronation as one of the Obas in the state possible.

    He said: “We, the people of Isashi are always very happy to celebrate ourselves on yearly basis because the community as a whole is functioning in one love, voice and unity and this is worth celebrating especially to remember the founder Prince Asasi Ilebiyi.”

    He noted that all members of the community in Isashi including market women, apprentices, motorcycle riders, tricycle drivers, elites, road transport union workers among other different professions, are happy and are all rejoicing with each other without any sentiment or inequality.

    “This is the peace the community has been enjoying so far, and I prayed that no evil will truncate the oneness in our community,” he added. Ashade recalled  that in the past, Isashi town received colonial government recognition as it were, with the then Governor Glover establishing the first colonial court in Isashi town in 1870, which was the official base for Governor Glover and his divisional officers for several years in the past,

    “The relics of this site still exist till this day in Isashi town. Also, the first mosque was built as far back as 1901, while the first church was built by the  Church Missionary  Society (CMS) 1905,” he said

    Oba elect, Chief Yahya Fagbayi said he is ready to serve the community with all his might, adding that peace will be restored in Isashi land. He encouraged the youth to be law abiding and be more serious with their different trades or businesses.

    The Oba-elect was presented an award by the youths in the community for his meritorious and excellence contributions to Isashi land.

    Onitekun of Itekun Kingdom Oba Jamiu Alamu Ogundimu said he felicitated with the new Oba-elect praying that the Lord will continue to strengthen, guide and direct his footsteps.

    According to him Isashi annual celebration is always wonderful and joyful moment. “I will only admonish the people to continue living in total and absolute unity as they have been doing from the beginning,” he said.

    Chairman Planning Committee, Chief Mobolaji Sanusi, thanked God who in His infinite mercy made the community to witness another year of Isashi Day celebration. “This is because as the chairman of the planning committee, I can say much efforts, sacrifices and resources were made to ensure the success of this event,” he said. According to him Isashi is a land of salvation with immeasurable  peace and he prayed that as they have elected a new Oba in the town, God will  guide, direct and bless him with an uncommon wisdom to lead the community judiciously.

    He also enjoined the people  to continue to live in one love saying it is the only way peace can reign

     

  • Lalong, stakeholders to drive Plateau economy

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has identified culture and tourism as key drivers to transform the socio-economic fortunes of Plateau State and Nigeria. He spoke at the first Plateau Tourism Conference held in Jos, the Plateau state capital, with the theme: Unlocking the vast potentials of tourism as a financing option for sustainable social-economic development.

    Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, commended the governor for looking in the direction of culture and tourism while using the moment to inform the world that Plateau is safe and ready for business with its vast potentials in culture and tourism destinations.

    The NCAC chief debunked stories making the rounds that the state was in crisis stating that he would not have travelled to Plateau along with his staff for the conference if the state was not safe.

    Runsewe expressed determination to hit the ground running by working with the governor to market Plateau to the rest of the world.

    He was positive that with the new interest and efforts from stakeholders, Plateau can assume the status of a culture and tourism hub in Nigeria.

  • Apostle launches book

    It was double celebrations for Apostle Sediq Moses when he launched his first book titled: Satan Must Leave The Earth recently at the Christ Holy Mountain, (House of Prayer for all people), Ikotun, Lagos. The launch coincided with the National Prayer Summit 2018, Vol 2, at the church premises.

    The clergyman said the inspiration and the experience to write the book came from God and it took him seven days to write the book, according to the number for perfection. He stated that the book will remain for a thousand years because of its contents, and will be read and appreciated the same way the Holy Bible is read and appreciated. This, he said, is because all the words in the book were given to him by God. “The writing of the book started when I began to ponder how Satan has been afflicting men and women with various sicknesses and diseases and how he has put many people in bondage. According to Revelation 12, Satan is a stranger on earth. Remember he was sent out of heaven because of his trouble. This is the same trouble he’s giving men today. We must send Satan out of the earth for peace to reign on earth and in homes,” he added.

    The launch, which was co-ordinated by Dr Bayo Adejola and was attended by Apostle Chukwuemeka Odigbo, Apostle Toju Molikojo and Dr A.O Gabriel (Music Prophet), among other guests.

     

  • Fayemi’s wife urges theatre artists to promote peace

    Ekiti State Governor’s wife Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has challenged theatre artistes to use their profession to build peace and unity in Nigeria. She said art is a veritable weapon to ensure stability of the country at a critical period in her history.

    The governor’s wife made the remarks while declaring open the 31st Annual Convention and International Conference of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) at Theatre Complex of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE). Theme for the convention was Theatre, Counter-Terrorism and the Nigerian Space.

    Mrs. Fayemi who described artistes as storytellers, advocates, teachers and truth tellers urged them to be in vanguard for a better Nigeria through their works. Leading playwrights, authors and theatre arts scholars such as Prof. Femi Osofisan, Prof. Shamsudeen Amali, Prof. Bode Sowande and Prof. Olu Obafemi were at the opening ceremony of the conference.

    FUOYE Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, said the general theme was apt at a time the country was going through security challenges. He said terrorism goes beyond the Nigerian space, which has sanctuary across the borders.

    Commenting on his impression about the conference, he said: “This varsity is coming into its own, because here we are hosting great scholars like Profs Femi Osofisan, Olu Obafemi, Bode Sowande Shamsudeen Amali and for a young university, this is remarkable. It tells you many things that we are going places. Ideas will be generated such that theatre industry will intellectually gain a higher momentum,” he said.

    On the theme of the conference, he said: “To the extent that there is an ethical dimension to the theatre, practitioners at the intellectual level can give us sign posts as to how to combat terrorism. Terrorism is a loaded word I am hoping that they will come to terms with the nuances of what terrorism means and what counter terrorism means. “For policy makers, they should listen attentively because theatre has a way of showing us positive signals as to what should be done and what not to be done.  Pioneer head, Department of Theatre and Media Arts of FUOYE, and Dean, Post Graduate School, Prof. Bakare Ojo-Rasaki, said: “All the papers and opinions that would be expressed on the theme of the conference would be put into a book of proceedings and SONTA journal, which will be widely circulated and there will be a communique to be issued on to policy makers, which also will be widely circulated. SONTA will go a step further to ensure that these views are used in formulating policies to combat terrorism.

    “The big names in the academia that are here are over 45 and more are still coming. The fact that they are around us is an inspiration to the younger colleagues and to show us better ways to do the job.”

    Head of the Department, Dr. Bifatife Adeseye, said: “We are privileged to be the first of the new universities that is hosting this conference of international repute. “As the convener, I am delighted that we are meeting the expectations of the participants and this development has shown that we have quite a lot to offer in the department and the university at large.”

    SONTA President, Prof. Alex Asigbo, said the body was using the conference to contribute to peace building in Nigeria. General Secretary of SONTA and lecturer FUOYE, Dr. Jonathan Mbachaga, also expressed optimism that the conference is bringing workable recommendations to solve the challenge of terrorism in Nigeria. Mrs. Fayemi, her Benue State counterpart, Mrs. Eunice Ortom, Prof. Soremekun, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Omolori and an Information Technology investor, Mr. Babatope Agbeyo received awards at the event.

     

  • ‘Culture, tourism central to Rivers’ growth’

    This year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) ended in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, penultimate Saturday. Its underpinning message and impact on the host state are shared by Governor Nyesom Wike in this interview with reporters. He speaks on why he requested to host the festival, how politics has failed us as a nation, and how sports and culture remain the only unifying factors. Assistant Editor Arts OZOLUA UHAKHEME was there.

    This year’s NAFEST was held successfully in five big centres across the state capital. What are your plans to transform the abundant resources of Rivers State into a thriving tourism economy?

    Rivers State is actually endowed and that is why I have said to the Commissioner of Tourism that every year, we must have cultural activity to showcase the cultural and tourism potentials of the state. You went to Jim Rex Lawson Cultural Centre, mention one state that has such a facility. We have a partnership with most of the artistes to come and showcase their trade from time to time.

    And if you have gone to Pleasure Park you would have known what is available in this state, which was done by this administration. To me, culture and tourism are keys to development. Everything must not be politics because politics has failed us in terms of unification as a country. The only unifying factors today are sports and culture. So, I have no apology because if I have my way, I will continue to host this festival because when you know your potentials, you have to let the world know about them. If I have potentials and I don’t let the world know about them, then I have a problem.

    Anything that I have to do to promote my state I will do it. So, one will have to do what is necessary to promote culture and tourism in Rivers State and that is what I will continue to do.

    How do you tell the new narrative about the state, considering negative perceptions by people outside the state?

    Let me sincerely thank you. But, when you say a new narrative, luckily you have stayed here for one week and you have seen for yourself. So, you should tell the world that such perception is not correct.

    I was here and I saw it myself. All these stories that they are spreading are not correct. That is why I requested the Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to give us the opportunity to host the NAFEST 2018. Probably, if this event was not hosted here, you may not have had the opportunity to come here. But this event has given you the opportunity to be here and see things for yourself.

    Therefore, what you used to hear, is it correct or is it the truth? Now, you have come and have now become the ambassador of truth to tell people that the negative perception is not correct.

    There is no new narrative that we can give other than you have come and you have seen for yourself that it is not correct. So, you now go back and give the narrative that it is not correct.

    For one week, was anybody kidnapped? Was there any armed robbery attack? Or was there anyone who lost anything or whatever? The People’s Democratic People (PDP) had its national convention here. Over 7, 000 delegates were here and there was no ugly incident that happened.

    I have hosted international events and no one incident has ever happened here, and I hosted the President some days ago when he came to commission the terminal of Port Harcourt International Airport.

    I told Mr. President that if Port Harcourt was not safe, if Port Harcourt was not secured, the company could not have completed the job started by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    So, why do we play politics with everything? Why do we have to de-market our country and our state? The new narrative is for you to go back home and say that this NAFEST has shown us that all these stories that we have been hearing are not correct. They are all political games and must we play politics with everything? Should we continue to bring Nigeria down because of politics? So, I have to thank him for bringing this event down to Port Harcourt.

    And that is what has given most of you the firsthand information that what you used to hear is totally not correct. So, for me, I am happy that you will now go home and tell people or rewrite what you used to write there and say, look this is not the true position of things.

    What plans have you to make Port Harcourt the Dubai of Nigeria?

    No tourist will come here without the Federal Government’s approval by giving visa. Today, we have lost so many investors because the government believes that River States is in opposition.

    And that is not supposed to be because whether you like it or not, if investors come in to develop tourism, the Federal Government will get revenue from it.  But, that is not the case here. The truth of the matter is that everything is done to frustrate us. We produce the wealth of Nigeria, but nobody supports us and that is why you hear cries for restructuring.

    Yes, I have the mind that tourism should grow, but I also have a limitation, a restriction that is dependent on the government in power at the center. If you have a government that is hostile to the state government, how can you achieve it? You can’t achieve it. And that is not what is supposed to be.

    So, having the mind or having the idea is different from you actualising it because of the hostile nature of the government at the Federal level. We must be able to tell ourselves the simple truth. The Federal government does not like my state. In fact, I am surprised that this event was held here, because I never believed that the Federal Government would allow the event to take place.

    That is why I thanked Otunba Runsewe so much for the efforts he put into organising the festival. Rivers State government signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to host matches here. But people said why is it that it is Rivers State that is hosting international matches and they took it away, even when we have paid. That is the Nigeria we are. Nobody wants to do the right thing. But unfortunately, politics has taken the centre stage in everything that we are doing. God will help us.

    What are your views on the non-inclusion of culture in school curriculum?

    How can we have a curriculum without integrating our culture? How does any society grow without history? For me, the policy of education in our country is anchored on the Federal Government.

    How can I have a child who doesn’t know the culture of his people? Culture is part of development, culture is part of growth. But, yet we allow our children to imbibe foreign culture. I think that our culture should be embedded in the educational curriculum, because if we don’t do that, we have killed the culture of this country. It is compulsory that our children should know what the culture of the various people of Nigeria is and it helps.

     

  • Ukpong’s blazing century goes to Quintessence

    Last year, environmental degradation in the Niger Delta took global stage when a film Future World, by Nigerian multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker, Wilfred Ukpong won an award at International Tourism’s Borse Berlin’s Golden City-Gate Film Festival in Germany. It was in the Eco-Tourism category.

    Since then, Ukpong has been planning to showcase some visuals by engaging with the images that will interrogate the future of the next generation of Niger Delta.  Between November 15 and December 1, the exhibition tagged Blazing Century, will open at Quintessence Gallery, Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos as a pre-show to the main outing next year. It will feature 9 images that represent what he envisions of the Niger delta region.

    Ukpong said at a preview session that his body of works is a response to the socio-economic and ecological issues in the coastal areas of Niger Delta region. He stated that he is using the works as a critique about the future of the region as well as a catalyst for conversation about the region for a change. “I do my artistic practice for advocacy and critical aesthetics that engage issues,” he said.

    He disclosed that the main show coming up next year will be held in multiple venues and also tour 16 venues across the globe. He has over 50 sculptures in his collection. Interestingly, he has stopped showing his art at the galleries since ten years for showing sake. “I prefer responding to issues in the region through my art,” he said. However, he still paint.

    On his usage of Nsibidi signs and motifs on his works, he said Nsibdi signs are found on the performances especially on sets, adding that the design elements of the stage are influenced by Nsibidi.

    He recalled that he lost four men on return from Europe to continue his project on Niger Delta. He disclosed that an 80-minute film on the ecological issues of the region is in production.

  • Telling stories through photography

    After a successful debut solo photo exhibition Eyes of a Lagos Boy last May at the Freedom Park, Lagos, Bolaji Alonge, a photographer, actor and journalist is holding his second solo exhibition titled Urban Culture, Historical Continuity to tell the Nigerian story to the youths and future generations.

    The show, which will hold at One Draw Gallery, Norman Williams Street,  Ikoyi, Lagos from November 15 till 25, will feature 30 photographs that capture rare scenes, sites and aquatic life of the Lagoon among others. Thematically, Urban Culture and Historical Continuity is all about Nigeria of today and the future. It will be curated by Segun Adejumo.

    Alonge’s body of works will be mirroring the wonders of nature, human exchange and urban culture while searching for the historical continuity in a world that is sometimes heavily fractured.  The collection includes rare aerial view of Lagos Marina, Lagos Central Business District, Niger Bridge in Southeast, Osogbo, Bauchi, Epe Mangrove as well as photographs of underwater from Atlantic Ocean. Focus of his exhibits reflects the challenges people face every day and Alonge manages to expose the beauty where it is not expected. And some works in the collection present a contrast between life in Lagos and nearby villages where time seems to stand still.

    Speaking at a preview session in Lagos, Alonge said the concept of Eyes of a Lagos Boy came by accident when he met Mr. Theo Lawson, an architect at The Freedom Park, Lagos last year. He recalled that he had hundreds of photographs from over 17 countries, which he was considering showcasing. “In fact, Mr. Lawson encouraged me to adopt the name Eyes of a Lagos Boy as a brand. Consequently, we arranged a show of some of the works for my debut at Freedom Park.

    But, for this second show, it is primarily to document some major sites and scenes for posterity. Again, it is informed by the fact that many Nigerians do not document our history, if any, it is by foreign authors. With this show, I am capturing our moments for tomorrow and generation to come. And with photography, you see it as it is. The aim is not to make money but to educate the youths in particular. Photography is a huge untapped business, ’ he said of the essence of the exhibition.

    Alonge is a well-travelled photographer with a knack for documenting sites, nature and aquatic life which initially was a past time. Today, his past time has evolved into a full time career driven by desire to tell our own story ourselves. According to him, it has been fulfilling and the experiences interesting.  “With the photographs, I am trying to bring beauty out of the chaos around us like the waterways on the Lagoon covered by hyacinths, which prevent easy movement of boats.  While on the streets chaos seems to be the norm, from up there, Lagos has all the characteristics of an African megapolis, shinning under the sun,” he said.

    Alonge’s camera also captures Makoko, the ‘Venice of Lagos’ showing that in the midst of chaos and under the threat of destruction, Makoko is not only surviving but also thriving. Also captured is the image of Takwa bay, an idyllic island on the water that is a short boat ride from the heart of Lagos. On the background of the image is the sprawling high rise building of the merging Eko Atlantic City.

  • Osayimwen wins Lagosphoto award

    Etinosa Yvonne Osayimwen has emerged the recipient of this year’s Lagosphoto X National Geographic portfolio review award for her work titled It’s All in My Head, according to a statement by the organisers.  Her winning entry, which fetches her cash prize of 5000 US dollars, is an ongoing project that explores the coping mechansims of survivors of terrorism and violent conflict by using layered portraits of the survivors and the things that they do to help them move forward or otherwise.

    Ager Oueslati and Gulshan Khan got honourable mentions with their works.

    National Geographic Representative, Whitney Johnson and Photojournalist Tom Saater said of the winning entry: “The vision of this work is very uniquely Etinosa, there is no confusing her work with anything else. It is more than a double exposure, the level of detail and composure in every image is compelling. You can sense the deep empathy that Etinosa has for her subjects and her desire to convey their experience to a wider audience.”

    Photojournalist Benedicte Kurzen noted that ‘giving a grant to Etinosa is a way to salute the bravery of this young lady and the energy she puts in engaging so entirely with an extremely sensitive issue of violence and its different manifestations in Nigeria. She creates a collective narrative around painful experiences that unite Nigerians from all sides.’

    But, the lyrical and beautifully composed images of Oueslati immediately captured the attention of our reviewers, her sensitive approach to her subjects and subject matter is singularly striking.

    Khan documents her community of contemporary South African Muslims, opening a window to every day moments of faith, exhilaration, prayer and connection.

    The exhibitions of the works at African Artists’ Foundation, Omenka Gallery, 16/16, hFACTOR, Remington Design Warehouse and the Federal Government Press Liaison Office will be open to the public until November 15.

     

  • Foundation empowers constituents

    Businessman cum politician, Prince Ashimiu Adeyinka Afeez Adio, kept his promise to the people of Ona Ara and Egbeda Constituency of Oyo state by not only setting up Adio Foundation, but also funding it. The foundation also commenced a free skill acquisition programmes to empower the people.

    The programme, which started from October 30 to November 3 involved training of participants in the production of soap and other domestic items such as liquid disinfectants, Vaseline, stove threads and body spray.

    It was held at Oremeji Babanla area of Ibadan, the exercise was a very revealing one as it empowered a huge number of people. It also exposed the participants to a number of entrepreneurial skills, little wonder many called on the businessman cum politician to repeat it in order to empower more people.

    Prince Adio assured participants that “Adio Foundation will not relent in its efforts to bless people with enterprise but also to develop APC party members and others in such a way that poverty will be eradicated in Ona Ara and Egbeda Constituency of Oyo state.”

    He noted that he is happy with the turn out that though a few number of people were expected, but a larger number of people turned up for the programme. This, he said, confirms that Nigerians are ready to improve themselves and develop new skills.

  • Bultler’s nuanced whisperings at Temple Muse

    After 13 years break from public exhibition, Victor Butler, a self-taught leading Ghanaian artist, brings to Nigeria for the first time the breadth of his surrealist style, which celebrates relationships on the personal, family and community level. The exhibition Nuanced Whisperings of the Soul, which opened at Temple Muse last Thursday, will run till today and open at Art X Lagos Fair Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The exhibition was curated by Founder and Artistic Director, SMO Contemporary Art, Sandra Mbanefo Obiago and sponsored by Access Bank and Veuve Clicquot.

    Butler, who has exhibited in Canada, England, France and the United States is happy to exhibit in Nigeria for the first time. “When I have international exhibitions, there are three countries that are my biggest collectors; the Netherlands, Switzerland and Nigeria are my biggest collectors. These exhibitions were held outside Africa and Nigerians do ask me when am I coming to exhibit in Nigeria?”

    Butler, whose philosophical approach to life is evident in his surrealist style and subject matter, produced 23 paintings on canvas and two prints were on show. These displayed his multi-layered landscapes of many perceptive, subtly referencing traditional narratives in surreal spaces influenced by natural history as well as his mathematics and science background.

    His paintings speak to the soul and identity of African communities as they draw on ancestral roots within futuristic mindscapes that reference cultural identity and traditions as a need to preserve and conserve the natural world.

    In Mother, Daughter, his art showed a surrealistic painting of a mother and her young child in a cuddling intimate form that explains that the role ‘motherliness’ is a certain skill set. “As Butler puts it ‘being a mother is not just raising a child, it is a conscious effort to pass information to a child.”

    Butler’s Interrupted is a subtle dynamics within a group of six women dressed identically, casting questioning looks in the same direction as if disturbed in mid-sentence. Unlike Witnesses, which showed abstract sea of faces with interwoven eyes, each staring on the same scene but with different interpretations, looks and depth of reasoning, while Shelter (111) A Figure with a Book depicts an abstract image holding a book and seated in between two shadows of light with the suggestion that book illuminates the mind positively in ways unimaginable.

    On the white walls of Temple Muse, Butler’s oeuvres captures the subtle power struggle in different scenes and groups, through nuanced expression revealing the intricacies and complexity in people’s interpretation of the same thing.  His poetic interpretation of the world in works like Guardians of the Night, Volunteer and The Lure of the Moon 1 is deeply rooted in his profound understanding of how community and culture are inextricably linked with science, the natural world and technology.

    In his statement, Butler said there was peculiarity of objectivity and subjectivity within the mind and soul of the community, which he explores on each canvas with oil that took eight months to dry.

    Obiago said: “We are excited to showcase Victor Butler’s work for the first time in Nigeria adding that the complexity, sophistication and subtle depth of Bulter’s art definitely sets him apart as an African Master. Director of Temple Muse Mr. Avinash Wadhwani said Butler’s fantastic art also references the evolution of African design in a very futuristic way.

    Butler studied medicine and worked as an auto mechanic, information technology and furniture design. He was drawn to art while growing up seeing people who produced creative arts.