The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • Babawale for CBCIU lecture

    Babawale for CBCIU lecture

    The Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, Osun State, will hold its 2018 distinguished public lecture on Saturday, February 3.

    The guest lecturer is Professor of Political Economy and International Relations in the Department of Political Science at the University of Lagos, Prof. Tunde Babawale.

    Babawale, a former director-general of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), will speak on Protecting our national heritage, projecting our national treasure.

    CBCIU has since its inception in 2009 boosted research and culture, particularly about the black race. It has also promoted interactions among cultures.

    Its major objective is the promotion of inter-religious and cultural dialogues as well as fostering international peace and understanding.

    The Centre’s Board of Trustees is headed by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Osun State Governor and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Chairman.

    Other members of the board are the renowned doyen of higher education in Africa, Prof. Peter Okebukola, Emeritus Prof. Michael Omolewa; Chief Muraina Oyelami, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, Mr. Ayo Ayanwale and Mr. Augustus Ajibola, both of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, and Mr. Femi Adelegan, the Secretary to the Board of Trustees.

    The lecture also coincides with the birthday of Prince Oyinlola, who was born on February 3, 1951 into the family of Oba Moses Oyewole Oyinlola, the Olokuku of Okuku in Odo Otin Local Government Area of Osun State.

    Besides Osun State, Prince Oyinlola also served as Military Administrator of Lagos State.

     

  • Introducing world’s unrecognised superpower!

    Who is the greatest meat eater in the world? Not the lion! Who has one of the most sophisticated communication systems in the world? Not the Pentagon! Whose strength lies not in individuality but collectivity? Not the army! Who is the heaviest weight lifter in the world? Not Paul Anderson! Who is stronger than the world’s strongest astronaut? Not Neil Armstrong! Who is the answer to all the above? The ant is!

    Surprised? So was I when I discovered the feats of these seemingly insignificant creatures. The documentary titled: “Ants – Nature’s Secret Power” reveals that ants are the most efficient predators on earth because they consume more meat than the combination of lions, tigers and wolves. A single colony of ants is reputed to consume over 10 million insects in a year.

    Human nature tends to discountenance anything that is small- small businesses, small houses, small-statured people, small ideas, small pay, etc. According to Sigmund Freud, “It is impossible to escape the impression that people commonly use false standards of measurement – that they seek power, success and wealth for themselves and admire them in others, and that they underestimate what is of true value in life.”As the saying goes, big things come in small packages. Booker T. Washington also said, “Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the everyday things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon”.

    In the case of the ants, small is by no means a sign of weakness. Smallness is also not a definition of ability. Together, these creatures have been able to defeat formidable foes and sustained their colonies. Vincent Van Gogh puts it nicely that “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”. Ants are small but they are mighty.

    Something about these ants made the wisest man that ever lived to recommend them as instructors for a lazy man. He was obviously fascinated by their sense of coordination and diligence. Physical strength is nothing compared to exceptional coordination. When a group of strong and intelligent people are uncoordinated, confusion can only be the result. Skillfulness is nothing compared to cooperation. You can have a team of world-class football players play individual games on the field- each trying to demonstrate his superiority.

    As superior as human beings are to ants, our intelligence lies not in our ability to do all things excellently initially but in our ability to ask the right questions and seek the right answers. We are ever so conscious of the amount of knowledge out there that we are yet to acquire. That is what led us to the moon! That is what led us to great advancement in science! And that is why we need to learn from the ants. Join me in the next few weeks as we explore “ants’ recipe for success”.After this learning experience, you will never see the ants in your home the same way again. Don’t miss out on anything.

    I look forward to reading your stories of great successes and your comments. Share your views with me by visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu.

  • UNIC marks Holocaust with poster exhibition, others

    UNIC marks Holocaust with poster exhibition, others

    To  mark this year’s International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos, has organised a poster exhibition, entitled: The butterfly project: Remembering the children of the Holocaust.

    It was part of activities on  January 27, to draw attention to the lessons on the danger of extremism and the prevention of genocide.

    The event, which also featured film screening, entitled: The Path To Nazi Genocide, and a quiz competition on the Holocaust and the United Nations (UN), was observed last Thursday. It was indeed a profound learning experience in tolerance, seeking peace and shunning prejudice and hatred for 500 secondary school pupils and 96 teachers from the Education District 1 in Lagos.

    With this year’s theme as ‘Holocaust Remembrance and Education: Our Shared Responsibility’, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, observed that: “All of us have a responsibility to quickly, clearly and decisively resist racism and violence. Through education and understanding, we could build a future of dignity, human rights and peaceful coexistence for all.”

    Mr Guterres acknowledged in his message, delivered in Lagos by the Director of UNIC Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja, that decades since the Second World War, “we see the persistence of anti-Semitism and an increase in other forms of prejudice.” He said: “We must stand together against the normalisation of hate. Whenever and wherever humanity’s values are abandoned, we are all at risk.”

    It would be recalled that in rejecting any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, the General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/7) by consensus condemning “without reserve” all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, whenever they occur.

    Explaining why the UN was commemorating the Day, Mr Kayanja said that it was one of the saddest moments in human history and that was why the UN General Assembly decided that every January 27; the world should remember the saddest event so that it would not happen again. “We are talking to the students because we do not want a future where a human being kills another human being just because they are different from him or her or they are of different tribes or religions.” He added.

    Speaking, the Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary of Lagos Education District 1, Dr Abiose Ayandele, urged everyone to treat each other as fellow human beings and learn to live in peace and make the world a better place. The Tutor General who was represented by the District’s Director of School Administration, Mrs Akor, added that “We are all one created by one and the same God. No one is superior to the other.”

    The pupils displayed a brilliant demonstration of knowledge of the Holocaust and the lessons derived from the presentations. For Daniel Idulagbe (10 years old) of Meiran Community Junior High School, the experience taught him to steer clear of any form of racism, anti-Semitism, prejudice or hatred against anyone. While explaining his lessons learnt, 12 years old Akinfewa Boluwatife of Alimosho Junior Grammar school), said: “We should not discriminate against anyone or any religion or belief. There should be no room for intolerance.”

    Curating the poster exhibition, the National Information Officer of UNIC Lagos, Dr Oluseyi Soremekun, explained that the Poster Exhibition showed what happened to young people, and what happened to their hopes and dreams, during a very difficult time in world history known as the Holocaust.  “The Nazis were racist and anti-Semitic. The Nazis were anti-Semitic because they were prejudiced against Jewish people. The Nazis believed that people were born inferior or superior depending on the colour of their skin or their religious beliefs,” he said.

    The quiz competition started with 200 pupils from 99 schools out of whom 20 from 10 schools qualified for the finals. At the end of the finals, Chigozie Ndubusi and Mosimiloluwa Adebisi (Shasha Senior Community College) emerged first place winners; Barakat Adekanbi and Jessica Opara (Ipaja Junior College) came second; while Augustine Valentine (Stadium Junior Grammar school) was third place winner.

     

  • Artiste donates to the less privileged

    Artiste donates to the less privileged

    gospel artiste, song writer, speaker and television host, Anu Akinlagun, has donated some items to the less privileged in the society.

    Akinlagun, Founder of Mulc Foundation, donated items worth thousands of naira to Modupe Cole Child Care and Treatment Home in Akoka, Lagos.

    The items, including toiletries, cartons of Indomie Noddle’s, cartons of biscuits, detergents, drinks, cloths, books, sweets, snacks and Custard Powder, was her own way of giving back to the society.

    At the presentation of the items, many of the children at the Home hugged and shook hands with Akinlagun and other members of the foundation.

    MULC Foundation led the children into praises, which many of them sang and  danced to. The children at the Home could not hide their joy of receiving Mulc Foundation in their midst. Even though some of them could not talk, their smiles, expressions and gestures to members of the foundation said it all.

    The foundation also gave gifts to the head teacher and the assistant head teacher of the Home.

    According to Akinlagun, the foundation is about caring for the less privilege children as well as the disabled. “We are here to let them know that they are loved and that they have not been abandoned. We aim to make the life of everyone count by impacting other people’s lives.

    “MULC Foundation is a nongovernmental organisation that was founded on the bedrock of love for the less privileged and children in particular. We initiate projects that provide children with educational support, health care and welfare.

    “Our mission is to ensure that every under privilege child we come across or that comes through our path gets that warmth of love and that reassuring comfort of belonging to a family. We aim to create a safe haven for the distressed child. Our vision is to build a home/shelter for abandoned, orphaned and abused children; to set up a legal team and system that defends and protects child rights and privileges.

    We also aim to train and build children’s mental capacity especially the less privileged and abused ones, to organise skill acquisition  and empowerment forums for them in order to move them from  dependability to becoming job providers,” she said.

    She added: “We chose to visit Modupe Cole Child Care and Treatment Home, because it is not just a home for the underprivileged children, it is also a treatment home. We have been following them for some months and we appreciate their efforts in taking care of these children. We believe that children in the Home also deserve to be loved and happy. This is why we decided to visit them with food items, clothing’s, toiletries and drinks among other things.

    “Aside the children, we also gave gifts to the head teacher and her assistant for a job well done. “

    She urged all well-meaning Nigerians to visit the Home and see how the kids with different kinds of deformities ranging from cerebral palsy to other varying forms of mental challenges and physical challenges live; they are skilled, they need love and care, they need to be given a sense of hope and belonging,” she said.

    MULC Foundation Project Supervisor, Alexander Chude, said the gesture was to extend the love of Christ.

    “When Jesus Christ was in the world, he healed the sick and fed the poor. This is what MULC foundation is replicating today.  The significance of today’s gathering is to spread the love of Christ and the joy that comes with it.

    “These children have potentials in becoming great people in future. There is ability in disability because when there is life there is hope.”

    He urged the children to keep their faith alive.

    Head Teacher, Modupe Cole Child Care and Treatment Home, Mrs Rabiu Sherifat, thanked the foundation for the gesture.

    She called on other private institutions as well as the state government to be of assistance to the Home, noting that although the state government has put in efforts towards the Home, but government cannot do it alone and the Home needs more to cater for the children.

    “The Home, established by late Modupe Cole in 1960, now has over 450 children of which the oldest is 66 years,” she said.

     

     

  • ‘Father threw me out because of art’

    ‘Father threw me out because of art’

    Former National President, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Kolade Oshinowo will turn 70 on February 6. In 2004, the Federal Government conferred the renowned artist with the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM). Oshinowo speaks with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME on the price he paid for choosing to study fine art, why he left King’s College, Lagos as an art teacher, his post- retirement experience and his love for drawing, among other issues.

    Going by his track record Kolade Oshinowo, 70   has attained the status of a living legend. He rose to become Deputy Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos between 1992 and 1996 before retiring on February 28, 2008. Apart from being a prolific painter, Oshinowo’s concerns go beyond aesthetics on canvas. He uses his paintings  to draw attention to critical issues in the society.

    In 2016, during his solo exhibition Changing Times, held at Terra Kulture Gallery, Lagos, Oshinowo noted that the nation was going through troubling times. “My current output includes works that attempt to reflect our dark side and the consequences of several wrong choices we have made as a nation. Negative reports have invariably overshadowed what we always assumed to be our ‘normal’ life. Our state of wickedness and penchant for ‘man’s inhumanity to man’ has continued to assault our collective psyche, robbing us of our genuine desire for progress,” he said.

    He has been a campaigner for a saner society using his paintings since 1998 and he is still painting. “There is hopelessness in the land, so we seek God’s intervention. I work with a great deal of energy and passion; unending streams of responses to various stimuli within our socio-economic, political, cultural and environmental space. Decades of uninterrupted studio practice, searching, researching, exploring and discovering has often resulted in my desire to outdo myself.

    “I try to subject reality to a preferential process of selection and choosing only what  is in concert or harmony with my own disposition. I allow my paintings to talk to me in a meditative engagement process in the course of my work. This dialogue has enabled me to give life to a large body of work,” he said.

    Turning 70

    It is a thing of joy to be celebrated at 70. But, do I really deserve it? I just try to enjoy what I do and also enjoy the peace of mind. My private life is difficult to separate from my academic life.

    I joined Yaba College of Technology as a 25-year-old man in 1974. Prof Yusuf Grillo influenced my joining the college. Until then I was a teacher at King’s College, Lagos, but observed that most of my students would drop art while enrolling for O’Levels because they want to study engineering or medicine. On that basis, the option to join Yaba Tech became attractive. But, having spent over three decades there, my students were becoming Heads of Department and Dean. So, it was a signal that my time was up. And I threw in the towel 10 years ago.

    I always tell my friends never wait in doing anything worth doing now.

    For me, to be 70 is a matter of numbers  but age is telling on the frame no doubt. In those days, I could paint for seven  to eight hours non-stop, but today I have to stop and continue again. One needs to slow down a little. However, making it to 70 in good health is God’s grace.

    Realisation of his dream

    If I had followed my late father’s instructions, I wouldn’t have been fulfilled. And if I have to come back to this world again, I will remain an artist. I am glad there are lots of art schools in the country today unlike during our time.

    My secondary school days were memorable. My late father believed strongly in only three professions: Medicine, Engineering and Law. He wanted me to study sciences. As a result, he moved me from one school to another in search of where sciences are well taught. Fortunately for me, in the course of that movement, I got to a school that has a good art room. That was my main attraction. In that school, the art teacher, Pa Osu often handed over the class to me to take charge. In fact, three persons made me realised my dream as artist.

    Pa Osu, my art teacher, is one of them. He would enter me for art competition without my knowledge. Most times, I got awards and I would be presented with item on the assembly ground. The second person was Mr. Banjoko, the manager at the bank where I worked after leaving secondary school. While at the bank, I used to sketch many of our customers without knowing that the manager was watching me. One day he asked what would I like to study? Unknown to me, he had checked the sketch pad in my drawer in my absence and saw all the drawings.

    Shocked by the question I summoned courage to answer I would study for AIB and ICAN, which are professional courses in the banking industry. Unsatisfied, he repeated the question again. It was then I realised he was up to something serious. I then told him I would like to study fine art. He replied saying go and get admission and leave the bank.

    The third person was my late sister who cared for me when my father threw me out of the house because of art. She gave me support when it matters most in my life then.

    First bold step

    When I was seeking admission into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, I went with my drawings while some students went with giant paintings on canvas. I have always been  the champion for drawing skill. If you are good as an artist, you cannot starve except you are lazy. Drawing skill comes naturally. My focus has been on studio practice despite my years in the academy. And as my incentive to drawing, I will give a prize for it on my birth day.

    Post retirement years

    The whole essence of my retirement was to have enough time for my studio work. Again, artists do not retire. Since I left Yaba Tech 10 years ago, I have had more time to paint because no supervising of any project, no rushing to sign in at school and no teaching of students. It actually gave me more time to practise and the beauty of it all is that I retired to something tangible. Sometimes at some social functions I do go blank with little or no interest in the happenings around me because my mind was in the studio.

    Events lined up for his celebration

    Art community in Lagos has set aside the month of February to celebrate the former Deputy Rector Yaba College of Technology, Lagos beginning with a three-day workshop organised by Prof Peju Layiwola at the Women and Youth Art Foundation in Surulere Lagos on February 5. This will be followed by a drawing session organised by Olu Ajayi tagged Kolade Oshinowo Before the Artists at the Art Complex, Yaba College of Technology on Thursday February 8. There will also be an Art Stampede in his honour on Friday February 9 at the Art Complex Yabatech, by 4pm.

    On Saturday February 10, a retrospective exhibition of Oshinowo’s works will hold at Mydrim Gallery, Ikoyi Lagos by 4pm. Also, the SNA Lagos chapter will also be celebrating Oshinowo during its SNA Week, which shall hold from February 16 to 23. On February 17, at Terra Kulture Lagos, Moses Oghagbon will hold an exhibition in celebrating Kolade Oshinowo.

    The School of Art, Design and Printing Technology, Yaba College of Technology will on February 23 hold an exhibition tagged Living legend: A tribute to Mr. Kolade Oshinowo. There will be an international conference from April 4 to 6, featuring scholars and writers who will unravel Oshinowo, the man and his art, and provide answers to who is Kolade Oshinowo? Papers presented at the conference will be published into a book.

    Oshinowo will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala night on April 6 sponsored by the Society of Nigerian Artists. All the events are being organised by Lagos State government, Society of Nigerian Artists, Yaba College of Technology, Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos, Nigerian Society for Education through Arts, Cultural and Creative Arts Foundation, Agufon Publications, Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, CORA, Mydrim Gallery, OYASAF, Phephe Planet Productions among others.

  • JK Randle Centre: From recreation to heritage promotion

    JK Randle Centre: From recreation to heritage promotion

    For almost 90 years, the J K Randle Centre at Onikan Lagos, was one of the top class facilities that served as venues for swimming, recreation and entertainment. It was established in 1928 as a memorial by five friends of the late John K. Randle. The facility was until recently managed by JK Randle Memorial Fund, whose members have all passed on. Unfortunately, the centre has become redundant.

    The centre originally accommodated Swimming Pool and Love Garden. The memorial hall was added later after the death of JK Randle.  In September 2016, the facility had deteriorated badly and unable to offer services which it was originally meant to provide. Specifically, the swimming pool and hall presented renovation challenges, health and safety predicament, which necessitated its demolition and development as J K Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History by the Lagos State government.

    Facilities at the new centre cover wider areas, which include exhibition hall, multipurpose hall, library, Orientation room/learning spaces, gift shop and lounge. Others are restaurant, kitchen, sit- outs, store tennis court, swimming pool water fountain and car park.

    Last Tuesday, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, took a bold step at redeveloping the centre as a tourist  site by laying its foundation stone. The project is being handled by Kaiser Construction company. Governor Ambode reiterated his administration’s commitment to transforming  Onikan-Marina axis into  world class tourism hub that would go a long way to restore the lost glory of Lagos Island.

    He said the centre, originally built in 1928, was one of the centres that provided avenues for recreation and entertainment, but that the state government has embarked on projects to regenerate, redesign and reactivate special cultural and tourist infrastructure in the state and convert them to centres of recreation, tourism and entertainment.

    “In recent times, the centre has become redundant serving uses other than those for which it was built, before falling to great neglect and disrepair. As a result, the Lagos State government decided to redevelop the centre and we are here for the ground-breaking ceremony of the new J.K. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History. In the past, the centre provided recreational services to the Lagos populace, but the new J. K. Randle Centre will do a lot more,” the Governor said.

    According to him, the new centre, among other things, consists of an Exhibition Centre, a Library, a Multi-Purpose Hall, Learning Spaces, Restaurant and Lounges, while the centre will also retain its swimming pool and sports facilities as well as a pavilion for stage performances.

    Governor Ambode said aside the J.K Randle redevelopment, his administration has also embarked on the development of the Eko Park which will comprise of the Lagos Heritage Centre for Leadership at the former Presidential Lodge Marina, the Lagos History Centre at the former State House Marina and a Lagos Museum as well as the erection of a 55-feet Eyo Statue at the Lagos History Centre.

    Besides, the governor listed the ongoing upgrading of the Onikan Stadium to a standard sports arena, regeneration of CMS Marina and Multi-Layer Car Parks around Onikan as other developments coming to the Onikan-Marina axis.

    “All these will serve as a catalyst for the rest of the regeneration of Lagos Island, restoring it to its former glory, while reinforcing the position of Lagos State as one of the world’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan and exciting places to experience,” he said.

    He noted that the state government decided to retain the name J. K. Randle in recognition of the exploits of the late Lagos socialite, Governor Ambode thanked the present Board of Trustees comprising Chief Femi Majekodunmi, Mr. Femi Adeniyi-Williams and Bashorun J. K. Randle for their support and cooperation towards the redevelopment initiative.

    He said in course of the project, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund would collaborate with the construction company, Kaiser to use the construction site as a training ground for over 200 Artisans and construction Entrepreneurs’ under the  Lagos State Employability Support Project.

    A member of the Board of Trustees J K Randle  Centre, Dr Femi Majekodunmi, thanked Governor Ambode for redevelopment of JK. Randle Centre as envisioned by the late J.K Randle, who was a close friend of his father.

    “There are two performing  governors that I know  have made up of their pledge, you are one of them, the other, I’ll keep the other 35 guessing”, Majekodunmi said.

    Majekodunmi used the occasion to publicly announce that Governor Ambode has compensated the present board of trustees of the centre, adding that the responsibility given to them will be carried out to the letter.

    “Every single kobo will be spent on that edifice which we are also going to put up in Lagos. We might even add our own money. We want to be a little of an Oliver Twist, and we want either an existing building or open piece of land not in Lekki, but in Lagos I grew up in. What you are doing here is fantastic and I applaud you.

    I also like the idea that the architects on site are sensitive and mindful of the environment, saying they will preserve some of the trees on site. This shows some elements of sensitivity, which I applaud. Please continue to be sensitive not only to the environment but also to the people of Lagos,” he said.

    He recalled his time as a resident in Lagos Island: “Every day, I walk past there and in the afternoon, I swim over there.  We used to know how it was then till the time it was demolished.But, after his death, his very good friends and committed Lagosians, which included my father, Dr M.A. Majekodunmi, Chief Alhaji I.S. Adewale and other trustees decided to immortalise this illustrious son of Lagos, J.K Randle. But with this what you have done, you have beaten us to it,” Majekodunmi said.

    Former Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development,  who is now in charge of Works and Infrastructure Ministry, Engr Ade Akinsanya said the facility will be on the same axis with an ultra-modern centre, a multi-layer car park, Eko Park, New Lagos Museum, the 55 ftEyo statue and the Lagos Historical Centre.

    The JK Randle Centre will comprise of three main entities: Centre for History and Culture; Exhibition centre with indoor and outdoor performance facility, auditorium and library.It will also include lawn tennis, swimming pool, car park and well maintained landscaping for relaxation.

    According to Akinsanya, the good thing about the centre is that it will retain the concept of the old love garden to provide the much needed open space. “From this moment on, Onikan axis will not be the same again because the governor has embarked on series of projects that will transform the axis. This time next year, we will witness a different environment. On completion, the centre will be tourists’ attraction and cultural centre that communicates the history and culture of Yoruba people. It will also showcase the rich cultural heritage Yoruba race.

    It will help to reawaken the spirit of love for creation and relaxation which Lagosians are known for. It will bring back the deep love to relax and enjoy after the hard day’s work,” he added.

    Deputy Speaker Lagos House of Assembly, Wasiu Eshinlokun Sanni was excited and agitated of what thecentre would become. He thanked the governor for his commitment to the development of Lagos.

    The objectives of the JK Randle Centre project include, to create visitor attraction and cultural Centre that communicates History and Culture of the Yoruba people in order to preserve and showcase our rich cultural and historical heritage, to satisfy the long desire of Lagosians for a public place relaxation and exploration, executing the Eko generation park master plan which serves as a catalyst for the rest of regeneration of Lagos Island, restoring it to its former glory and serving as tourist attraction for foreigners.

  • Celebrating two generations of art, artists

    Celebrating two generations of art, artists

    Their contributions to the development of art and talents of diverse ages earned them a prestigious place as celebrators.They were honoured at the Artists Social Forum held at Tafas As the president of SNA, Grillo would sell his works to fund activities of the association, even when he was no longer president. I am happy that the three of us are still alive today House in Lagos. One of Brazilian descent and the other a Benin princess behold the art maestros – Yusuf Grillo and Peju Layiwola. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

    Their ingenuity and contributions would be remembered for generations to come. Beyond being exceptional artists, they are both teachers and mentors of artists. Welcome two art maestros belonging to different generations to the Artists Social Forum held at the famed Tafas House, Lagos. The celebration of the former Head of the Department of Art and Printing at Yaba College of Technology, Yusuf  Grillo, and professor of Art history at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Peju Layiwola, brought together artists, curators, patrons and other art stakeholders.

    But it was no ordinary feast. Beyond feting the art maestros, the event raised some concerns over the dire need of selfless mentors/leaders as the two celebrators and proper legislation in the creative sector as scholars examined the art and times of the celebrator. On the panel were Chief Fasuyi, Mike Omoighe, Dr Kunle Filani, Elder Jerome, Elaiho, Bruce Onobrakpeya, who was represented by his son, Mudiare, and Bunmi Davies. The discourse also focused on past, present and future Nigeria’s art direction.

    The forum, which was sponsored by Chief Banjo Fasuyi and Elder Jerome Elaiho, was moderated by Mufu Onifade.

    According to the Dean School of Art, Design and Printing, YABATECH, and one of the events’ conveners, Dr Kunle Adeyemi, besides celebrating achievers in the art sector, the event was meant to bring together like-minds in the sector with a view to generating meaningful discourse around and promoting the arts.

    While calling for selfless service from among the artists and its leadership, the convener, he urged all to draw from the examples of Grillo and Layiwola who are always eager to support the work of art and mentor artists.  .

    “Grillo is generous with time, discourse regarding the art and with his money. He often urged that we should enjoy our lives while it last.  Artist should be proactive on local, national and international issues. Layiwola is no different. She has gone beyond the art practice and academia to impacting knowledge to the community around her,” Adeyemi said.

    Eighty-four year old Grillo, whose family settled at Campos Area of Lagos, is considered one of Nigeria’s outstanding and academically trained painters. He came to prominence and international recognition in the 1960s and 1970s, while exhibiting a large collection of his early works. He makes use of his western art training in many of his paintings, combining western art techniques with traditional Yoruba sculpture characteristics.

    Recounting his days with Grillo, the veteran artist and colleague of the celebrator, Fasuyi, described Grillo as “a very modest and honest man” who supported and funded the young artists and art projects for the good of other artists. Fasuyi, who was Secretary-General when Grillo was president of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), stated that, he, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya, Grillo and three others formed association.”As the president of SNA, Grillo would sell his works to fund activities of the association, even when he was no longer president. I am happy that the three of us are still alive today to see arts appreciated and artists celebrated. In our days it was not so; we braced the odds and set a trail that paved a way for others after. We thank God.”

    He urged older artists to mentor and immortalise themselves in the younger one, while advising artists to go beyond selling their works to archiving them for posterity. “We chose to celebrate Grillo like we did Onobrakpeya earlier and Layiwola because of their contributions to the development and teaching/training of young talents to encourage others to do same.”

    “Pa Onabolu taught him art in school, but he wanted to study Mathematics,” began Grillo’s protégé, Mike Omoighe while speaking on the art and times of the celebrator, “Grillo art teaches us to make conscious efforts to search into our roots and make efforts to recreate new ideas that propagate our culture. And that we should guide our space as artists.

    “After school, he worked as a draughtsman.  In Ahamadu Bello University (ABU), he was teaching engineering and architectural studies. He explored African forms: he used semi-abstract and his environment chacterises his art. Some of his works reflect Lagos robust social life (Kusimi Laya) and highlife (Seefe). He is one artist that uses his wife as model. He created the 3-dimensional mask effect that shows his mathematical inclination, such as Igi Nla,” Omoighe, who lectures at YABATECH, added.

    Like Grillo, Layiwola’s role in the promotion of art and training of artist is noteworthy, it was said.  Layiwola (50), who is also the Head of Department of Creative Arts at UNILAG, is an established artist with over two decades of experience and practice. Since 1994, she has been teaching and nurturing talents within and outside the academia and run an art charity WYArt focusing on training women and youths. She also recorded DVDs on diverse vocations that train and sell crafts/arts.

    A friend and colleague, Stella Awoh, called Layiwola a “multitalented artist” and a “Jack of all trade and master of all”. “She is a Progress-31 woman and a highly talented and hardworking artist who sometimes sleeps in the office. She is tough: her ‘no’ is ‘no’ and ‘yes’, ‘yes’. To be on her good books as a young artist, you better get it right’,” Awoh, who is also the Vice President of Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), said.

    Art connoisseur Mudiare, who represented his father, Onobrakpeya, said Grillo helped nurture the art in him. “Although I studied economics, my confidence in myself and my art was built from my early days in Corona School because at age eight or nine because Grillo decided to sponsor a prize which I won in 1975. He is an epitome of the finest of society of artists.

    Filani praised the quality of works by Grillo and Fasuyi’s generation of artists, urging younger ones to borrow a leaf from their examples and commitment to the arts. He encouraged his fellow artists to seek to contextualise history through their art, observing that the study of the life of an artist is contextualised in their works.

    While describing Grillo, who is her uncle,as being “very generous with time and money”, Layiwola described him  as a “giver, a teacher who is ready to spread knowledge”. “These are virtues lots of us should take away.”

     

  • Pomp as DG visits Rotary Club

    Pomp as DG visits Rotary Club

    AS part of his official duties, the District (9110) Governor Rotary International Dr Adewale Ogunbadejo has visited Rotary Club, Lagos Island. It was his first since his inauguration. The event held in Victoria Island, Lagos, with a dinner to round up the ceremony.

    It was a colourful outing as members wore a specially designed ankara uniform.

    Unlike other clubs, they presented a special Indian dance to entertain the DG and his wife, Funmi, and other members of the entourage. The dance troupe led by Pritie was made up of two females and a male Nigerian. The club’s Secretary, Mamta Deb Roy, who doubled as MC, explained that the dance titled, Odyssi, dated back to the 12th century.

    Welcoming the DG and his team, which included an Assistant Governor KayodeAderinokun, and senior officials of the District’s office, the Rotary Club, Lagos Island President, Mr SanjeevTandon, said he was glad to host Ogunbadejo. Expectedly, he gave a report of the club’s activities and programmes, which included planting of trees, adoption of two schools, free eye surgery in Kano, holding of blood donation camps, and anti-polio programmes.

    Others were holding of a breast cancer campaign, vocational training and formation of a Rotaract club and offering of a Youth award.

    Tandon said some associations donated to the club. These were Vama Foundation, N.5million and the British International School (BIS) Rotaract Club members led by Sonia Bendre, donated  N100,000, to its anti-polio programme.

    Tandon announced that the club had attracted $182,000 from a sister club in Singapore for its artificial limbs project.

    A screen display of all the projects was shown to the audience. The club’s Vice President, Dr Sunit D. Roy, explained every project as the tape rolled.

    Ogunbadejo was impressed by the achievements of the Lagos Island club. He praised them highly, saying their achievements were unbeatable. “Your club has done so much within four months. You are truly Rotarians. You have the passion. Hopefully, the future is bright,” he said.

    He scored the club very high in all the focal areas of Rotary, charging them not to rest on their oars. “This is the first time that I will only be saying thank you during my visit,’’ he added.

    Some corporate members of the club were honoured at the event. They were Sterling Bank, Prestige Assurance, Radio 99.3 FM, Vama Foundation, and Indian Women Association (IWA).

  • Historical facts turn poetic truths

    Historical facts turn poetic truths

    The critical and political discussions generated by some of the exhibits at last November’s maiden art show, Modern and Contemporary African Arts Pavilion of the African Culture and Design Festival(ACDF) held in Lagos, were not lost to the frenzy of the festival. Curated by Bisi Silva, the festival provided ample opportunity for Tobeena Okwuosa to show his body of work titled: From Historical Facts to Poetic Truths.

    He said: “I started exploring texts and ideas in modern and contemporary Nigerian literature in 2010. In 2015, I began a practice-based project that referenced Wole Soyinka’s civil war memoir, The Man Died, Chinua Achebe’s There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra, and Christopher Okigbo’s Labyrinths. The plan was to show the resulting artworks in a solo exhibition in 2017 – 50 years after the declaration of the Republic of Biafra that existed from 1967 to 1970; and 50 years after the death of Christopher Okigbo who died on the war front in 1967, fighting on the side of Biafra”.

    He noted that the war incidences are the historical facts, while the poetic truths are works based on Christopher Okigbo’s poems, adding that the issues of the Biafra Civil War are highly sensitive because a significant number of people would prefer we don’t talk about them.

    For Okwuosa, a lecturer at the Niger Delta Univeristy, Amassama Bayelsa State, such issues must be discussed in a very open and honest way, in order to at least, heal the psychological wounds of the victims of the civil war. “Although the Federal Government said at the end of the war that there was no victor, and no vanquished, yet the side that surrendered believed that they have been treated in ways that show that they are the “vanquished.

    “The unaddressed injustices and pogroms–before and after the war–have given rise to a new wave of agitation for Biafra. It started with the Movement for the Actualisation of Biafra (MASSOB) founded by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike in 1999. The agitation reached a crescendo last year with the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) whose director was Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

    He disclosed that he undertook the project in order to generate critical and honest discourses on the war, saying that I am aware that those who fail to know and remember their history, will not be able to deal with their present challenges, and will certainly have a more chaotic future.

    “It is sad that we know a lot about Western history, but very little about ours. Our history must be taught in schools! When the Vice President got to my booth, he said: “This is political.” I responded in the affirmative, and further said that I was more interested in it as a historical subject. I said to him that I am not in support of the call for secession. I emphasised that our diversity is a great advantage that we have not explored sufficiently,” he said.

    He listed activities such as the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra, Olu Oguibe’s presentation of Biafra Time Capsule at the Documenta 14 in Germany and Oguibe’s organised conference Biafra’s Children: A Survivors’ Gathering as part of fallout of the lingering agitation.

    He explained that his work at the festival and that of Oguibe were the only visual art projects that thematised the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War in 2017 (the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra). He observed that the lack of interest in historical and political topics among contemporary Nigerian artists was identified by the Black-British artist and curator, Eddie Chambers, in 2000. Chambers was a guest speaker at a programme in Lagos that was organised by the Institute of Visual Arts and Culture (IVAC) which later metamorphosed into the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos.

    “I consider this body of work, a modest and yet significant contribution to an art world in which art on trite themes dominates. It engages with our history, and it also celebrates Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Christopher Okigbo, whose books inspired the artworks,” he noted.

  • Rant HQ raises concerns over welfare of IDPs

    A group Rant HQ, has raised concerns over the livelihood and welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    The Facebook group members, led by founder, Ms Suzan Ade Coker, made the observation during the group’s humanitarian outreach to the IDPs in Apo Mechanic Village area of Abuja.

    While urging them to be reliable to their host communities, she advised them to be law abiding while struggling to earn a living and return to normal life.

    She said: “We commend your efforts at fending for yourselves and your families but we want to urge you to continue to be good to your host community and assist the government in the maintenance of peace and security in the area.”

    With the coordination mechanism of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the group, which boasts of over 100,000 members, donated to the IDPs food items such as noodles, tomato puree and rice as well as non-food items such as detergents, clothing and toiletries.

    Although she observed that the relief items would not resolve the challenges of displacement, she said “the materials are our widow’s mite to demonstrate that we share in your plight and we truly care”.

    Reacting to the number of school-age children at the place, she encouraged parents to enrol their children in schools. “Please allow your children to attend schools in the neighbourhood. Every opportunity to get them educated should be seized. We know this is not much but every little help is all that matters.”

    In his response, the men’s leader of the IDPs, Mr Lawal Chakule, praised RantHQ for its kind gestures and love that transcends tribe, religion and geographical location. He acknowledged the support of the host community and assured that the IDPs would remember RantHQ in their prayers.

    The visit to the IDPs in Abuja was the round-up of a two-week humanitarian outreach which started  last December at Ajegunle; moved to Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos; and in collaboration with Black Diamond Support Foundation fed 5,000 kids; provided 5000 printed notebooks, 1000 water bottles and 100 mosquito nets. Rant HQ also extended its helping hands to the less-privileged children of Ogodoh, a suburb of Mende Maryland Lagos.