Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

Last year was a mixed grill for the art sector. The sector bubbled with exciting creative events across the country despite the economic downturn, but it mourned some of its own. EVELYN OSAGIE reviews happenings in the scene in the outgone year.

January 2016 came with its drama. Nothing prepared the hearts of the arts sector players and enthusiasts for what was to come. Without time to prepare, recession came upon the citizenry, forcing all sorts of adjustments. But the arts, its players and art lovers would not be daunted.
Due to the economic downturn, critics say but was a most trying period for the sector, yet the arts flourished. New art galleries were opened, even as a few were closed. Theatre and cinema flourished with some shows selling out.

The fight
The year began with a shocker when a prominent member of the Lagos art community, performance artist Jelili Atiku was arrested by the police on Monday, January 18 and hurriedly arraigned and remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison for three days. He was accused of conspiring with Fatai Oluwa, Lasis Muraina, Adede Goloba and Monsurat Fasola to commit felony – public disturbance – with his performance on January 14 along Ifoshi Road, Ejigbo.
The arts community went on rampage, with the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA). It petitioned Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode over the detention and harassment of the artist. He was released on bail on Wednesday, January 20. At the end of his travail, Jelili urged “the local, state and Federal Government to look at issue of security in Nigeria”.
As the arts community was about breathing a sigh of relief, the Artists’Village within the premises of the National Arts Theatre, Lagos was ‘attacked’. This time, the space, known for its rich creativity, was demolished, following an alleged directive from the National Arts Theatre General Manager, Kabiru Yusuf, on Saturday, January 23.
Again, the community protested the matter. Led by the Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, they called for investigation into the demolition.
He urged the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to look into the problems of the affected residents, their damaged properties and provide temporary accommodation for artists whose structures had been demolished pending compensation for the artists and rebuilding of such structures.
Soyinka urged that the displaced artists and their works be relocated to the vacant offices of the National Film Corporation (NFC) and the Centre for Black Arts and Africa Civilisation (CBAAC) at the National Theatre.

The arts blast
However, January was not all about protests. Arts flourished despite the biting recession. More than any other year, the events calendar of Goethe-Institut Nigeria was packed with programmes across genres as diverse as video and sound art, spoken word and performance art, electronic music and graphic novels. And the turnout was just as much. It began the year with a spoken word advocacy event, marking the 16th International Literature Festival in Berlin.
The event, put together by AJ House of Poetry, Goethe-Institut Nigeria, PEN International and other literary platforms in Nigeria, was also part of the worldwide reading for poet and art curator Ashraf Fayadh facing execution in Saudi Arabia for exercising the freedom he found in his art. It held at Freedom Park, Lagos. The event opened Institut to many more throughout the year, such as literary crossroads.
The British Council was not left out. It began the year with its Lagos Theatre Festival founded in 2013. It had 109 shows, 35 companies and 5,500 theatre goers in attendance. The festival was part of the British Council UK-Nigeria 2015/16 season. The council also held a performance project, Acting Together, supporting communities across the North and the Niger Delta, such as Yinka Shonibare, iconic Wind Sculpture Victoria Island in Lagos and Laura Aldridge’s textile workshop and installation of ceramic vessels in Abuja, entitled: Go Woman Go!
The visual artist had a flourishing year as diverse exhibitions by established and newcomers held across the country. Lagos had a major share. Victor Ehikhamenor made a comeback with his Infinite Treasures II in Terrakulture. Omenka gallery and Nike Art gallery also had their feel.
2016 was an eventful year for QDance Center. Founded by celebrated Nigerian dancer and choreographer Qudus Onikeku, held master classes, dance/photo exhibitions and a command performance. Onikeku’s dance creation, We Almost Forgot, first premiered in Berlin, and later in Lagos and Abuja. It featured six dancers and an actress from six countries (Nigeria, Gabon, Morocco, Algeria, Madagascar France).
As part of activities commemorating Lagos State’s golden jubilee on May 27, 1967, tagged: LAGOS@50, the Vision of the Child (VoTC) literary and painting arts competition was used to begin its chain of artistic events. With the theme, Sisi-Eko@50: Ageing gracefully? Or Na So-So Pancake?, the 2016 edition featured pupils from 200 public and private schools (primary and secondary). The anniversary continues as Lagos Under The Lens (50 Films about Lagos). It will hold every Monday till May, this year.
Former Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education Prof Hope Eghagha and University of Lagos (UNILAG) don presented his long-awaited biography of his kidnap.

Birthdays and awards
Acclaimed thespian Taiwo Ajai-Lycett rolled out the party drums to celebrate her 75th birthday. She unveiled her book Just Sharing at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The event was graced by dignitaries, such as Chief Olusegun Osoba, Mrs Francesca Emanuel, Mrs Iretiola Doyle and Mr Tunde Kelani, and Ambassador Folake Marcus Bello.
Last year, Soyinka clocked 82. The organisers of Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) marked his birthday a colloquium and an exhibition at his country home in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The ancient town of Iseyin, Oyo State, was agog when Soyinka visited it. The Nobel laurate was there for the Ebedi International Writers Residency. At the event, the administrators of the residence honoured Soyinka and three other iconic writers by naming its rooms after them.
Soyinka not only unveiled the plaques for the rooms but instituted an exchange programme between Ebedi and the Wole Soyinka Residency in Abeokuta.
The “publisher of publishers”, Chief Joop Berkhout, celebrated his 50 years of publishing. It was organised by the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) in Lagos.
The “Bariga boy” Segun Adefila turned 44 last year. The founder of Crown Troupe was celebrated by the art community with cerebral and theatrical events.
The Committee of Relevant Arts (CORA) held its 25th anniversary. With the theme, 25 Years of Culture Advocacy: What gains? What prospects?, the art community thronged out in their numbers to celebrate its contributions to the development of the sector.
Nigeria’s Broadway-like musical drama, Wakaa! The Musical, toured London last year. The Bolanle Austen-Peters Production has landed a slot in London’s world-class theatre district, and became the first Nigerian musical to make it to the Shaw Theatre in the British capital.
Abubakar Adam Ibrahim won last year’s $100, 000 Nigeria Prize for Literature sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG). His novel, Season of Crimson Blossoms, emerged winner from a total 172 entries received for the contest.

The sector mourn its own
The news of the death of the literary icon Capt. Elechi Amadi (rtd.) came as a big blow to the art community. He died at 82 on June 29 and was laid to rest at his family compound in Aluu, Rivers State, on December 3. Several activities were held in his honour.
And by September 4, the world woke up to the death of award-winning novelist and one of the pioneers of oral literature Prof. Isidore Okpewho. He was buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, New Jersey, United States on Saturday, September 17.
As if on rampage, the wicked hands of death took away the son of the late Saro-Wiwa, Kenule Bornale Saro-Wiwa Jr on October 21. He reportedly died after a heart attack, and was buried on November 11, in Bletchingley, London.
Death also visited the family of foremost novelist and traditional ruler, Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike, and took way his son Prince Osita. He was 54. He reportedly died of asthma attack on December 17.

Festivals
Besides, exhibitions, book presentation, recognitions, anniversaries and deaths, diverse artistic festival held last year. Renowned writer Ngugi Wa Thiong’o made Nigeria’s headlines when he visited the ancient city of Abeokuta to attend the Ake Arts and Book Festival. Ngugi feasted with other younger renowned writers, such as Okey Ndibe,Alain Mabanckou, Helon Habila, Laila Lalami, Petina Gappah, Teju Cole and others, at the festival.
Last year’s edition of the Lagos State Book and Art Festival (LABAF) by the CORA was in honour of the 20th anniversary of the death of Ken Saro Wiwa. It had as theme, The Terror of Knowledge.
The sixth edition of Lights Camera Africa!!! Film Festival held in Lagos, and the seventh edition of the Eko International Film Festival screened 30 films. Last year, the festival’s founder, Mr Hope Okpara partnered the US Department of State using film as a tool for change and for youth empowerment.
And in Enugu, the Life in My City (LIMCAF) held with over N3 million worth of prizes won. It is the largest gathering of young artists, patrons, scholars, gallery owners and other stakeholders in the visual arts in Nigeria.
The poets were not left out. From Night of the Spoken Word in Abuja, Dike Chukwumerije’s travelling poetic cum musical drama entitled: Made In Nigeria to the Lagos International Poetry Festival, the performance poets kept their voices and the stage alive.
As 2017 begins, no doubt the sector holds promise for key-players and enthusiats.