The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • MUSON holds 2015 festival

    MUSON holds 2015 festival

    All is set for this year’s Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) festival.   Accroding to the organisers, this year’s edition will feature talented groups and artistes, particularly students and alumni of its School of Music.

    With the theme, the arts through young Nigerian eyes, the society will also be partnering with the Playhouse Initiative and the Society for Performing Arts of Nigeria (SPAN), they said.

    According to the Chairman 2015 Festival Planning Committee, Kitoyi Ibare-Akinsan, the festival would kick-off with a youth concert on October 14, which would feature a competition in which seven finalists would be expeccted to compete at its grand finale.

    He said: “This will be followed by a favorite of the festival, tagged: My Kind of Music. It is a personality programme which would feature a select cast of eminent Nigerians who will provide a lucid exceptional glimpse of their persona, with regards to music, to an invited audience.

    “This year’s line-up of dignitaries include Head, Energy and Natural Resources, First Bank Nigeria capital, Ms Rolake Akinkugbe; South African Consulate General to Nigeria, Ambassador Sam Mokghethi; the Chair, Shell companies in Nigeria, Mr Osagie Okunbor Country and Deputy Director of MUSON School of Music, Mrs Edna Soyannwo.

    “Against the backdrop of their favorite music, they will discuss their musical preferences in relation to aspects of their lives, personal beliefs, philosophies and more.”

    Ibare-Akinsan said they would also be honouring deserving  outstanding stakeholders in the performing arts sector.

    And to broaden the appeal of the festival, he said, the committee will be partner with to the Playhouse Initiative to offer  the ageless  musicals.   Jesus Christ Superstar, produced by Uche Nwokedi (SAN), will be on stage on October 16 and 17 , followed by the MUSON Symphony Orchestra in concert conducted by German inspirational visiting conductor, Walter-Michael Vollhardt.

    Festival recital, a selection of best performance of the MUSON diploma school, comes up on October 19.

    The School’s Jazz Band, Big band, the Girlz Rule Band. Philip Uzo and Ranti Ihimoyan have been slated for October 23 at the evening of Jazz, dance and varieties. SPAN will perform a dance on October 24.

    This year’s festival will close with the MUSON day Concert, which would coincidentally take place with the Gala choral concert, featuring the MUSON choir and school Orchestra will present Gilbert and Sullivan’s riveting opera: The pirates of Penzance.

    Vice Chairman MUSON, Louis Mbanefo assured that the festival would indeed be a treat to the devoted audience, positively influence the country’s form of music and become a pointer to the future direction of the Musical Society of Nigeria as a centre for all forms of art at its peak.

  • Revisiting Badagry

    Revisiting Badagry

    The ancient Badagry town is a famous tourist destination. SOLOMON ADEOLA, who visited the town, writes that some of its famed relics have gone seedy.

    IT takes over one hour’s drive from Badagry to some neighbouring West African countries. The town has not only become a business hub but also a major tourist destination. Visitors from across the world are drawn by the historical wealth that the town has to offer.

    Every corner of the town is full of history.  One of such places of the historical wealth that never fails to attract tourists is the Nigeria’s first storey building, overlooking the Badagry waterfront.

    The ancient structure, which was built in 1845 by Rev Charles Andrew Gullmer, houses various historical relics that tell of the town’s rich celebrated past. Sadly, this artefact is currently in a state of disrepair.

    This abundance of historical relics in the building is testaments of the town’s great heritage and the wealth that is scattered in the place.

    Mr Ezekiel Viavonu, a tour guide at first-storey building, who took this reporter round the edifice, decried the dilapidated state it is in. He called for increased efforts to preserve national monuments.”The state government should do more in caring for its national monument like this one. If they are properly renovated, and tourism is taking seriously, it would ignite the love for history and national heritage in the young,” he said.

    Despite the decay, the visit to the landmark building was an unforgettable one. Visitors would still find items used by the early missionaries and slave maters in the place.

    There is the first Yoruba Bible, the first chair the missionaries used, the volts containing old currencies, such as cowries, penny, shillings and kobo.

    The place also contains historical apartments that would awaken the scholarly probe in any history student.

    On the ground floor is the room of the first teacher in Nigeria, Mr Claudius Phillips (1845-1868), who established the first primary school in Nigeria – the Saint Thomas Primary School founded in 1845 with 40 students.

    The room of Mr Philips’ housekeepers is another interesting place. In the room are the corrugated iron sheets and the nails used the roofing. The doors and hinges are still intact.

    But as one moves upstairs from the ground floor, the visitor is sure to be taken aback, and frightened by the look of the wobbly wooden staircase. Even thought the staircase has lost some steps, the thirst for adventure was more than the fear of risks for this report.

    Undaunted by the risks of falling off or missing a step or two, he continued his exploit to the room of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who wrote the first Yoruba Bible. In this room, one would find he first English Bible belonging to the first Anglican missionary to first land in Badagry, Rev Henry Townsend when he was invited by his friend Birch Freeman. The Bible is sits side-by-side the Yoruba version translated by Bishop Crowther.

    From this room, one can see the house of the then Governor of the Colony and Southern Protectorate Lord Fredrick Luggard. The room seemed to be under construction, but Viavonu decried the slow pace of the work.

    As one moves from the Bishop’s room, the next room to it is that of Rev Gullmer. In it is the first bench used by the missionaries. On this floor are the Bible room where the missionaries stored their Bibles, and the safe room also has the first safe used by the missionaries in 1856. This was where they kept their money and other valuable items.

  • 2015 Uganda Film Festival: Nigerian chairs jury

    2015 Uganda Film Festival: Nigerian chairs jury

    Celebrated filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, has just returned from another successful international assignment serving as the Chairman of Jury of the just-concluded Uganda Film Festival (UFF) held in Kampala, Uganda.

    Odugbemi, a three-time lead judge of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, was also jury’s chair of last year edition when he headlined the festival’s international guests along with Nollywood star actress Patience Ozokwo.

    At that time, the organisers of the festival, the Uganda Communication Commission, through its Executive Director Mr Godfrey Mutabazi, wrote a glowing tribute stating that Odugbemi’s “professionalism and commitment displayed during the task, together with the quality of decisions made contributed highly to the resounding success of the UFF 2014.”

    It was no surprise, therefore, that Odugbemi was invited once again to chair the jury along with distinguished international members, including a professor of Literature at Makerere University, Kampala, Dr Sister Dominic Dipio; an German film curator MsBarbel Mauch; President of the East Africa Film Network, Mr Leonce Ngabo of Burundi and pioneer Ugandan TV Producer, Faustin Misanvu.

    The Uganda Film Festival, in its third outing, showcased films of Uganda filmmakers and other East African countries, including Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda. The festival also featured exhibitions, a film market, training workshops and master classes. The final day of the festival was capped with an elaborate gala evening of glamorous red-carpet and awards in various categories.

    Speaking at the gala awards, Odugbemi revealed that the jury began work over three months ago with over 130 entries into the 2015 UFF. The pre-selection process for the competitive categories was electronically conducted over the course of 60 days and five nominees per category were identified and announced by the organisers in the first week of August.

    The jury then reconvened in Kampala from August 24 to 27 to select the winners. While congratulating the winners, Odugbemi expressed delight at the remarkable progress in the talent and technical quality of the nominated works, especially in the areas of storytelling, casting, performance, visual aesthetics, cinematic values, sound and music.

    While calling for more efforts in the areas of additional dialogue recording (ADR), sound design, music score and final mix, he noted that there has been an improved in the quality of sound, which was usually a weakness of some films in the past..

    The celebrated winner of the festival was the feature film Joseph Ken’s House Arrest which carted prizes for Best Feature Film, Best Sound, Best Screenplay and Best Actress. Other winners of UFF 2015, included Boda Boda Thieves, which won the Best Cinematography and Best Editing prizes; Walk With Me by Peter Muhumuza and Johan Oetitinger which won Best Short Film; Matovu Francis’s Chimp-Boda which won Best Animation and “HALF A DOLLAR” by Oris Ssebowa which won the Best Documentary prize.

  • Behold, man of figures, words

    Behold, man of figures, words

    He used to play with figures. Now Dr Sunny Oby Maduka is feasting with words. Maduka, Senior Manager (Audit) at Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), has presented two novels – The Surviving Twins and Tears for Love in Lagos. The Accountant-author, EVELYN OSAGIE reports, is calling for peaceful coexistence and cultural re-orientation.

    They call him a man of many parts. He is an accountant-turned-writer, a marine expert, motivational speaker and filmmaker, among others.

    Dr Sunny Oby Maduka, Senior Manager (Audit) at Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), brought friends and associates together at the presentation of his books in Lagos.

    But they were not his first. The author has three other works – The Whispering Voice (2013), My Nation My Agony (2014) and The Collection of Iluminatory Poems (2014). He has also produced a film, titled: Blood Communion.

    In appreciation of the man and his gifts, guests thronged the Best Western Hotel, Victoria Island.

    Many wondered where this multi-talented executive finds the time and energy to churn out five creative works and a film within three years.

    Moved by Maduka’s agility and flair, Mr Chidi Ogboku, who chaired the event, described him as “an immutable talent” who is influencing many, particularly the young, across the nations.

    “Maduka is a man of many parts that is committed to whatever he does. I am not surprise that he keeps churning out books yearly. He is also very passionate about people, especially the young. The best we can do for posterity is to document our aspirations. Great minds, like the late Prof Chinua Achebe, Prof Wole Soyinka and their peers, have done their parts. It is inspiring to note that Maduka is following in their footsteps,” he said.

    Besides praising Maduka’s ability to merge diverse vocations, guests eulogised the intellectual depth in his works. They linked it to his being an avid reader. It was also observed that the multitasking author is also an ardent advocate for literacy, culture and moral values.

    The book reviewer, Mr Chris Emeka Mba, described the books as motivational, observing that the love expressed by the author in both works transcends “human understanding”.

    Mba,, an engineer, was of the view that the literati hold the power to change society. He, therefore,  commended the didactic lessons Maduka’s books, while urging guests to borrow a leaf from the author’s efforts at promoting reading culture and intellectual expressions.

    He said: “Having read his five books, I cannot but buy into his rare ideals. As an intellectual builder, he is indeed a comparative professor whose books talk about topical issues of global interests. Maduka makes case for culture and tradition. Both books are fascinating but similar in many ways in that they both hammer on the universal benefits of love and cultural reorientation.”

    Asked how he is able to keep abreast with the demands of his diverse endeavours, accountant-turned-writer said: “Multitasking has been a part of me from a very young age. As I grew older, I became used to doing many things at the same time and doing each well. I only sleep for few hours; and I am happy my wife understands the kind of person I am and supports me.”

    Maduka called for proactive steps to ignite the reading culture in the young, noting that in promoting and supporting writers and their works would improve the literacy rate.

    He said: “African must refuse the epithet of literary illiterates with the assertion that we don’t read. We must cultivate the cultural heritage of great who were/are not only good in writing but excellent in reading. Africa must arise and honour our literary giants who have put us in the world’s hall of fame, such as Wole Soyinka, Zainab Akali and the late Chinua Achebe.”

    While observing that “every creative work has a pondering and reflexive lessons for mankind”, Maduka emphasised that “no nation succeeds without its citizenry understanding the place of reading”.

    He decried the decadence in the social order, while naming the failure of government, corporate bodies and society at large to promote worthy causes as its source.

    He said: “Together let’s teach ethical values to generations beyond ours by becoming positive change agents in the gloomy earth’s systems. Let us be part of that generation that abhors any form of tribal and religious disunity that has knifed our great African communal heritage. No true African writer would devalue our values through their works. Writers should endeavour to promote our rich moral and cultural heritage through their works.

    “I have been inspired by the pains of the rich, the pleasure of the poor, the laughter of a home filled with love, the screaming of the exact opposite. I draw inspiration from the rat race where the rich out runs the poor and unfortunately too, the poor become architects of their doomsday by smiling ingloriously at glaring acts of injustice.”

    This writer-cum advocate brings his beliefs to bear on his writings as his works speak of a better future engineered by people-oriented change.”

    In The Surviving Twins, Maduka hazardous condemns anti-social traditions, such as the killing of twins. In it, the “abominable” twins and their mother were to be killed in Agafe forest. The task of execution was to be shouldered by two noble sons of the soil,but were murdered. Saved from death, the condemned and supposedly abominable soon became the turning wheel of Afigbo’s progress.

    Tears For Love is a love of Michael. The trouble is that Michela is not w in love with the woman he’s agreed to marry: he has hopelessly fallen for Phina. After meeting briefly her at the airport, his whole world turned upside down. But what and how is he going to tell his bride to be, Oluchi? And there’s also the problem of his all-controlling mother; not to mention the fact that Phina has no feelings for him and is barely aware of his existence, except as someone who is destined to marry someone else. Under pressure from all sides, Michael goes ahead with the marriage, but he can’t forget Phina, and begins an exciting journey to find her and make his feelings known.

     

     

  • MultiChoice content providers offer exciting bouquet

    MultiChoice content providers offer exciting bouquet

    Driven by the desire to satisfy its subscribers, MultiChoice Africa provided a unique platform for leading content providers from across the globe to showcase the best of their packages. The event was held penultimate week at the OutRigger Resort, Mauritius Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

    Our passion for Africa is in everything we do – as a home grown company our roots are firmly in African soil and our growth over the last 20 years has been a result of massive investments we have made in people, content and technology – but as with any business not all of these investments or changes have hit the spot…. so we have from time to time re-evaluated our position and made changes to our strategies.

    At the end of the day, however, it is really our subscribers we have to thank for staying with us, trusting us to deliver the best television experience and customer service to make their experience world class.” That statement from the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Africa, Mr Tim Jacobs set the tone for media interaction that featured DStv’s and GOtv’s biggest channels such as Sony, SuperSport, Zee World, A+E, Disney, MTV Base, BET, Comedy Central, BBC and M-Net.

    MNet Regional Director West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said M-Net is launching and redefining channels while expanding its content offerings to viewers across the continent. She stated that the Africa Magic Original Films initiative saw M-Net producing made for television films with fresh, up and coming talent behind and in front of the cameras in the Nigerian film and television industry whilst the Lokshin Bioskop movies on Mzansi Magic tell compelling local stories which are hugely popular with viewers.

    Mba-Uzoukwu noted that the ongoing and significant investments in local productions have positioned Africa on the entertainment global arena and with new technology ‘we continue to reach even more people, ensuring that no one ever misses the M-Net Magic.’

    According to her “Our investment drive remains geared not only towards the industries in which we play, but also in the people who power them. Every year, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards celebrates the best film and television talent across Africa and other stars are discovered every day by M-Net just like the international superstar model, Oluchi, who won the first ever M-Net Face of Africa competition in 1998, and the Big Brother Housemates who have over the years carved out exciting careers in entertainment all across Africa.”

    Senior Channel Director Comedy Central, Evert van der Veer disclosed that the Comedy Central International Festival, an event which will witness the best comedians from across the continent will be at Johannesburg, South Africa early in 2016 to join talents from the UK and USA for an epic feast of comedy. He said there is also another Comedy Central Roast in the works, which will take the brand outside of South Africa for the first time.

    Nickelodeon Senior Channel Manager Tasania Parsadh spoke on the channel’s new application Gameshakerslaunched on 1 September, which brings the ‘second screen’ to life and can be played globally, at any time. Nickelodeon Genius will also be launched shortly – Nicktoons’ first game show, which seeks to inspire kids in the fields of mathematics & science. “We believe everything is fun and interesting, so we’ve created an amazing game show which makes these difficult subjects, fun,”said Parsadh. “We really want kids, parents and teachers to get involved. ”Nickelodeon also shared news of a West African edition of the hugely-popular NickFest, which will see pre-school, kids, teens and their parents entertained in true Nickelodeon style – with the iconic Nickelodeon Slime sure to be a star attraction!

    But from MTV Base, comes new prank show You Got Got and the fourth season of MTV Shuga – outside of the hugely-respected MTV MAMA’s, which have put Africa’s top entertainers on the global stage. “Very few brands can talk about the amazing talent and contemporary youth culture space like MTV Base,” said Tim Horwood, Channel Director MTV Base. “We’re constantly trying to grow and push new talent and celebrate the continent’s big artists. We have a show called Rate or Hatecoming soon, which will give artists who don’t make it onto the playlist, the chance to get some exposure online and in promos on-air. People will be able to vote for them, and if the audience demands it, they’ll get their shot on the channel.” Horwood also announced that an East African Chart Show would be launched in 2016 to showcase the amazing things happening in the East African music scene.

    The newest member of VIMN family on DStv– BET – is also growing and incorporating more local content. Top Actor SAproduced excellent talent, so the show is being expanded to Top Actor Africato broaden the search for African acting and presenting talent. Announcements about the audition process will be made soon and the show will begin flighting early in 2016.

    Channel Manager BET Kgomotso Matsunyane said the channel was particularly excited to have launched BET Buzz on 1 September – a daily show which showcases all the glitz and glamour of the African and international entertainment scenes. A continental version of the prestigious Black Girls Rock event is also on the cards and will form part of BET’s impressive tentpole music awards events, which include the BET Hip Hop Awards, the Soul Train Awards, the BET Awards and the international version of Black Girls Rock. The 4th season of Real Husbands of Hollywood, starring Kevin Hart, is coming soon, as is Being Mary Jane.

    MTV Base VJ Nomuzi, said Viacom’s talent development programme – a project she, herself, is a product of, having win the 2012 MTV Base VJ Search has changed her life. “I stood in line for hours and hours to get my chance, and now I work for hours and hours, living my dream,” she said.

  • Understanding international terrorism

    Understanding international terrorism

    The Acting Head of Department, Jurisprudence and Public Law Department of Babcock University, Dr Yinka Olomojobi, has added his voice to the global menace threatening many nations of the world – terrorism.

    He is out with a new book, etitled: Frontiers of Jihad: Radical Islam in Africa, to be presented in Lagos on Tuesday, September 29.

    The book’s preoccupation is worthy of note as it focuses on the most contemporaneous central issue since the Cold War era—the clash of the West and Islamic civilisation. The 366-page book is timely and a record of well researched facts and a cautionary exposition for the imperative necessity for bridging the gaps between Africa’s have’s and have’s not.

    Even though a substantial intellectual study has grown on issues surrounding the radical Islam since the atrocities of 9/11, Dr Olomojobi’s book provides an enthusiastic and much needed exposition that explores the phenomenon of radical Islam in Africa. The book, which is his third, gives a distinct and comprehensive angle to existing arguments on terrorism.

    Dr Olomojobi, who holds a LL.M in International Law, (University of Liverpool, England) and a PhD (Lancaster University, England), he has also written two books: Islam & Conflict in Northern Nigeria and Human Rights on Gender, Sex and the Law.

    While his first book focuses on the conflicts in a part of Nigeria, his third explores a global perspective to conflicts brewed by radicalism.

    In the Frontiers of Jihad: Radical Islam in Africa, the author reveals quite assuredly the clash of civilisations between Islam and the West. Each chapter focuses on issues about the factors that promote radical Islam in Africa. From Chapter One, the book exposes a careful build-up of arguments and analysis.

    In this chapter the author carefully details and theorises how to probe into the study of radical Islam. Aside from using theories based on political science, he adopts a philosophical approach to his work in order to understand the relationship between Islamists and their notions of jihad.

    In Chapter Two, he argues that theoretical explanations of how religion takes the centre stage in society and in international relations, while demonstrating, convincingly, the new role of religion in a globalised world.

    Chapter Three offers divergent expositions on in Islam and jihad. It highlights the ways in which jihad is understood and interpreted. Dr Olomojobi argues that the essence of jihad “is the desire to fight perceived oppression”.

    Chapter Four affords the reader with in-depth analysis on terrorism and highlights the complexities of defining the term. However, the author fittingly describes terrorism as an act that “generates a psychological notion of fear amongst the citizens of a state. It creates a situation of anxiety therefore using propaganda to channel its grievance to the public, in order to be heard and taken seriously”.

    The keenness and forcefulness of the writer’s thoughts and eloquent prose are illustrated in his expositions of radical Islamist groups in Africa. He, then, takes the reader through the vicious activities of Boko Haram in Chapter Five.

    From Chapter Six to Chapter Nine, the author explores major jihadi groups and their ideologies in Africa. Dr Olomojobi culminates his expository voyage with the nefarious activities of Al Qaeda in the Maghreb in Chapter 10.

    In profiling radical groups, the author does not occupy the reader with contrived arguments, but he highlights facts that have not been compressed worthy of note in understanding the diverse ideologies surrounding terrorism across the world. The author ends with a chapter which reveals the propagation of terrorism through the Internet.

    As one reads through the book, one could see that Dr Olomojobi is a perceptive thinker and a profound political analyst, who delivers his augments with facts, illustrating useful insights from other renowned scholars, whilst provoking intellectual rigour and the ability to provoke and capture critical thoughts of the reader. Because of its juicy fresh addition to the study of international terrorism, the book is a must read to political leaders, leaders of thoughts, diplomats and the public at large.

  • Africa and contemporary artistic production in art history

    Africa and contemporary artistic production in art history

    Africa has often been treated as the mythic origin, and a homeland that people want to return to, but not as a place that participates and contributes to the global world.”

    The above assertion was expressed by Ms Joanna Wild, a doctoral candidate of the Department of Art and Art History, University of New Mexico at a lecture delivered at the OYASAF (Omooba Yemisi Abimbola Art Foundation) Fellowship in Lagos.

    While highlighting the theme for the event, Beyond the Black Atlantic: Contemporary Artistic production in Lagos today, Ms Wild praised the contributions of Africa artists and art scholars growth of world art, urging that they do more to dominate the global art space.

    She noted that due to lack of government funding for artists, absence of galleries to constantly represent artists, and hectic situation encountered by continent-based art promoters has been denied access to the transnational art space for so long.

    Ms Wild lamented that despite the contributions of Okwui Enwezor, a widely-acclaimed curator, towards the validation of contemporary African Art on a global scale and his curatorial contributions, his findings have been faulted and challenged by renowned art scholars.

    “Although many scholars contributed to the global validation of Contemporary African art, Okwui Enwezor, a Nigerian-born United State-educated curator, has undoubtedly taken a lead role. He shaped the field through his organization of large scale exhibitions, his directorship on both newly founded and long standing biennials, and his co-publication of survey texts such as Contemporary Africa Art since 1980 but Enwezor’s curatorial and scholarly work hasn’t been unchallenged. “

    She reiterated Art Historian Sylvester Ogbechie arguement that Africa is written out of art history as a relevant site of contempo-rary artistic production because visibility had only been given to a relatively small selection of African artists, such as Yinka Shonibare, observing that such action has led to the drawback in the sector.

    “Transnational scholars, critics, and curators have neglected African art on the continent. Considerations of the “Black Atlantic” would result in representations of transnational experiences defined by the African emigres relationship to a more powerful “Other.” African expatriates such as Shonibare are overburdened by the expectation that they represent Africa, something they decidedly cannot do.” She said.

    To exhibit how the global space interact with Lagos artistic works, she highlighted works of Shonibare, Peju Alatise and Ndidi Dike. Some of the works included Wrapture, one of Alatise’s solo exhibitions that reflected the effects of religious fundamentalism in Nigeria in the past and in the present and her Textile

    Use; Dike’s Waka-into-Bondage, Drop in the ocean and one way, No easy walk to freedom and Economic fabrics.

    Waka-into-Bondage caught the attention of guests. Exhibited at the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos in 2008, it was triggered by the visitation of the artist to Badagry a coastal town that used to channel slaves during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the 2007 commemoration event of the 200th anniversary of the abolition hideous act in Nigeria.

     

  • 10th Bamako Encounters opens October 31

    10th Bamako Encounters opens October 31

    The 10th anniversary edition of Biennale of African Photography, Bamako Encounters will run from October 31 to December 31 in Bamako, Mali. The Artistic Director is founder Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) Lagos, Bisi Silva with associate curators Antawan I. Byrd and Yves Chatap. The theme  is Telling Time.

    The Bamako Encounters 2015 is a pan-African exhibition with artists chosen from a call for applications. This year a record number of dossiers were received from the 54 African countries and the Diaspora: a total of 800 applications – four times more than for the exhibition in 2011.

    A statement on the festival’s website said apart from the artistic aspect of the event, this year’s edition will help focus the news from Mali on cultural affairs of a more ‘positive’ nature in terms of image and economic revival. There will also be a retrospective of past editions while the artistic project will be constructed around the narrative of time. Photographers will be invited to create a narrative of Africa, not through a view of things on the surface but, rather, through the way they use the image to delve into the reality of their time. The approach is designed to create a link between the past, the present and the future of the continent. As an approach, it is perfectly suited to deal with the recent upheavals experienced not only by Mali, but also by North Africa with its Arab Springs and, more recently, by Burkina Faso.

    The team of curators hopes to create a fresh view of the creation of photography and video as practised in Africa. There will be both documentary and artistic works, as well as forms closer to installations. It is already evident from the pre-selection of artists process, that a lot of the work is sourced in film and picture archives. Humour abounds and there is no lack of self-mockery on the part of the artists – both of themselves and their countries.

    The religious question arises in a curious and subtle fashion in the works to be displayed, bearing in mind the crisis reigning over the continent at the moment.

     

  • Artists make case for change

    Artists make case for change

    •Onobrakpeya writes letter to Chibok girls

    It was an artistic statement that canvassed for change in all spheres of the society. It was the day 12 renowned Nigerian artists set ablaze the creative atmosphere of an Ogun State suburb, Olambe. The 12, led by the celebrated master artist, Bruce Onobrakpeya, joined the on-going conversations on change at the GreenHouse Art Empowerment Centre (GHAEC) exhibition, which opened last Saturday. Their artistic voices called for a people-oriented transformation, reports EVELYN OSAGIE. 

    They came advocating change in the polity, with particular emphasis on infrastructure. They braved the coarse and hellish roads leading to Lagos suburbs of Ojodu through Akute and Iju-Ishaga through Oke-aro to the rustic community of Olambe in Ogun State.

    They waded through muddy puddles, dusty potholes and endured the inclement  weather from rain heavy showers to scorching sun.

    The love for the arts and the calibre of the artists drew guests to the opening of a 12-artist exhibition organised by the GreenHouse Art Empowerment Centre (GHAEC) in Olambe, Ogun State last Saturday. The day also featured the formal presentation of GHAEC Art Journal.

    The dignitaries included Major Bamidele Unigbe; a Director at Skye Bank, Mr Abdul Bello; celebrated poet Odia Ofeimun; Mr David Nwamara; former Creative Arts Head of Department, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Peju Layiwola; Director, ThirstMate Water Company, Mrs Catherine Bolanle Isijola and The Nation Managing Editor (Online), Lekan Otufodunrin.

    “By the time you get here. You forget the hell you went through to come, on seeing the rich array of works and the depth of artistic expression that welcomes you to the place. It was not easy coming straight from Ondo State to the place. You wonder whether you are lost or still on course.

    “But it is good that one finally made it. It is always a pleasure visiting a place that one can encounter art – old and present ones. To have established such an edifice, I commend founders of the art centre. They remind me of the kind of things I intend to do in Edo State in time to come,”Ofeimun said.

    Perhaps to ease off the stress of the long travel, traditional drummers and dancers began thrilling guests with folk beats and acrobatic steps. Their rendition of the National Anthem was particularly touching, along with the news that the drummers featured a United Kingdom-based lady economist, Modupe Johnson.

    But the highlight of the event was the exhibition and keynote address delivered by the renowned artist, Bruce Onobrakpeya.

    Tagged: Nigerian Visual Artists and Politics, the group exhibition featured works of 12 renowned artists in different artistic skills, including: installations, painting, watercolour, textile, ceramics/pottery, mixed-media, sculpture and photography.

    With the works of Onobrakpeya in the lead, GHAEC artistic line-up also comprised Sam Ovraiti; Ato Arinze; Princess Theresa Iyase-Odozi; Dr Mabel Oluremi Awogbade; Stella Awoh; Kolawole Kosoko Olojo; Juliet Ezenwa Pearce; Bolaji Ogunwo; Stella Ubigho; Oke Ibem Oke and Osagie.

    As if to join their voice with the founders of GHAEC and the people of Olambe on the construction of good roads, the artists advocated change in sectors. Indeed, they joined their voices with the on-going conversations on change and national reorientation. Each of their works expressed thoughts on Nigeria’s political and artistic landscape, policy and infrastructural change, increased funding for the arts, nature, textile and many more.

    Onobrakpeya’s piece is particularly engaging. Through his installation, tagged: Sambisa Forest, guests were reminded of the plights of the over 200 secondary school girls abducted last year at Chibok. The artist, who read from his handwritten letter to the Chibok girls, who have spent over 510 days in the hands of the insurgents, urged the government to look into the plights of the girls by intensifying efforts to release them. He called for a collective and intensified campaign for their release through his letter and the installation which showed naked protesting women at the background of totems representing the girls and the armed insurgents, among other motifs.

    The installation and letter, Onobrakpeya said, were meant to create awareness and rouse the feeling of people on the plights of the girls in the hands of the insurgents. He said: “I am using both to urge the government and well-meaning people, who have the means, to do what it takes to release and get them out of their suffering. Both are both an advocacy and prayer for them. The government knows more than everyone about the situation. They should double whatever efforts they are making to release those girls from suffering.

    “Imagine if they were not kidnapped, some would have furthered their education or learnt a trade. They would have moved on in life like their peers. The government should do more to get them released so that they can continue to live their lives from where it stopped. They should be given the opportunity to progress in life just like any other Nigerian.”

    The letter reads thus:  “09-09-15

    Dear Chibok Girls,

    “This is to let you know that our spirit are there with you in the Sambisa forest, where you have been suffering in the hands of kidnappers for a period of over 510 days. As grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, friends, citizens of Nigeria and the World, we share your pains. We daily work and pray for your release from the Forbidden Forest. I feel intensely what you are going through because I too had been kidnapped as a child during the Ekene festival, but was miraculously rescued before being taken away into the forest.

    “I dedicate this installation called Sambisa Forest to you. It is a prayer to the supreme intelligence for your release.

    “In the picture, protesting mothers parade behind totems which represent you girls, the armed insurgents, denied or delayed laurels, and most importantly staves of empowerment which you will receive at the end of your travail.

    “Finally dear girls, don’t lose hope, your present state may be a design by the Creator to put you at the top of the world.

    Sincerely Obo-me-yoma”

    Onobrakpeya, in his keynote address, entitled: The role of visual artists in people’s empowerment and politics in Nigeria, also called for improved funding for the art and artists. Apart from reflecting the goings-on in society, he said: “If harnessed, visual arts can make a country great. Because it is a desirable commodity of value, it is also a veritable source of wealth and empowerment.”

    Like Onobrakpeya’s, GHAEC’s Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Princess Theresa Iyase-Odozi’s work is equally catchy. Entitled: Nigerian Condrum II, the 4ft by 6ft in mixed media technique, also added the artist’s voice to the “bring back the girls campaign”.  Inside gigantic piece, showing diverse headlines, pictures, drawings of different scenes, people and naira notes, one could see that she was calling for the end of violence, especially in the north-eastern states. The piece also showcased the diverse challenges that the country is passing through.

    She said: “The theme of the exhibition, Nigerian Visual Artists and Politics, afforded me the opportunity to depict the various challenges facing the nation, especially on the eve of the 2015 general elections. It has truly been a year of political challenges and intrigues. My work simply poses the question: ‘Where do we go from here?”

    Having Onobrakpeya as guest artist and keynote speaker, Iyase-Odozi said, was done in recognition of his contributions to the development of the arts sector, especially in Africa. According to her, the master artist “remains an inspiration to me and many artists across the country”.

    Celebrated artist, Ovraiti’s oil on canvas piece, That way out, depicted the tension in the political landscape in the country. The tension, he said, “is caused by lots of unanswered questions that the politicians use as elections promises”.

    Awogbade’s acrylic on bisque ware, entitled: Set me free, advocated the effects of corruption in the polity.

    Arinze’s 6ft scultpture, Debacle 1, which was the first in the series of three masked sculpture, was inspired by Dr Olatunji Dare’s art Debacle in The Guardian during the June 12 Saga.

    As administration has taken on the baton of leadership, Oyovwe-Ubigho’s piece, We can see, depicted the eyes of the masses on the political class.

    Olojo’s pastel painting, Reaction, predicted doom as aftermath of bad leadership. Thus, he called for a political reorientation and improvement in the plights of the masses. “The Reaction shows the mass action by the aggrieved citizens, who took to the streets in protest against misrule,” he said.

    Maja-Pearce’s plastograph plate, entitled: The political-additive, focused on the integrity and vulnerability of the law.

    Other guests included ThisDay Deputy Editor (Sunday), Mr Okechukwu Uwaezuoke, who was the event’s compere; Mrs Abimbola Izu;  The Nation correspondents Taiwo Abiodun and Gboyega Alaka.

     

  • Firm unveils children’s book

    Firm unveils children’s book

    Child’s health advocate, Mrs Edirin Metseagharun, has released two new books on healthy eating and exercise for children under the Parresia Publishers Ltd.

    Following the successful release of her first book, titled: Ola & Bisi Adventures of Health (Eat Healthy and Be Smart) last year, the author has released a sequel, Ola & Bisi Adventures of Health (Fit Kid or Fat Kid), and Ola & Bisi Adventures of Health (Parents Guide to Healthy Eating & Activities).

    Her books, which are beautifully illustrated, highlight the interesting adventure of two children Ola and Bisi the world of healthy living. Using simple language and effortless humour, Mrs Metseagharun highlights topical issues that any child or parent can easily relate to. Through the two personas, the author introduces children and teens into a world of healthy eating and exercise.

    Fit Kid or Fat Kid continues the adventures of Ola and Bisi, two children from a privileged home, presenting kids with lessons on healthy weight maintenance, healthy snacking, healthy drinks and benefits of water and benefits of exercises.

    With the dramatic way it highlights the stigma children have to pass through just for being fat, Fit Kid or Fat Kid will appeal to children and their parents. The book, whose foreword was written by award-winning children’s novelist Uche Peter Umez, also featured informative exercises that introduced children to healthy living.

    Friendship is another key theme dealt in the book and the consequences of being bullied by your peers.

    On the other hand, Parents Guide to Healthy Eating & Activities is a guide to help parents understand and appreciate their children’s health affairs. It focuses on issues, such as how to know if a child has a weight problem; how to provide healthy balanced diet for a child; what to do to make eating out with the family healthy; how to ensure smart snacking for a child, and how to support your child to be active.

    According to the author, books were inspired by her passion for child’s health and fitness. Being a teacher, and a counsellor with lots of passion for children’s health, Mrs Metseagharun holds dear the belief that “any children’s book worth its name must be able to point a child to the right direction”. As the founder and co-ordinator of Passion For Healthy Kids Initiative (PHKI), a non-governmental organisation that addresses childhood undernourishment, obesity prevention, helping children to eat right and be active every day, she brings her experiences to bear on her three books. “For too long, the message of eating right and being active has been focussed on adults only even in the face of rising obesity levels among children particularly of the affluent. Ola and Bisi Adventures of Health presents this message of eating right and being active to children in simple but interesting story format that will get a child engaged.

    “The whole theme of Fit Kid or Fat Kid clearly centres on children having the proper weight for their age–by eating the right food and keeping up the right lifestyle so they do not get overweight or underweight and end up being exposed to health challenges sooner or later,”  Mrs Metseagharun said.

     

     

    The importance of drinking nutritious beverages – such as chocolate and milk drinks and cutting down on fizzy drinks, which are primarily carbonated and full of sugar – is also emphasised,” Mrs Metseagharun said.