The 33rd edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), ended in Jos at the weekend, breaking the fear of insecurity on the Plateau being peddled on social media. The festival, which attracted 26 states and the FCT, had as theme: “Post COVID-19 and Cultural Dynamism”, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

JOS monarch, the Gbong Gwom Jos and chairman, Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, has charged Nigerians not to fall back to those dark days when there was threat to security of life and property.  He stated that Nigerians must endure to continue to live together as countrymen and give a befitting future to our children.

Gbong Gwom, who spoke at his palace in Jos, while receiving some delegates from participating states at the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) last week Thursday, noted that at the end of the festival ‘’we must not fall back and wait for next year event, we must reflect culture in all that we do.’’

According to the monarch, the biggest contributory factor is that ‘’we have forgotten our culture and traditions. That is why we are involved in many problems, one of which is the insecurity.

“Despite the challenges we are facing, the governor has accepted the challenge to host the festival. So much is happening in the country today…. When on the opening day of the festival, I saw contingents from Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, it showed Nigerians’ determination not to be cowed by any incidence, be it security or economy.

“For us on the Plateau, we have our challenges and we are not pretending about them. We have relative peace because of the efforts of government and the citizens  themselves with the support of the security agencies.

“Unfortunately, we have deceived ourselves for so long in this country. That’s why we have these numerous health challenges. We have lots of delicacies in every state of the country. I easily miss Nigeria each time I travel out, principally because of the food,” he said.

Da Gyang Buba, who also tasked Nigerians to  be resilient and never give up in the face of challenges, likened the Nigerian spirit to the feat achieved by Nigerian Under-20 football team in a World Cup quarter final match between Nigeria and USSR in Saudi Arabia in 1989, often described as the Dammam Miracle.

“We must not bring ourselves down. Let us endeavour to continue to build on what we know best to do. Recall the junior football world cup match between Nigeria and USSR in 1989 in Saudi Arabia in which Nigeria came back from 4-0 to win on penalty. That was the popular Dammam Miracle; the feat that those lads showed typified Nigeria. Also, in 1996 Atlanta Olympic, in US, the same spirit was demonstrated. Nobody in the world has the guts of an average Nigerian. And we never give up. The challenges we face today, be it economic, political or security, we shall overcome. Let no one lead us into destruction. The youth have lots of complaints but they must respect themselves while presenting their complaints,” he added.

Earlier at the opening of the festival, Plateau State Governor  Simon Lalong Bako said for the state to host the NAFEST 2020 confirmed that peace has returned to the state.

He described Plateau State as home of peace and tourism, which is with the best weather condition comparable to none in Nigeria. This, he said, explains why Plateau remains the destination of choice for many who desire to partake in its potential such as rich arable soil, breathtaking tourism destinations, abundant solid mineral resources, and rich cultural diversity.

Bako said: “Plateau is rich in sculpture, performing arts, and other human and material resources. Plateau State remains the miniature of Nigeria as every culture resides here and (many) consider the state as home…. Hosting this event in Plateau is a confirmation of the restored confidence people have in our state with the restoration of peace.

“Before we came into office, many were skeptical (about) coming to the state because of the crisis that occurred. However, things have changed as my administration embraced all stakeholders and initiated collective dialogue and constructive engagement to get to the root of the problem. With the support of all, including the security agencies, we have succeeded in restoring substantial peace.

“My hope is that as various contingents showcase the culture and artistic endowments of their states, people will appreciate the diversity and beauty of Nigeria in a manner they have not done before. In this, technology can greatly assist us in a document and store our arts and cultural endowments’’.

He also expressed his support for the regulation of the social media, saying ‘’the misuse of technology, especially social media, can make us lose our cultural and artistic value within a twinkle of an eye.’’

His words: “This is why we must continue to advocate the responsible use of social media. Just like I said elsewhere, no one seeks to restrict, control or muzzle social media. Rather, we must put in place a mechanism to ensure responsible usage.”

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

Each year, the programmes of the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) continue to evolve beyond cultural performances in order to meet the socio-economic needs of Nigerians. At this year’s edition of the festival, which focused on post-COVID and cultural dynamism, there was deliberate effort to skew its programmes towards exploring pragmatic approaches to empowering women and children via free skill acquisition. No fewer than 1600 women and girls besieged each venue of skill acquisition and training sessions during the festival.

Last Wednesday, three successful entrepreneurs – designer of President Muhammadu Buhari’s meal, trainer on food processing and entrepreneurship chef Fatima Haruna; auto tyre service specialist Kayode Ibitogbe, and visual artist with specialty in reeds and raffia art Miller Bala Mamot – took participants on various aspects of entrepreneurship. Students from three secondary schools in Jos (Govt Secondary School, Bwuna Du, Govt Secondary school, Du and Divine Academy, Rabin Du) were specially invited for the session, which provided them the opportunity to witness some practical demonstrations by the resource persons.

Answering questions from the students, Fatima recalled that during the COVID-19 lockdown, she recorded huge sales from supply of food because of her ability to think out of the box at that critical period when all businesses were down.

“During the lockdown when people couldn’t go to market, I made a public announcement asking anyone in need of food supplies to contact us. The responses we got were overwhelming. You need to think outside the box.

“Starting point of every business has challenges but you must forge ahead and remain focused. Finance is vital but trust is one big asset you need. You must also make effort to satisfy your clienteles because you grow faster from referrals by customers. However, training and retraining are what we need as entrepreneurs because there is no end to learning,” she said.

Mamot described NCAC’s platform such as INAC as the turning point in his art business, saying it exposed his art to national and international clienteles. “It is the platform that encouraged me,” he added. He pledged to assist any student to train in reeds and raffia art free of charge.

Ibitogbe enjoined the students to complement their educational attainments with a skill that can serve as back-up in the future. He stated that to be multi-tasking allows entrepreneurs to have multiple streams of incomes unlike waiting for monthly salary jobs. He demonstrated how waste tyres can be turned into functional house furniture such as table and chair.

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

For the second time in history as a state, Bayelsa has won the 33rd National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), which ended in Jos, Plateau State capital, on Saturday.  Bayelsa State first won the coveted trophy in 2013 when it hosted the festival under the theme Culture, peace and national transformation.

Ekiti and River states won the second position while the host state, Plateau, got the third place.

Others were Kano and Enugu states which dame fourth. Delta, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kaduna State were fifth. The one-week cultural fiesta, which opened November 23, had 26 states in attendance.

The event had as a theme, Post COVID-19 and Cultural Dynamism.

Ekiti State, led by its Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Prof. Ojo Rasak Bakare, received the gong as a symbol of hosting right for NAFEST 2021.

Plateau State Governor, Simon B. Lalong, at the closing, praised the organisers of NAFEST, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and its Director-General, Otunba Segun Runsewe, for the resilience in ensuring that the festival held in spite challenges posed by COVID-19. He assured prospective  investors and tourists of a lasting peace in the state.

He said it was a great honour to host the festival 20 years after it held in the state, stressing that he had been vindicated for saying that the state would host a memorable event. For states who could not win any gong, Lalong urged them not to worry as “NAFEST is not all about winning competitions but more of fellowship and display of arts and culture.”

He added that the ability to host such a great event at a challenging moment in the nation’s history was an indication of “our resilience and the fact that we can use our arts and culture to revamp the economy.”

He also commended the participation of children from across the nation, stressing that the seed of culture sown in their hearts would grow and bear fruits that would sustain our cultural heritage. According to him, the friendship exhibited among the states showed a united nation.

Runsewe said the state was safe and peaceful, and a total departure from what was read on the social media on insecurity. He canvassed that the state be made the medical tourism destination for Africa due to its friendly weather and variety of foods and vegetables that are therapeutic to the people.

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

LAST Friday, Nigeria lost one of her brilliant journalists and former Editor Sunday Times Mr. Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, 75. He was until his death a prolific columnist and humourist. His writings were both intellectually and scholarly sound. He wrote a column Life with Gbolabo Ogunsanwo in the Sunday Times of old. With his death, the world is now left with Life without Gbolabo Ogunsanwo. He spent his last 15 years as a devout Christian and an ordained pastor of the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG).

He was reputed to have coined the phrases Tarka me I will Daboh you, and cement armada. During his time as editor Sunday Times, the weekly paper recorded close to a million sales every Sunday, a feat yet to be broken by any publication in Nigeria.

His son, Babajide, said the late father left behind a big empty boot that would be difficult for anyone to fill. He described  his father  as a unique individual in every way; his life style and writing, especially. He said: “My father had many dreams. Some were fulfilled while others were not fulfilled during his life time. He was a progressive Nigerian of the late Obafemi Awolowo school of thought. His dream was for Nigeria to review some of his suggestions on how to move the country forward. His unfulfilled dream was to become the President of Nigeria and lead the birth of a new nation. To his family, though he wasn’t a comedian, he was the funniest man in the world. He had an abundance of humour, wit and creativity.”

Babajide said the funeral of his late father would hold next month after due consultation among  family members.

On the fond memories of his late father, Babajide recalled that Ogunsanwo was not the ice-cream-buying dad. He would  instead always buy books and books for the children. “While we were in school, if we asked for money to buy books, my father will give you all that you requested for. But when you request for money for clothes, he will cut the money by one third. He never choose career for us but he believed strongly in quality education.

“Other pleasant memories of our late dad were that he made us to learn a lot of things not just by speaking but by observation. So we observed his way of life through his pen and that is what the world knows him for. In fact, he led by observation and did not speak too much,” he recalled.

One of his colleagues at the famous Daily Times and former Information Minister, Prince Mr. Tony Momoh, expressed shock at the passing  of Ogunsanwo, saying he was a pride to the Daily Times.

“Gbolabo Ogunsanwo was one of our brightest journalists in the days of Alhaji Babatunde Jose. When he joined us, he was at the library before he gained admission to the University of Lagos for further studies. He returned and he became a gem. Unfortunately, he caught the bug of Alhaji Must Go protest which saw Babatunde Jose out. But he reconciled with Jose later and we returned to one family.

“He was a very brilliant journalist. He made a huge success of his career and also made us proud as Editor of Sunday Times,” Momoh recalled.

The late Ogunsanwo was the best graduating student of the English Language Department of University of Lagos. His close friends called him the Elvis Presley of Africa’s journalism.

His home state Governor Dapo Abiodun, in a tribute, said Ogunsanwo “really exemplified excellence, courage and forthrightness that our state is known for. Indeed, he was a role model that nurtured many reporters who have also become legends in pen-pushing and leaders in other spheres of life. He carried himself with dignity and was considered as conscience of modern Nigeria.”

Former Managing Director, The Guardian, who was also at the Daily Times,  Mr Lade Bonuola, wrote of Ogunsanwo:

“Gbolabo was good. He loved journalism with a passion; with all his heart and it showed that he put his heart into the business, into his assignment. He was a great editor and was in his elements writing his column, Life with Gbolabo. He read everything in print that came his way. He was informed, daring and impressionistic, weaving words and sentences to paint pictures and drive home his points which he often did with severity, sometimes humour.

“He had no place for cant and humbug. His was a compelling read every Sunday. He thus became a celebrated columnist with a huge following. He sold the highest number of copies of any Sunday newspaper in the annals of the newspaper industry in Nigeria. He was missed on the beat for so long, and now permanently. May he receive help on his path of further experiencing in the Beyond–in this Creation of the Lord.”

By Sina Fadare

Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, and Director-General, Centre For Black Culture and Understanding, Prof Siyan Oyeweso, have said systematic promotion of the threatened Yoruba arts and craft will restore Yoruba glory in the creative world.

Oyetola and Oyeweso were guests at the passing out of a score of apprentices produced by Abeni Visual And Performing Arts Institute, Iragbiji, Osun State, during the week. The institute was founded by the Eesa of Iragbiji, Chief Muraina Oyelami, who doubles as its artistic director.

Oyelami is a respected artist whose works are sold in Europe and America.

The governor, who was represented on the occasion by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Babawale Adebisi, said Osun State Government was working on a public-private partnership with Sterling Bank to boost tourism and tourism products with which the state is blessed.

“On behalf of the government, I have begun meeting with Sterling Bank on how to come up with a workable partnership to bring fortune to our arts with a view to empowering our people who are doing well in that area of production. I want the students here to register with the government in order to benefit from that scheme aimed at helping them to sell their works to the outside world. The Osun State Tourism Vision 2030 instituted by His Excellency is beyond dance. It is a conscious effort to take our tourism development to higher pedestal,” he said.

Oyeweso regrettably said the Yoruba were losing their art and culture, calling on the state government to show commitment to its promise by borrowing a leaf from Ogun State Government which, according to him, just approved adire fabrics as official uniform for public schools.

“If I see people like Chief Muraina Oyelami spending their resources on art promotion, I cannot but praise them for their selflessness because without them it means there is a little hope left in preserving our art and culture for future generation,” he said.

The Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi also commended Oyelami and congratulated the students with a promise to interface with government on their request for seed capital to practice their different vocations.

Chief Oyelami disclosed that the institute was conceptualized about eight years ago to relive the Osogbo Art School of the 60s of which he was a product, expressing his appreciation to his assistants with whom he runs the institute.

The ceremony was spiced by live performances by the students of the institute to the amazement and ovation by the guests including the Olororuwo of Ororuwa, Oba Qamar Adeyeemi Bello and staff of the ministry of culture and tourism from Osogbo.

The Beeta Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF) led by actress and producer Bikiya Graham-Douglas has announced the fourth edition of the Beeta Playwright Competition. The foundation is calling for entries and is open to indigenous playwrights between the ages of 18 and 40. The deadline for all entries is the December 28. Entries should be submitted to www.beetauniversal.org  (Terms and Conditions Apply). The competition birthed  plays such as Our Son the Minister by Paul Ugbede, Jagagba by Abdul Qudus-Ibrahim and Daughters of the East by Achalugo Chioma Ezekobe all playwrights have gone on to experience enormous success.

Since inception BPC has received over one thousand entries and received participation from 30 States in Nigeria and from the diaspora community including countries like USA, UK, Japan,Canada, Ghana, Italy Germany. The Plays have all be produced by BUAF in different states across Nigeria and participated as part of a University Campus Outreach.

The competition aims to find new voices in the literary genre of drama in Nigerian literature. For this edition, the theme is ‘Through the ashes we rise – Stories of hope and resilience in a New Nigeria’.

Top ten finalists will be treated to a writing camp, with a winner emerging at the grand finale event. The winner stands to win prizes worth up to One Million Naira, a publishing deal with PaperWorth Books Limited and their play produced by BUAF and will be part of the nationwide University Campus Outreach.

An esteemed panel of judges for the competition included award-winning playwright and professor of the Arts Ahmed Yerima as chairman; culture/film journalist and arts administrator Shaibu Husseini; veteran actress and producer Ego Boyo, theatre producer and writer Ayo Jaiyesimi; Director and actor Kenneth Uphopho and publisher/bookseller Ibiso Graham-Douglas.

For this fourth edition, BUAF is partnering Union Bank as high-ranking representatives of the bank not only recognize how invaluable the Arts is to preserving and showcasing culture and history but are also committed to developing talent Nigeria and Shell Petroleum Development Company who remain committed to enriching lives in operating communities.  The competition is also supported by Paperworth Books Limited, Olajide & Oyewole LLP along with media support from Guardian Nigeria, YNaija.com, Syncity and Bagus NG.

Follow the conversation on social media @beetaarts for more information contact Peter on 0803 409 7822 or email info@beetauniversal.org