The Nation Newspaper

Category: Arts & Life

  • ‘Grillo is in our hearts’

    ‘Grillo is in our hearts’

    • By: Zainab Oluwafemi

    Renowned artist and former Deputy Rector Yaba College of Technology, Kolade Oshinowo, described Grillo as one who allowed him stand on his shoulders to look into the horizons adding that he elevated many people and supported fairness and justice.

    “He was a man who allowed me to stand on his shoulders to look into the horizons, if anybody will do that for another human, you should hold that person in high esteem. He elevated so many people without thinking about it. That was the major legacy he passed on to all. It’s not all about money. The relationship is quite important,” he said.

    Commending the children of Grillo for showcasing the works and making their father proud, he said: “Apart from Grillo himself, I think we should talk about the children. What they have done is magnificent, what they have done will make any parent proud to have converted this place and the thought of doing this, I must praise them. They have decided to ensure that the legacy lives on and alive. For Yusuf Grillo to a lot of us, he’s not dead, he’s in our hearts because he endeared himself to all of us.”

    Read Also: Yusuf Grillo Museum: A toast of art communities

    Art patron and collector, Prince Yemisi Shyllon while praising Grillo, encouraged all to touch lives one way or another. He said that as an art collector, Grillo works of art will never die as they are in Yemisi Shyllon Museum where they are displayed for the benefit of humanity.

    “Yusuf Grillo can never die because his works are in the Yemisi Shyllon Museum. Artists never die. We collect and ensure those works are in places where when they are gone, where they are displayed, they can be useful to humanity.

    “This man is not just an artist. He was the builder of people and the builder of resources. I am here not because I’m invited, or because I collect art. I’m joining others to celebrate a great man, a man who made an impact in our lives and others. I just wanted to encourage you all, let us touch lives in our own small ways, let us leave a good legacy behind,” he added.

  • ‘Why stage production is my favourite’

    ‘Why stage production is my favourite’

    US-based Nigerian artiste and Programmes Director, Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre, Yeye Funmilayo Emily Ajamufua has ascribed her success in artsto a combination of qualities that fuel her creative journey. She identified dedication, resilience, continuous learning, performance skills and humility as critical elements that determine the growth of any artiste, noting that passion remains the driving force that sets the artistic process in motion. She said it is the spark that ignites the flame of creativity, pushing the artiste to continually produce and improve.

    “Dedication is the backbone of artistic growth, requiring consistent effort and hard work to hone one’s skills. Creativity is the engine that propels innovation, allowing artistes to think outside the box and bring fresh perspectives to their work. Resilience is the armour that protects against rejection, criticism, and failure, enabling artistes to keep pushing forward despite obstacles. Discipline is the framework that provides structure, ensuring timely delivery of quality work.

    “Continuous learning is the compass that guides artistes through the ever-changing landscape of their craft, seeking feedback and staying updated on industry trends. Authenticity is the anchor that keeps artistes grounded in their unique voice, style, and vision.

    “Performance skills are the tools that connect artistes with their audiences, conveying emotions and delivering compelling performances. Cultural awareness is the context that gives depth and meaning to artistic expression. Humility is the foundation that recognizes the privilege of being an artiste, using their platform to uplift and inspire others,” she stated. 

    Yeye Ajamufua who is a bundle of talents as singer, actor, dancer, director and costume designer said she decided to focus on stage productions and cultural advocacy for some reasons, adding that it allows for a more immersive and interactive experience, enabling her to connect with audiences on a deeper level. She said stage productions offer more creative control, allowing her to bring her unique vision and perspective to life. According to her, ‘cultural advocacy is a passion of mine, and I believe that the stage provides an ideal platform to promote and celebrate our rich cultural heritage. I find that the stage challenges me to grow and improve constantly, pushing me to develop new skills and artistic expression.’

    She stressed that her focus on stage productions and cultural advocacy is driven by a desire for creative fulfillment, connection with audiences, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through my art.

    Recalling her trajectory in the arts, Yeye Ajamufua said it has been a whirlwind of creativity, growth and perseverance.

    She said: “My journey as a dancer, actor, and manager has been a whirlwind of creativity, growth, and perseverance. On one hand, I’ve been blessed to express myself through movement and storytelling, connecting with audiences and communities in profound ways. I’ve had the privilege of bringing characters to life, evoking emotions, and sparking important conversations.”

    She however noted that the path has not been without its challenges as juggling multiple roles and responsibilities can be overwhelming at times. She said the physical demands of dancing and performing take a toll on her body while the emotional demands of portraying characters and managing stress can be exhausting.

    Read Also: Volkswagen to resume production in stages

    “Staying creative and innovative in a competitive industry requires constant learning and adaptation. Managing teams and collaborations can be a delicate balancing act, and marketing and promoting productions is a never-ending task,” she added.

    On memorable experiences that spurred her interest in the creative arts, she recalled that her visits to National Theatre Lagos with the support of her brother at age eight

    and the grandeur of the theatre complex as well as the energy of the performances left lasting impression on her.

    “Another experience was watching my mother and grandmother prepare for traditional ceremonies. I was fascinated by the intricate details of their attire and the significance of each adornment.

    These moments sparked my interest in cultural heritage and the arts.

    Participating in dance competitions at parties and consistently placing in the top three boosted my confidence and stage presence. Being part of the literary and debating society in secondary school further honed my public speaking and performance skills.

    “Lastly, representing Lagos State and Nigeria at local and international festivals as a member of the standing troupe was a pivotal experience. It taught me discipline, hard work, and the value of cultural exchange,’ she added.

  • Self-discovery… scaling the perspective

    Self-discovery… scaling the perspective

    • From Cyan Frank-Hanachor

    We discovered graceful living by pragmatism about our reality: a shoe-string budget, in a single income household with a second career yet to take off. We had needs: kids in school, a building project, housing, medical and gazillion dependants who believed they had a lien on you because your wife was homebound and loving it!

    Nobody reckoned on the creative juggling behind the scenes: major-domo, primary caregiver, chauffeur, after-school tutor… mundane tasks we field out for the more pressing scaling of brand to sustain your lifestyle and provide more effectively for the young ‘uns.

    Buoyed by a future I knew we’d meet well, I was satisfied intellectually, broke, an increasingly fluid bill but a fresh perspective to placing value on money. It meant scouting for the nearest produce market (few and far between), bulk buying, feverishly researching storage methods, ferreting for steals in low-budget shops (in Nigeria?); not skimping on quality but developing a 6th sense on what will go the long haul.

    We stretched a lean purse and ploughed gold. We mined the mother lode of resourcefulness, hard work and strength of character… pennies stacked into the bank of life. We learnt to “do the most with the little” and discovered the wonderful secret to survival: living on a shoestring budget. 

    It took years to trace the thread of our uncommon favour: piecing the truth from gleaning through the back roads for bargains. I learnt how precious one penny saved today, could be a dollar on the morrow. We found a growing stack of coins piled up in the most unusual locations, handy for boosting the next meal, family outing or planning a Xmas getaway.

    Thus we arrived at the threshold of “One penny…!” We incorporated it into our work and birthed a living, breathing, interactive medium for a non-denominational, syndicated lecture series to bridge lifestyle options, the generational gap in parenting, attitudinal values, interpersonal relationships in the home, school and workplace: ”The ‘Good’ Lesson Series.”

    We literally sailed into a life of living well… within reason, within budget. We chose our pennies and stashed every luxury that went against the grain, back on the shelf. We skimped and saved and built a life centred round the necessities and healthy living: ”one penny, a day!”

    We were reconciled that we had matured into a more intelligent, rewarding and responsible lifestyle. One we could respect and replicate even blindfolded…the economic and non-pecuniary returns to frugal living.

    We have done this teaching for nigh on fifteen years. “One penny…!” has become bigger than us. In that time we have seen the world take on “One penny…!” and make a tv series of it. “One penny…!” has spun a world-renowned lecture series, I hear. I am proud that we were able to initiate a movement of the magnitude it assumed even though we haven’t received “one penny…!” for it.

    Only those like me who have endured creative “entrepreneurship” will give credence to the validity of the argument: “One penny…! One penny…!” Till I watched a professional do me on the “Book Chat Segment” of the TVC early morning show: “Walk Up Nigeria”.

    She was gentille: poise, charm, flawless; understated but intelligent delivery, spelling breeding, professionalism and knowledge of the subject-matter. A delight to the communication and PR expert.

    Read Also: Hamzat: cultural preservation crucial to self-discovery

    Chalk it up to stalking; all that made sense when I made her acquaintance online. I was doing research and stumbled on the familiar. My first foray into being active was on a brand; an “unknown” given carte-blanche by a thorough-bred professional and mentor: the Honourable Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr Gbenga Omotoso.

    No hint of that by the way during the interview. What’s this world coming to? It was too good to pass up.

    Funmi Omotoso, B.Sc. Psychology, MBA in Marketing, M.Sc. Psychology, Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants, was promoting her book: 30 Nuggets For Self-Development: A Guide To Personal Growth. 

    I am not a big fan of self-help books but this was real. It did not pull any punches! She had come from the familiar: “…owing a corner shop.” It was a revelation. She literally took the words out from my mouth. I sat at the edge of my seat and watched the reality of “One penny…!” take wings and fly.  

    It has insightful introspection from my side of town – the reality of the not losing “self” in the dynamics of finance. The curse word of the housewife.

    According to the “serial” entrepreneur with a background in media and advertising, in 1995, as a “corper, providence” had guided her into a second stream of income, buying and selling to colleagues. Trading sharpened her marketing skill and her career trajectory has since criss-crossed four continents, equipping multiple businesses with “system, process and structure.”

    Funmi Omotoso, shares the secret of a life-changing leap from a humble start-up to being an award-winning Self-Development and Behavioural coach as a spin-off from the mechanics of Behavioural Economics.

    30 Nuggets For Self-Development: A Guide To Personal Growth is a handbook for a definitive path to personal transformation: “self-discovery, self-development and self-actualization”.

    It has 30 power-filled “nuggets” of time-tested wisdom, distilled insights and practical advice to spur you on to greater heights in one month, one “nugget” a day!

    The author’s inspiration was realizing that self-development was the “foundation for success.” Keys to self-development read: ”potential, growth, development…”

    You are told to: “rise above yourself, maximize your strength and minimise your weaknesses” to “discover your power and unleash your potential” to self-mastery and self-realization!

    The celebrated Public Speaker/Resource Person: “The Best Minds Team” advocates “a clarity on goals” for growth in the dynamics of “self” – a better understanding of “self”, career, success and a purpose-driven life.

    Her primary job commitment is customised brand analytics for a step-by-step guide to help clients get insights to “evaluate financial opportunities”, make informed strategic “investment” decisions, “explore multiple streams of income and entrepreneurship.”

    This has a “multiplier effect” on clients who are “inspired, uplifted and confident to accomplish their purpose in life, achieve their goals” and become more effective to accelerate their brand. 

    The Guide To Personal Growth is relatable. There is a message for every age, gender and phase of life. The analogy of the “Parable of the Talents” makes it ideal as every young woman’s companion on the path to “self-actualisation” and “self-fulfilment”.

    You are told to “find purpose in life and be a better self” by combating negative “self-image, perfectionist tendencies” and a personal gem I believe every 21st century African female would find positively life-saving: “learn to delegate”!

    Funmi Omotoso is the current President, Merit Toastmasters, Nigeria, a chapter of Toastmasters International.

    The Personal Effectiveness guru with the Midas touch, is an advocate for harnessing your talents to scale your brand. On the trail of her personal ideology, an odyssey from age 11 has yielded a single: “E wa bami jo” from the Yoruba inspirational genre.

    30 Nuggets For Self-Development: A Guide To Personal Growth curated by Funmi Omotoso is a must-read: simple, direct and easy to understand. Great in kindle, it is listed on Selar.com for: ₦1,466.97.

  • POEM

    POEM

    When minimum wage

    Is mining rage

    Give us a living wage

    because your pay

    is a smiling pot

    not shy to burst

    Let our sweat

    tally with our raise

    because yours

    is an elephant

    floating without

    wings

    We come in peace

    but we could come

    as bricks

    crashing heads

    maiming limbs

    Our Lords in Temples

    of chop and clean

    mouth

    baboons with reptile

    scales

    give us living wages

    so you won’t mine

    our rage

    because it will surely

    come

    like a thief

    in the night

    Maximum rage will mill Minimum wage

    I won’t carry the news

    wrapped with wails

    as  mails to be read

    by plundered heads

    who are now like nails

    that had tried hard

    to be heard

    but are fastened

    to a rebellious

    gear

    waiting to throttle

    on a destructive path

    I will tell them

    I heard someone

         said

    “money is scarce

    but a new witches’

    broomstick

    I must fly

    at all cost

    to the moon

    even at noon.

    I need this fast

    a flying mat

    to show

    you complaining

    Lizards

    that money is there

    but not for wages

    even when you

    are raging.”

    My advice is like

    a smooth loaf

    of bread

    you may digest

    it with grace

    or wolf it with

    anger

    such muse

    will help you

    yield to my

    words

    with force

    So, don’t delay

    kindly

    break a few heads

        those ones

    whose take home

    envelopes swell

    like River Niger

    on rainy days

           then

    your cry will fly

         after dawn

    WE then

    smoke some holes

    where our sweat

    lives

    pregnant snakes

    that swallowed

    it will

    cough

    painful throaty sounds

    and the years

    of the locusts

    that ravaged

    our land

    will be restored

    and what was

    swallowed

    will be vomited.

    This will only

    happen if

    the pressure

    is communal

    without betrayal

    of purpose

          and

    of vision

    • By Akan Essien

    Uyo

  • ‘How I became cross-over artist’

    ‘How I became cross-over artist’

    Martina Hassana Michael is a graduate of Mass Communication. However, she finds solace in other aspects of arts. She is a painter, a model and a writer. She finds time enough to write prose and poetry. She is also a freelance broadcaster where she also proves her mettle as a journalist. In this interview with EDOZIE UDEZE she makes it clear that her life as an artist is a busy and fulfilling one.

    You seem to be a cross-over artist – from Mass Communication to visual arts and dance and modeling. How did you achieve that?

    It all started in school during my final year. I was asked to write anything that was in my mind and when I did, behold, it was a beautiful piece of art. Everyone loved the spoken word, even till today. I can’t really explain how it started; I met it happening and ever since it has been from good to better. My note book has been my rescue room and my therapist. For the visual; drawing eases my mind, eases all the tension and gives me a sense of relief. Modeling became what I realized at my adult years, my stature and my raw love for fashion got me into bikini modeling, right until I competed and became the runner-up for the Most Beautiful Girl in Abuja Pageant (MBGA 2023)

    You did not attend a formal school of visual arts. How come you paint lots better than most formally trained visual artists?

    I have always had an unfiltered love for paintings and pencil art. It’s fascinating strokes and shades gripped my heart and so I took it upon myself to enhance my skills and feed my passion for art by enrolling in an art studio where I learnt the basics of drawing and painting.  The appreciation of art differs from person to person. Our personality tends to influence our views about life and art.

    How has the modeling business helped you to be a better artist and person?

    Modeling to me is a pleasant way to showcase my uniqueness as a person and beauty. It has brought out my confidence and helped me express my physical looks effortlessly whilst being confident in my body. As a model it tends to influence my art positively as I admire the human body and appreciate it by drawing and painting it.

    You also do a bit of broadcasting. What lessons have that taught you?

    Being in the broadcast industry is super fun and exciting even though it has its flaws. The media has helped me in becoming bold towards writing and editing. And my first recorded work was in the studio and that particular piece was written in the studio titled The Fallen Heroes.

    Dancing is a rigorous form of movement. Do you dance traditional or modern dance and how often?

    Dancing to me is beyond the physical movement of the body. It involves the soul as well. It elevates the spirit. I love to dance both traditional and modern beat. For the traditional dance I dance pretty good to my state cultural dance which is referred to as Samba. It gave me a good edge during my dance display on stage for the pageantry. It was a sight to behold. Salsa music and dance which originated from Cuba is one amongst the best and swift dance I learnt which I do at leisure time and for pleasure.

    How soon are we expecting your fine art exhibition either solo or group?

    Exhibition is something I yearn for. It is what my art needs, the joy of seeing people meeting and communicating with my art. Although my paintings are few and somehow raw and intimidating, I love them all. I will exhibit my art soon but it will be for a selected audience for its explicit content. To me art is limitless and its satisfactory taste comes in different flavours, surrealism, abstract, sculpture and a lot more including figurative art which I specialize on. And I also have a sense of fulfillment doing it as it better expressed. To me the human nudity is an art of excellence that God did and which can’t be achieved by no other

    When I’m painting I’m literally just calm within me. And that helps to bring out the desired end results. I love colours and so I put in diverse colours and shades to my work. I do this mainly through the use of acrylic and pastels, and a few times oil paint. I engage more with acrylic, pastels and graphite.

    Is Martina Hassana Michael also a poet, novelist or playwright?

    I am a poet and it is one amongst a few things that completes me. I love diversity and as a literary writer I wouldn’t say overtime if I wouldn’t indulge into playwriting or novel writing but as for this present moment I am best regarded as a writer and a spoken word artist.

    Read Also: How an artist made an album with my idea – Omah Lay

    I believe my mind is an influential tool and a big drive to my art. My writing is birthed from my thought, from my darkest days, darkest moments and experiences. So I’d rather not regard it to be junk but my thoughts as a reservoir of greatness and beauty. Although what travels through it could be a bitter past and/or present pain it is certainly a part of me archived in my mind and rather than letting it temper with my happiness i learnt to transform my thoughts  into beauty into spoken word and it became my defense and guide which has built me into  being better , being happy and hopeful. Every piece of thought that crosses through my mind whether negative or positive I hold on to it as an armor, my pen as the sword and my mouth as the battle field.

    Which area are you more comfortable? Painting or writing or modeling; being a pageant Queen?

    Art is incredibly fascinating in all its forms. And I indulge in visual, performing and literary art. The visual art is something that intrigues me and I enjoy doing it in my leisure time and not too frequently. I admire both paintings and drawings.  My literary art has my heart, as it helps heal my heart and lighten my soul. Writing is something I adore and enjoy every single moment. It is therapeutic to me and I find so much comfort in it. And for the performance art, I’d say it brightens my mood. Dancing heals both the body, mind and soul. I dance anytime or anywhere I hear a good music. It is a mood lifter. And music itself is something I love. I tend to sing and attend every possible karaoke show to sing. Art is deep and profound. It is indeed life itself. I cannot miss out on any form of it. Being a model or modeling comes easy and it requires little or no skill but self-confidence.

  • Isese: Sanwo-olu stands tall with reality

    Isese: Sanwo-olu stands tall with reality

    • By Bayo Osiyemi

    In keeping with his promise, made some years ago, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu has set   aside August 20 as  Isese Day celebration in Lagos State.

    This is in keeping with the popular clamour that August  20 be set apart for the celebration of our rich cultural heritage in the State of Excellence.

    And I am glad to have been the megaphone through which the governor broke the good news to the people of Lagos State at the Isese Day gathering held at the sprawling white sand grounds in Ikate Elegushin in 2020.

    When I broke the news then as the special adviser to the Governor on chieftaincy and traditional matters, the reaction of the adherents was spontaneous and loud and the downpour of prayers on the state government that day, was clearly indicative of the successful journey it had embarked upon.

    Some hypocrites may lampoon the decision, especially those of them who may be trying to be more Catholic than the Pope; but the truth of the matter is that a society that neglects to elevate and promote its tradition and cultural heritage will inevitably lose its identity as well as the economic benefits inherent in our traditional values.

    “Isese l’agba” is the popular refrain among believers of our tradition and culture. That cannot be for nothing.

    Before the advent of imported religions, our people coveted their traditional religions so much so that they attributed many of the fortunes their forebears bequeathed on their generations to the efficacy of these religions.

    One of the conquering tools of neo-colonialism by the European adventurers was to use their own religions to subdue the black race, taint their beliefs as bad and force them to imbibe their own religions in foreign language, like Roman Catholicism, which many of their converts do not speak or understand to this day.

    Modernity has helped to open people’s eyes to decide which of the religions is best for them.

    No modern-day Christian or Muslim can claim that his or her lineage had never benefitted from our cultural heritage. Before the advent of modern medicine, many of us in this country survived on herbs to cure innumerable ailments, including serious ones like epilepsy, sickle cell disease, mental insanity, infertility, prostrate enlargement, and cancer of different hues.

    I am one of those who came into this world, as God-sent, through His messengers, who were traditional adherents; and I will forever remain grateful to the God of gods for my delivery into the world after over three years in the womb.

    That occurrence defied science but truly, it happened 74 years ago.

    Read Also: Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu

    I use this to blast hypocritical pretenders who condemn everything in our traditional cultures and values.

    It is no doubt true that some of our traditional practitioners and herbalists had introduced dubious aspects to the practice in modern times, but that is not to condemn the good work out of our tradition and culture wholesale. That will be akin to condemning pharmaceutical productions off-handedly just because of the application of overdose in patients.

    While I have chosen Christ as my Lord and Saviour, after experiencing God’s perfection, against some imperfections associated with other religions, it is not enough to withhold big commendation to the Lagos State government for this laudable decision on Isese Day celebration, which, in any way, is coming after similar well-considered steps earlier taken by some other states, like Ogun and Osun.

    Government having done what is good and realistic in this matter, it behoves on the leaderships of our traditional and cultural institutions to help sanitise their practice and rid unscrupulous and mindless ones among them of the harmful dangers they are coveting.

    •  Osiyemi is a former special adviser to Lagos State governor on chieftaincy & traditional matters
  • Journeying with her – 1 (Short Fiction)

    Journeying with her – 1 (Short Fiction)

    June1996. The luxury bus came alive at Ojota busstop as the last batch of travellers clustered in. It was quite early in the morning when I arrived for my trip home.

    Suddenly, the driver hooted the horn. The conductor came alive too. “It’s time to move”, he shouted out and clear. There were other passengers who went down to buy some things to eat.

    I made my way slowly to my seat which was near the window. Quite a vantage position. I wanted to have a good aerial view of the vegetation while the vehicle was in motion. And after paying one hundred Naira to make a five hour journey, I felt I should have the best. Instinctively, I looked at my wrist-watch. I had no patience for unnecessary delays by luxury bus drivers.

    Eight o’clock was the departure time. Then the bus began to meander its way slowly from the park, heading towards the tollgate. We waved back as people waved to us to say ‘safe journey’. I was beside myself with joy. At last, I’d taken off after many postponements. I fumbled for my mother’s letter in my pocket. Opening it quietly, I read it all over again, taking the message in as if it was food. So mother was serious when she wrote this piece!

    Inside me, I glowed with happiness. The end of suffering was really in sight. I smiled to myself without knowing that it showed on my face. The lady sitting next to me turned her head instantly. Seeing the paper in my hand, she quickly looked away. Perhaps she thought I was reading a love letter, one of those things that could trip a young man.

    At that time, I didn’t want that opportunity to slip me by. I was beginning to notice a subtle change in her bearing towards me. When she turned her head for the third time, I spoke up to her instantly.

    “It’s a letter from my mother”, I said, knowing that this might bring her out from her shell. There was even a faint starchiness in my voice as I spoke again.

    “Imagine! She’s summoning me home, my mama”.

    “You men and your mothers’, she said twitching her nose. I watched her do that with delight.

    “Yeah, just the same way you chicks rattle about your fathers. You see. And when you have your own sons, they would prattle about you too”. She shrugged her heavily padded shoulder, her make-up showing the big mess she made on her face. I looked away immediately before saying: “perhaps my own mother is gold”.

    “Who wouldn’t say that of his own mother? Anyway, what makes her gold?”

    Read Also: Political families: Stepping into their fathers’ shoes

    “Yeah, that’s a good question. See”, I said, showing her the letter, “She wants me to take over my uncle’s business concern at home in my village”. She glanced briefly at it, following my finger tip. Then she came to where my mama called me ‘my dear little boy’.

    “She still calls you dear little boy’, as old as you are. You must be a lucky bomboy”. I felt myself blush, but smiled to conceal the slight embarrassment.

    “I guess I am. Point is that my mama is the caring type, the best any man can hope to have”.

    “You only talk about your mama, you don’t have a papa, is that it? Are you a bastard?”

    “Oh, my old man, you mean? He is there”.

    “And he doesn’t make meaning to you?”

    “Well, he does when I want him to. But most times, the meaning he makes to me has no meaning to me, get what I mean?”

    “You must be crazy to talk about your father in that way. My own father is the best darling in the world. He’s an embodiment of love, peace and care”. There was a glimmer of concern on her face.

    “You’re lucky, aren’t you? Anyway, mine is there, merely existing, you know”.

    We continued with our conversation. The big bus was jerking along the rocky hilly road of Abudu. Most of the passengers were now tired and so were dozing off. I was also beginning to feel sleepy and worn out. But the babe by my side was the gregarious type.

    She couldn’t let me be.

    I looked at my new friend again. She was cute all right but in a way that made her look absurd and funny. Guess it was her heavy make-up.

    Suddenly she turned to stare at me, her eyes quizzical.

    “You never told me your name, mama’s pikin”.

    “Because you never bothered to ask me, father’s pet”. She giggled excitedly, touching my lap in a friendly way. Eyeing me quizzically from the corner of her eye, I also laughed.

  • Play on men mental health debuts

    Play on men mental health debuts

    The play is titled Well-done Sir. It is produced by one of Nigeria’s ace stage craftsmen, Ifeanyi Eziukwu and it will mount the stage at the French Cultural Centre, Mike Adenuga Centre, Lagos, on October 12. The idea is to encourage men to think less of suicide which is common nowadays. Eziukwu speaks to EDOZIE UDEZE on why the play is pungent and timely and must be watched by all.

    IFEANYI Eziukwu is a theatre producer. He is one of the young theatre professionals who is ever wired to dare where others fear to tread. Over the years, he has worked to enable some theatre people achieve their purposes by throwing himself behind their productions. The name of his theatre outfit is Just Theatre House. With this company he has been able to go places, producing stage plays and shows that have indeed traversed the theatre terrain in Nigeria and elsewhere.

    However, he has a new project which he intends to present to the public on October 12. The venue of the show is the French Cultural Centre, Mike Adenuga Centre, Lagos. The title of the stage show is Well-done Sir. It has to do with men’s mental health. It is a situation where men commit suicide on a regular basis based on undue pressure from homes, from relations, from outsiders, in some cases. Men undergo lots of trauma in the process of running the home, almost keeping some of these problems to themselves.

    Eziukwu said “It suddenly downed on me that statistics has shown that men bottle up a lot of issues in their minds. It is not always that a man cries or shares his inner problems in order to let out steam. Therefore the play is part of the ways to show how men can manage a situation and live longer and become happier. It is not good that men who handle almost 90% of the home are not given the necessary platform to relief the pressure and then stay healthy mentally and physically and indeed financially. This is a whole essence of the play. It will show that across cultures and clines that men face almost similar situations.

    There must be a way out of the quagmire. Eziukwu said “One out of every four men you meet, has the chances of committing suicide”. The men in this category bottle up a lot. They cannot easily share their problems. As boys, we were taught never to cry or speak out on issues simply because men do not cry. So, boys grow up with kind of mental orientation so that when a problem comes, they keep it to themselves. Some go out to the pub where a lot of bottles of alcohol are consumed as a temporary solution to the problem.

    But Eziukwu is saying that time has come when men have to learn how to relax, how to take life easy and probably share some of these financial burdens with their spouses at home. There are so many widows out there. Single mothers spring up every now and then. Most men do not have the nerves to shriek their responsibilities and so it consumes them in the process.

    It is clear there that this play speaks to all men, young, old, rich, poor, strong, weak. It is time to act to reduce the rate of suicide by men and then discourage the rise in the number of widows in the world, single motherhood inclusive. As it is in Nigeria, so it is in different parts of the world where men toil endlessly to win daily bread for the home. Eziukwu is an expert in producing plays that appeal to the soul and to the conscience of the people. His interest purposely is to ensure that his works hit the nail on the head. And the choice of the French Cultural Centre Lagos as venue is apt. Male suicide does not have class or age stratification. It is rampant these days. And so let the play do the talking.

    Let people go there, sit down in a relax mood to see what can be done to avoid or avert more cases of sudden death by men. The issue of men collapsing or slumping to death is on the increase. Plays usually amplify life situations. Ditto Welldone Sir. A well-crafted script, the actors and actresses are among some of the best in Nigeria. With dances, social mesmerization and crafts the play will bring nearer home the thrust of the matter.  There will be plenty of innuendos, references, wise sayings to amplify the message and make it sink.

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    It is time also to let big and rich men leave the busyness of the day to mingle and mix with one and other where theatre is a bridge builder. “So, as a man, when you are tired, stop. If you are pained, cry; cry it out and let the world feel the pain with you. That way, the saying that the problem shared is a problem half solved will begin to manifest”, Eziukwu reasoned, romancing a glass of drink in his hand.

    A man is not a super human. He cries and he should allow himself to cry when occasion calls for it. The dances are to spice the play, “We, in collaboration with lots of people coming to Nigeria as well will make the play bubble. There is a programme we have regularly called Global Arts Week. This one is part of it. It is to spice it up and draw attention to the lessons in Welldone Sir.

  • National Theatre hosts training courses for industry professionals

    National Theatre hosts training courses for industry professionals

    THE National Theatre has hosted several theatre practitioners in a series of training sessions. 

    The training started on Monday and extended throughout the week.    

    Hosted at the Alliance Francais, a partner with the National Theatre on this project, the first training session was a Project Management Workshop.

    Speaking at the opening of the first session, GM/CEO, National Theatre, Tola Akerele, said that the training was a first in a series of trainings for industry professionals.   

    She said that the National Theatre is looking to collaborate with the industry, find out what they need and provide solutions.

      “Skills training is one of the important agendas of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and The Creative Economy and I am delighted that the National Theatre was able to host this workshop and courses.

    ” I believe they are essential for equipping our theatre practitioners with the skills they need to thrive in the creative industry. I eagerly look forward to many more such initiatives in the future,” she said.

    She welcomed the participants and acknowledged the opportunity the training presented to improve their practice.

     The Project Management course was facilitated by Dr. Lessi Patrick, an award-winning theatre professional with a demonstrated record of working in academia, practice and management.

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     A certified Project Management professional with cumulative experience of over two decades, she taught on how to use project management processes to deliver better theatre productions.

    The second course, “Introduction to playwriting” started on Thursday. The course was facilitated by Shola Asante, a UK-based Journalist, fiction writer and playwright. 

    She brought her vast experience working in organizations such as the BBC, Sky News and CNBC to teach the participants of the training.

    Speaking at the training, Akerele urged participation and collaboration from industry stakeholders, promising that the new era of the National Theatre will provide opportunities for theatre practitioners. 

    One of such opportunities is the “Storytelling for Impact” class which holds on Saturday, 24th of August at the Alliance Francais. 

    The workshop will be facilitated by Anna Ostergren, a theatre director with experience working with companies ranging from National Theatre London, Netflix, London Business School and Bloomberg. The workshop will start by 10am and is open to the public.

  • Yahkhahnahn Ammi’s Live or Die Tryin’ explores trauma of falsely accused

    Yahkhahnahn Ammi’s Live or Die Tryin’ explores trauma of falsely accused

    Yahkhahnahn Ammi, a passionate activist and advocate for the rights of melanated people, has released his memoir, Live or Die Tryin’, which offers a searing account of his wrongful imprisonment as a minor and his ongoing fight for justice. At just fourteen, Ammi was sentenced to sixteen years in an adult prison for a crime he didn’t commit—a punishment far harsher than his older co-defendants, who shifted the blame onto him to secure lighter sentences.

    Ammi’s life has been marked by adversity, but also by resilience. After his release, he built a new life—marrying, becoming a father, and even earning a PhD. However, his personal struggles continued, as he found himself embroiled in a bitter custody battle following a tumultuous divorce. Ammi’s belief in Black nationalism has placed him at the forefront of both personal and political battles, often at great personal cost.

    In Live or Die Tryin’, Ammi chronicles his journey, from his harrowing experiences in prison to the ongoing legal and social battles that have defined his life. Central to his story is the systematic attempt to silence, discredit, and cancel him—a conspiracy, he alleges, spearheaded by his ex-wife and her co-conspirators.

    Ammi frames his experience through what Bryan Allen describes as the “Four D’s”: Dismiss, Discredit, Demonize, and Destroy. “From the moment I spoke out against systemic oppression, I was labeled as ‘radical’, ‘muderer’, and  ‘rapist,’” Ammi writes. “Cancel culture was wielded against me, erasing my contributions and diminishing the impact of my work. Yet, I refused to be silenced.”

    Ammi’s memoir is more than just a recounting of personal pain—it’s a call to action against systemic injustice. As his voice grew louder, the attacks on his character intensified, with the media painting him as a hypocrite and a fraud. When attempts to discredit him failed, the next step was to demonize him, labeling him as a dangerous felon to alienate potential supporters.

    Despite these efforts, Ammi remained resolute. “The struggle for liberation is worth any price,” he declares. Live or Die Tryin’ is a testament to his relentless perseverance and serves as an inspiring reminder of the power of resistance in the face of overwhelming odds. Through his story, Ammi urges others to continue the fight for justice, no matter the personal cost.