As countries like Singapore continue to make huge money through their culture and tourism sector, experts have said understanding the dynamics of culture will help Nigeria galvanise the potential the sector holds.
They made this assertion at a recent briefing tagged: “Reflection and Projection of Ondo Art Festival (ARTFEST)”.
The maiden edition of the festival held last December at Akure, the Ondo State capital.
With the theme, Togetherness, the festival is a partnership between the Ikorodu -based Oshodi Art Gallery, owned by Seyi Paul Oshodi and the Ondo State Ministry of Arts and Culture.
Recounting the successes of the festival, which featured former Arts Editor of The Guardian newspaper, Ben Tomoloju, who is culture activist, as keynote speaker, Oshodi observed that culture and tourism sectors have all it takes to bring about economic boom for the state. “Ondo is a tourism brand that can be sold to the world in such a way that tourism could become a major revenue earner for the state. All that is needed is for the stakeholders, government and private organisations, to look inward and reinvent themselves.
On why he partnered his home state for the festival, he disclosed that it was to promote cultural and socio-economic development. He said: “We are getting it wrong in today’s society, and without culture, we can never get it right. We started from Ondo because charity begins at home.
“The theme, Togetherness, was meant highlight our similarities. Despite being a Yoruba-speaking state, there are different dialects in Ondo. This was why we chose the theme, and we brought everybody together in Akure. The concept is quite different from what they were doing before. They had ‘Mare’ to celebrate the rock in Idanre, but ours is about bringing all the people in Ondo together, and the content is different.”
While stating that Ondo ARTFEST is one of his organisation’s moves towards cultural reawakening, Oshodi hinted that his gallery is focusing on diverse cultural initiatives that will impact people’s lives. “We are planning another one in Lagos that will be campaigning against child abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking. After the Lagos event, we will be displaying 1,000 crowns of Yoruba kings. We will highlight the significance of each Oba and his crown.”
On this year’s Ondo ARTFEST, he said the festival hopes to showcase the state’s rich tourism and cultural exports on the world’s stage, while promoting cultural and socio-economic development.
On his part the festival consultant, Mr Makinde Adeniran, said if properly harnessed culture can sell more than oil. “Culture is a strong element that comes from us. You cannot compare it to oil. There is no gainsaying that we need to go back to our roots and reinvent and rebrand what we have for the global market. And that is what we can achieve, using Ondo ARTFEST,” he said.
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