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Tag: Collector

  • Stella Obasanjo: A Collector’s Biography (Part 1)

    Stella Obasanjo: A Collector’s Biography (Part 1)

    Love her or hate her, you never could ignore her

    Monday made it twelve years since Nigeria‘s former First Lady passed on.

    STELLA OBASANJO.  Nigerians know her for her love of pancake (face) powder and all feferity (much preening and primping).Then, dying after a tummy tuck; such vanity!

    But here you will find out that she was so much more than that.

    Her husband and former president Olusegun Obasajo, OBJ’s exploits with the fairer sex were legendary.  So, when he was sworn in as president people wondered, So Who Will Be First Lady?

    OBJ wasted no time in giving an answer.  There will be No First Lady.  For real? But even now I can still remember the brouhaha Stella created when suddenly she came out with – I Am First Lady.

    Furthermore, she went on to decree ‘I am the ONLY First Lady in Nigeria: all other First Ladies are henceforth Wives of Governors.

    Whaat! Nigerians wondered aloud – Who Is This One, Now?!!

    I will never forget how I came to know Stella Obasanjo.

    A big lady friend whose husband was in the forces had invited me to a RAFPOWA (retired officers wives association) event.  I had tried to wriggle out of it because I thought I wouldn’t know anything about what was going on, and would not know anyone but her.  She insisted and I felt obliged to attend.

    It was a morning event in Victoria Island and I went there on time as is my usual.  Big, big women and big men were in attendance and to my surprise, so was Nigeria’s First Lady!

    I sat down and waited; surely it would be snappy one with the guest of honour already in house.  But to everyone’s bewilderment, there was nothing happening; soon we saw the organisers locking heads and talking in concern.  Suddenly I heard someone say – oh, she’s a Presenter with Cool FM, let’s call her (indicating towards me!).  Next thing was that a live microphone was shoved under my face and with quick push I was ‘made’ the MC of the day.

    Turned out the MC hadn’t shown up and the event was running late, so yours truly was put on the spot.  Even a well prepared MC could easily fumble, seeing  the intimidating audience in that hall, how much more me?  What of all the protocol?  You get it wrong and you’ve made very big enemies for life!  But I quickly brushed all these aside and got the event started.  I do MC Comedy (very tricky) but behold, Mrs. Obasanjo was laughing ‘with all her belly’ in no time!  It was working!

    And then about 40 minutes later the woman MC arrived and I hurriedly handed over.  Many minutes later I was called back again to pair with her.  Not to boast, but mere reading this column you can tell that I am a bright and lively person.   Once I stepped aside that day, there was a definite drop in the atmosphere in that gathering.  The new lady made everything dull!!

    We finished the event that day, and thereafter I got to handle some other events of Mrs. Obasanjo’s including her personal citation even though that particular event ended up being shifted indefinitely.

    It was thanks to her I went to Aso Rock for the first time and severally thereafter, and I can tell you Stella is a most remarkable lady, a Quintessential Woman as Senator Ben Murray Bruce has called her.

    Love her or hate her, you never could ignore her.  Her time as First Lady was most impactful.  Here are some of the things I found out about her myself, as well as what I came to learn about Mrs. Obasanjo.

    Stella is the first in a large family of about eight children(!).  She was of the Abebe family from Edo State; her father rose through the ranks to head up UAC (same place Sen. Bruce’s parents worked at).

    Young Stella gave everyone nicknames; I think her father was ‘Napoleon’ for being a big commander!  She grew to be a mother figure to all her siblings and relatives.  It is no wonder she was a mother to her husband’s (numerous) children even though she had but one son for him.  I have seen one of ‘her’ grandchildren (she’s OBJ’s granddaughter) happily doing her homework inside the Office of the First Lady at Aso Rock.  Stella was good to all her husband’s children and he himself has testified to this.

    Unlike her husband who was a lover of the African Time concept, if Stella gave you an appointment for 2pm, at the dot of time she would either walk in; or you would be ushered in to her.  Like I said at that first event, I went there at dot time and there she was.  OBJ in contrast would come to events about one and a half hours late.  And then he formed a habit having the venue locked from the inside, until whenever he would be ready to leave!

    Even the Queen of England would not lock anyone out of anywhere, for coming late.  I’m told that if a dignitary came late, after her arrival at an event, she would turn and glare at the person, not lock the doors of a private hotel for heaven’s sake!

    I suppose OBJ was always late for his dates with Stella!!

    Stella called OBJ – Olu, he called her Stella (emphasis on LA, not on STELLA as is the correct stress).  I’m told they had their hot quarrels with Stella always trying to make sure she got her point through.

    Ever – smiling Stella was real good company and always acknowledged friends.  There was a story of how one day, then US President Bill Clinton saw her at an international airport where both were in transit.

    He screamed Stella, and waved – she smiled waved on hollered back, Bill!

    Others we have had would have frowned their faces at him for calling them by name, in public.

    Socially, Stella was also partial to the bottle, of course all things in moderation.

    She was a glamour queen and a lover of fashion.  She said of herself that – Stella was a lady who, when she walked down the streets of Benin, cars stopped and people stared at her in admiration!

    In Part 2:  How Stella would fly in Ade Bakare from London for dress measurements.

    And her rivalry with the Vice President’s wife-

    Like Husband: Like Wife!

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  • Collector decries poor art appreciation

    Collector decries poor art appreciation

    A Lagos-based art collector and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Aguene Art Foundation, Chief Solomon Ogbonna, has decried the lack of support from the government and poor art appreciation in Nigeria. He called for the building of standard museums across the country, saying nothing would strengthen a people as much as a proper appreciation and understanding of their own history.

    ”I believe that art is a form of culture and an extension of the mind and reasoning of the spirit. I am an advocate of the customs and traditions of Africans, and I am convinced that nothing will strengthen a people as much as a proper appreciation and understanding of their own history as recorded by their own people in their own language,” Ogbonna said.

    He said if he had his way, one of the biggest museums in the world would be built in Nigeria, as he believes strongly that the country is blessed with a rich arts and cultural heritage that are not given due attention.  Indeed, one of the things that have continued to surprise him is why the government, especially the governors, are paying lip service to art and culture?

    “It is a shame that most of the states in Nigeria, despite the rich cultural heritage and artifacts in them, the country cannot boast of any standard museum that can showcase their ancient or modern arts or compete favourably with museums in other parts of the world. Rather, our sons and daughters travel to the western countries and are proud to flaunt it that they saw one, two or more art works of their tribes on display in various museums abroad, raking in money for the western countries in the process. It is a known fact that Nigerian art works do not serve decorative purposes alone. Aside being priceless, they also convey important messages to the people, especially bronze, copper and wood works, which have been rated in the world as the best and most valuable African art.”

    He went on: “Our leaders should know that setting up a standard museum that will attract tourists from all over the world is not about a certificate or how educated one is. It is also not about appointing a friend or relation who has no interest or knowledge in, or love and passion for, art and tradition as a commissioner or minister.

    “It is also pertinent to know that no one can govern his people without having a clear knowledge of their art, culture and tradition,” Ogbonna said.

    He rsaid the preservation of art, culture and the tradition of the people is a passion in his family. He said the Aguene Art Foundation is a product of his love for art.

    “We launched the foundation about two years ago, specifically, on August 21, 2013. I want to use this foundation to help young artists who are talented but do not have the material to showcase and expose their talent to the world because of lack of resources. The foundation will help them with their creativity and make them independent, and also serve as a medium to empower students who are talented – in primary and secondary schools and also in higher institutions.

    “I have over 6700 arts works including modern and ancient arts, bronze, beadworks, word carvings, paintings, batiks, ceramics, fibre glass works, some of them dates to 200 years ago. I have some terracotta (Nok Culture) works that are about 2000 years old.”

    So, is he just collecting art works just for its appreciation and documentation or is he also thinking of making money from them?

    “For the modern works, yes,” he said. “I can commission specific works for people to buy. For such work I also personally supervise them to make it special, make it different.  What I do with most modern works that I commission, I don’t use one artist. Sometimes one artist could do a work to a particular stage and I will tell the artist to stop so that someone else will touch it. So you cannot claim the work, also you cannot copy the work.”

    “I hope to hold the first exhibition of most modern works I have collected for over two years. The exhibition will hold here in my house in April this year. The works for the exhibition will be limited to those I collected from two years ago till date,” he said, adding, however, that the works are not for sale.

  • Art collector makes case for private museums

    In a few months, Nigeria will host the world economic forum for Africa and artworks collections, including Chief Solomon Ogbonna‘s, will be among those to be showcased, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has said.

    He said he was amazed by the magnitude of artworks in the care of a private collector, adding they are treasures that tell the history of a hundred years ago. He noted that such treasures should not be hidden from public view. He noted that not all Nigerians can preserve historic art for the benefit of the country as they would be enticed by money to sell them.

    “I praise this patriotic citizen. Nigeria owes you a huge debt because your artworks can compete with those in the National Museum of Nigeria,” he said.

    Duke, who praised Ogbonna for preserving the enormous art works, urged other Nigerians with similar collections to emulate him in developing private and government-owned museums. According to him, the most thriving museums in the world are privately owned. He spoke at the house of Ogbonna at Ajah, a Lagos suburb.

    Duke said: “For 37 years, the National Theatre has been there, people have ridiculed the President for abandoning it. That is why a decision has been taken to revive the place. The government is not transforming it into a hotel, neither would it be sold. But it is going to rehabilitate the dirty areas surrounding it for investors who are ready to redefine the place”.

    Ogbonna is involved in the advocacy aimed at protecting and preserving the art, culture and tradition of his people, especially those being eroded by western influence. He is seeking moral assistance and support of the government in creating a standard museum that will exhibit his artworks for Nigerians and the world.

    His words: “We should preserve art because it encompasses our culture and history, and culture shouldn’t die because of culture imperialism. The preservation of the art, culture and tradition of the people is a vision flowing in the blood of my family. My grandfather is an art collector, and so is my father,” he said.

    He said art is a form of culture and an extension of the mind and nothing would strengthen people as much as a proper appreciation and understanding of their history as recorded by their own people, in their own language.

  • Be a Fashion Accessories Collector

    Be a Fashion Accessories Collector

    COLLECT as many fashion accessories/items as you can lay your hands on. You can mix and match effectively at any point in time.

    Stick with classic cuts

    Go for fashion pieces that are well-structured.

    Splurge on your blazers/jacket

    Good blazers do not go out of style. They are ever trendy and classic.

    Know the power of an over sized bag

    It’s fashionable to carry just one big bag that will contain all your necessities and one that fits your lifestyle.

    Neutral

    Neutral pieces are wardrobe staple any time, any day. With neutral pieces, you can mix and match effectively