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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͳ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ
ART WEEKEND
…For pure art enthusiasts
A Song for National Unity YINKA OLATUNBOSUN argues that national consciousness is still alive in Nigerian music citing Mr. Bigger Ibekwe’s new release for Nigeria at 59 titled,“One Nigeria’’as a case in point Some may argue that consciousness music died with the artists of the 80s and 90s in Nigeria. The likes of Orits Wiliki, Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono, The Mandators, Sonny Okosun, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his son Femi Kuti who were some of the unforgettable forebearers of the consciousness music in Nigeria have no music topping the charts at the moment. There was a surge in this music for change during the military era. Although some of the issues raised by these artists still linger, feel-good music keeps dominating the airwaves. But that doesn’t mean that consciousness is dead in today’s contemporary music. Tubaba, Sound Sultan, Nneka, Six-Foot-Plus, African China, Idris Abdulkareem, Brymo, Kahli Abdu represent the post-military rule musicians whose music bore the that legacy of consciousness. To keep that spirit alive, Mr. Bigger Ibekwe, one of the fast-rising artists from Anambra state recently released his song, “One Nigeria’’ as a commemorative track in marking Nigeria’s 59th Independence Day
Mr Bigger Ibekwe
celebrations. At a listening party held in Lagos, the multi-lingual musician who speaks Japanese, Chinese and Tagalog narrated a personal encounter that moved him to write the song. “This music is actually prompted by a poster that I saw at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. It is by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The poster states that ‘let us move forward. If we must move forward,
it is better together.’ When I saw it, it made me think. I was actually driving when I saw it. We are now 59 years. If the nation was a human, it would have been married with children. But look at us. Since amalgamation in 1914, there is no unity. People are disenchanted in the east and other parts of the country. If we come together as a nation, what we will profit from being together is much,’’ he said.
Bigger who had spent part of his life outside Nigerian shores claimed that Nigeria is a wellrecognised African country. However, he identified some key threats to national unity namely tribalism, nepotism and disunity. “I have 100 per cent faith in this country. The leadership needs to know that we need to fight a war against injustice. We are fighting war against corruption fine but it shouldn’t be limited there. We need to let people know that we belong to Nigeria. I can let you know that all these nepotism and tribalism are as deadly as corruption,’’ he stated. In the single, “One Nigeria”, there is a catchy hook about moving Nigeria forward. Though Bigger started off his music journey with gospel music, his current preoccupation is to preach the gospel of unity. Born and raised by a mother who is music composer, he only ventured into music professionally in 2015 as a non-profit pursuit. A master interpreter, Bigger remarked that music is that powerful universal language that can rally people across age, gender, tribal and religious barriers to build a united nation.
Relishing Street Theatre in Lagos Rebecca Ejiofoma An indigenous platform, Carnivals and Cultural Pride recently organised a massive street theatre at Apongbon Lagos Island where scores of residents and guests gathered to enjoy the traditional feast. The forecourt of the iconic Elephant House was transformed into a theatre-in-the-round of sorts as a potpourri of performances from various cultural groups across Nigeria dazzled the audience. From the East to the West, it was a cross-over evening entertainment that will not be forgotten in a hurry. The street theatre experience was to serve as a precursor to the Cultural Pride Festival which is scheduled to take place in April 2020. The little damsels from the east, clad in predominantly white attire brought some energetic twist to the funfair. They made mind-blowing steps to Flavour’s Ada Ada albeit fragile. Other performing troupes at the show were Dugombas Cultural Troupe which brought Sango to the space; Otuobi Star Boys from Enugu, Arewa Cultural Troupe led by Samson Al-Hassan otherwise known as Gas Cooker, a lead dancer; The Eastern Dancers, and Children from Waslat School, Olowogbowo. The ambiance was saturated by the cheering and chattering audience who couldn’t hold
Adesina and his work titled “Gladiators”
back the urge to flow with the sound of the talking drum that cued in ‘Sango’. His appearance gave way to deafening screams from the excited crowd as the invigorating sound of the bata drums ushered in three dancers. A display of magical powers stood Sango out of the performers as he staggered across the performance space in selfadulation. One of his exciting tricks at the show was to pick up an empty green bottle which he chewed and swallowed with a bottle of alcohol. That produced a jaw-dropping effect. Carnivals and Cultural Pride is founded by Idris Coker, a former Captain of the Olowogbowo/ Fanti Carnival. He spoke
about his interest in this cultural phenomenon. “I’m from Lagos Island and former Captain of Olowogbowo Fanti Carnival. This festival is purposely structured to promote indigenous heritage, traditions, attires and local dialects,’’ he said. He added that the carnival was created to engage the youths and revive the cultural interest of the people. “We believe that the best way to unite Nigeria is to promote our culture. This programme today is to herald the main event on April 18, 2020 at Onikan Arena. For the main event, we shall be uniting all the cultural activities in all 36 states
in Nigeria. It is to enhance unity and love,’’ he said. Also in the audience were the representatives of the Oko Faaji and Isale Ekoworo Carnivals as well as the officials of the National Film and Video Censors Board. The project which is done in collaboration with the Lagos State Council for Art and Culture with support from Dr. Charles Williams and Charles Cole of Olowogbowo Methodist Cathedral Church is created to celebrate and promote indigenous culture. There will be more editions of the Street Theatre to be held at the palaces of the Ojora and Elegushi and other venues before the main event in 2020.
Participants on the Janggu drum
Janggu Drums Rocked Ajegunle Yinka Olatunbosun Janggu drums, with roots in South Korea, have become a toast of young drummers in Lagos with an on-going series of training facilitated by seasoned theatre artist, Isioma Williams. In collaboration with the South Korean Cultural Centre, the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat was the destination of invited guests and parents of some of the participating students who were honoured with the Janggu Drum Training Graduation Ceremony on September 30, 2019. Certainly, drums have a unique way of commanding attention. The food vendors and hawkers milling around the premises took to the windows to watch the rhythmic sounds of the drums which had been taught and learnt at Orile Iganmu, Barija and now Ajegunle. Williams explained why and how Janggu drums are taught in his introductory remarks at the well-coordinated ceremony. “I am willing to play all the traditional drums from all over the world. This is not just to promote another culture but to understand some of the values attached to some of these traditional drums,’’ he said. What stood these drummers out was the use of drum score by the participants. The young drummers were trained to sight read the drum beats and perform simultaneously. To heighten the auditory pleasure, some Nigerian traditional drums were infused with Janggu during the performance to make the audience feel the bi-cultural relationship. “Drums are therapeutic and you benefit both ways either as the one drumming or the one listening to it,’’ Williams observed. The children performance featured six boys namely Taiye Oyeleke, Daniel Adesuyi, Goodluck Atela, Emmanuel Sobemi, Jamiu Adio and Mohammed Ganiu.
FriendsofLateWallyJay LaunchHisDreamBook Yinka Olatunbosun The friends and family of the legendary humourist, Olawale Obadeyi popularly known as Wally Jay threw a befitting book launch party at Freedom Park, Lagos in a fun-filled atmosphere that suited the persona of the late author. The book titled, “Tongues of the Forecourt’’ is a collection of Yoruba proverbs and aphorisms which had been carefully translated into English by Obadeyi. Obadeyi studied Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife before obtaining a second degree in English Studies with emphasis on literature. He had a stint in print and broadcast journalism and later veered into Marketing Communications as well as Public Relations. Obadeyi is a published poet, short-story writer and columnist whose award-winning short story, Sandstorm in the Rain was published in “Little Drops’’, 1998 collection of short stories which was facilitated by the Obaeyi liberty short stories series. He died in June 2018 just before the iconic book on rich Yoruba proverbs was published. A community of loving and loyal friends saw to it that the dream of this rare book that is a necessary contribution to cultural values was realized. The event was anchored by the duo of Hafiz Ayetoro and Tunji Sotimirin both of whom shared theatre background and broadcast experience with Obadeyi. The book was reviewed by Dr. Tunji Azeez. =A short documentary of the life and times of Obadeyi, produced by Yinka Akanbi was screened at the event that was a platform for friends of Wally Jay to recount the good times with the author and lessons learnt from him. Joseph Uchea, who later read some excerpts from the book alongside Norbert Young, described Wally Jay as one who always corrected his friend’s grammatical blunders, encouraged others to excel academically and was absolutely detribalized.