Eyin'juOdu

Will Jawando is an attorney, born to a Nigerian father and an American mother from Kansas. The young politician wore a Nigerian attire popularly called agbada to his swearing-in ceremony in a bid to promote the African culture. Will, in a video which was shared on Twitter by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), explained why he wore the African attire to his inauguration. “We all come from different culture, it’s really important that we respect our differences even if those differences come in ways we don’t anticipate or even understand. “So by wearing this agbada, this traditional West African clothing in a public setting to take the public oath of office, it’s part of a bigger and public dialogue that I think it’s needed if we are to understand and respect our differences and move forward.”

👆Presentation of Soyinka's CHRONICLES on TVC on Monday, Dec 7

LBHF 2015… Echoes of Sambisa forest, The Tragedy of King Christophe "Jos Repertory Theatre’s performance of The Tragedy of King Christophe on the night was energetic and exciting. Although, the characters did not affect the speech patterns of Haitians, they came close to some of the mannerisms. Particularly brilliant were the Victorian-style costumes, the ballroom parties and affectations that Christophe created to imitate European monarchical models of power and grandeur".

Snapshots… Showcase Of A People’s Will To Change "Snapshots also reveals the extent to which the oppressed can go to even scores, especially when they are pushed to the wall. Inherent in this, is a warning to those in power: they should never think that because they have the machinery of government in their control over the poor, as represented by the inhabitants of Araromi, that the people cannot rise against them. Lastly, the play calls for a need to first understand government’s policy before criticising it."

Breeding Ground For Talent At LBHF Mentor-Protégé Programme "That was the basis for the work that the five mentors wrought on the young talents selected for grooming in various spheres within the artistic space. The mentors were Mrs. Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett (playwriting and acting), Dr. Tunde Awosomi (directing), Peter Badejo (dance and choreography), Olori Peju Sonuga (costume and make-up) and Alhaji Teju Kareem (set and lighting design). "The task of the mentors was to groom Amy Richards and Naomi Richards (playwriting and acting), Abraham Aklisoku (choreography and dance), Adenike Adebisi (costume and make-up), Fejiro Adesida (directing), Silvia Oboh Oko and Joy Nweye Obuto (set and lighting design). And they did well, judging from the enthusiastic testimonies of the trainee artists and the output of their performances.

Elder Steve Rhodes… Remembering Ingenuity Of Music Impresario "Lagos Black Heritage Festival 2015 will no doubt continue to echo in the minds of Lagosians who took time to be part of it. This year seemed better organised, with activities that seemed designed to reach to the core of culturally conscious audiences".

--- Get set.... Lagos Book & Art Festival, LABAF 2014... the "biggest culture picnic on the continent" beckons... November 14-16 Freedom Park, Lagos... Africa's Illustrious Literary Son, WOLE SOYINKA is Special Guest of Honour... Join up to honour him

Open Door Series: UNILAG To Host 4-Day International Conference as W... : On the 13th of July, Professor Wole Soyinka will turn 80 and the University of Lagos is hosting a 4-day conference in his honour... Th... Titled the  ‘Soyinka Impulse’  and with the theme  ‘Art, Humanity, Transitions and Permanence: Calibrating Soyinka @ 80’  the conference will hold from July 10th to July 14th 2014." Prof. Biodun Jeyifo of Harvard University will present the keynote lecture entitled:  “WS and the Nigerian/African Left: Clarifications and Reflections on that ‘Jacobin’ Moment'" During the four-day conference, there will be  five plenary sessions, each preceded by a keynote address by distinguished scholars: Professor Niyi Osundare (Nigeria); Professor Isidore Diala (Nigeria); Professor Motsa Zodwa (South Africa); Professor Anjali Gera Roy (India) and Dr James Gibbs (Britain). Also, an adaptation of Soyinka’s  Trials of Brother Jero , titled 'Haba Pasto...

St. Orberose: Wole Soyinka: A Dance of the Forests : My final review for the Africa Reading Challenge: You are a learned man and I would appreciate an opportunity to discuss the his... "It’s impressive that Soyinka wrote this play when he was twenty-six-years old: it’s a mature text, both in content and form; Soyinka already shows a developed sense of life full of humanity, of wisdom, of mocking compassion for the follies of people, and peppered with dark humour. May I be this wise when I’m an old man!"

St. Orberose: Wole Soyinka: A Dance of the Forests : My final review for the Africa Reading Challenge: You are a learned man and I would appreciate an opportunity to discuss the his... --- "It’s impressive that Soyinka wrote this play when he was twenty-six-years old: it’s a mature text, both in content and form; Soyinka already shows a developed sense of life full of humanity, of wisdom, of mocking compassion for the follies of people, and peppered with dark humour. May I be this wise when I’m an old man!"

The approach to the play's direction, therefore, shall be constructed around the iconic space of ‘Igbale'.  A Dance of the Forests  is, actually, an ‘Igbale piece’, and as such would be presented within a natural grove environment. The reason, of course, owes to its nature as an act based on the return of the ancestors. This evokes a clear picture of the preparation and emergence of 'egungun', in Yoruba ritual of ancestral veneration, in and from 'Igbo Igbale'. It also invokes the idea of the African traditional festivals unfolding in their most natural settings. This ultimately suitable space of sacred activity, which will accord an inquisitive theatre director like myself, and a technically-stubborn theatre designer like Teju Kareem, the privilege to give it the deserved site specific treatment - a physically challenging and an environmentally symbolic interpretation that should remain memorable for long is what Professor Wole Soyinka has magnanimously gran...

Open Door Series: Zmirage, four states celebrate Soyinka @ 80 : "the celebration symbolises a continuation of the life of an inspirational man who has fought and is still fighting for the dignity of...  "Some of the programmes holding this year include the WS80/ICE Exhibition tour around Nigeria. Abeokuta, Osogbo, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Jos and Igbale Aiye, Republic of Benin are some of the designated places. The tour will happen in Port Harcourt from June 27 to 29, Freedom Park in Lagos from July 1 through 7, Terra Kulture, Lagos on July 9, Ibadan from July 15 to August 15, Jos on July 19 and Igbale Aiye from August 17 to September 17. "A number of Soyinka’s plays will also be presented. ‘Alapata Apata’ directed by Tunde Awosanmi will be staged on July 9 at Akin Olugbade Centre in Abeokuta, ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’ on July 10 at the University of Lagos, ‘Lanke Omu’ on July 12 at June 12 Cultural Centre, ‘Oba Koso’ on July 12 and  ‘Madmen and Specialists’ on July ...

In Fond Memory of Steve Rhodes, Articles | THISDAY LIVE --- This commemorative event, designed especially to celebrate his eminent contributions to the Nigerian (and African) music and artistic heritage, features an exhibition of the rich and resourceful collection of photographic recordings of his over six decades of illustrious career. The exhibition, which will last for two weeks (till June 12),  will be formally opened by the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on Thursday, May 29 at the Museum Gallery of the Freedom Park, Old Colonial Prison, 1 Hospital Road (by Broad Street), Lagos.

The WS80/ICE Exhibition of Portraits of Wole Soyinka, which two weeks ago, flagged off the Countdown to the 80th birthday anniversary celebraton of the Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka,  continues at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto Abeokuta. The project also features a weekly workshop/mentoring for select students drawn from around Ogun State. Check www.opendoorseries.com for details of the programme of the celebration

Olu Amoda gives hard issues a soft landing : Nigerian artist Olu Amoda's welding works using ound objects jointly won the top prize at the recently opened Dark'Art Biennale. In the work that won him first place titled, "Sunflower," he plays with contrasts by giving the work a soft name, but utilising hard objects – steel nails and spoons. This is typical of the artist who delights in creating an idea and beauty out of what is considered as discarded but reusable.

The Dakar Biennale turns a fresh page : The 2014 Dakar Art Biennale veers off its beaten part to showcase the works of artists who have never taken part in the biannual art fiesta. Nigeria’s Olu Amoda won the Great Prize Léopold Sédar Senghor for producing the best work among selected artists. He was joint winner with Algeria’s Driss Ouadahi. The curators for this year’s edition include Ugochukwu-Smooth C. Nzewi, who is originally from Nigeria and is an artist, curator, and art historian of African Art at the Hood Museum Dartmouth College in the United States. He took charge of selecting artists from African countries south of the Sahara. ---

From Garden City to World Book Capital, Articles | THISDAY LIVE --- “I see great possibilities for the city of Port Harcourt, the nation Nigeria and indeed the African continent. With a fifth of the World’s population living on this continent, and an estimated 70 per cent of them being youth, the programmes of the Port Harcourt World Book Capital year, which mainly target this age group, have the potential to transform the education landscape of the continent, beginning here in the city of Port Harcourt,”   EniOlorutidak'oseFarawek'oseF'enutembelek'oseBinuk'oseNa'kaiwosisiWiwol'aawo