Speaking at the inauguration of the Nike Art Gallery exhibition, titled “Harmony in Diversity,” at the Lycée Français Marcel Pagnol (French School) in Abuja at the weekend, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean Francois Hasperue said Nigeria has great potentials in all fields of art and was already a force to recognize with globally.

He said: “We have already a lot of collaboration between artists. Nigerian artists and the French embassy. We are supporting and promoting artists in Lagos through different programmes.”

Hasperue noted the French government was willing to assist in nurturing young artists in Nigerian in order to help them to start their activities and to be well known .

He said the French Embassy in Nigeria has been connecting French artists and their Nigerian counterparts by inviting them to France to some festivals in very different kind of a field of art be it cinema, animation, e-sports as well paintings.

He disclosed that France has different range of activities and partnership with Nigeria in art.

The envoy stated that Nigeria has no limitation in art, insisting that: “Nigerians are great artists to be honest and they have proven it in the art market world wide. They are quite at a high level.”

He commended the Lycée Français Marcel Pagnol (French School) in Abuja for its collaboration with the Nike Art Gallery, noting that this signifies all that France stands for in the area of art, developing young talents.

In his opening speech, the school principal, Mr. Alain Chassard eloquently underscored the significance of the exhibition in fostering cultural exchange and collaboration between the French school and Nike Art Gallery.

He commended the tireless efforts undertaken to familiarize students with Nigerian art, including immersive guided tours of the Abuja gallery, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to the realization of the cultural extravaganza.

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With words and music, mime and dance, nine performance poets serenaded their audience with their interpretations of selected poems of the literary giant, Professor Wole Soyinka Thursday evening, at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island.

It was the occasion of the annual celebration of World Poetry Day, on March 21, as declared by UNESCO in 1999. Organised for the fifth time in Nigeria by Providus Bank, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), initiative, it was an event that featured nine poets – six from Nigeria and three others from Kenya, Qatar, and the UK.

Although previous editions had centred on development issues especially those concerning the environment, education, gender-sensitivity and inclusivity, the 2024 edition was designed to flag-off Soyinka’s imminent entry into the Club of Nonagenarians.

It was presented as a conversation around Soyinka’s poetry. Each poet was tasked with picking two poems of Soyinka’s for appraisal and providing a poetic response. Hence, it was headlined, “Engaging the Quintessential Poet Wole Soyinka @ 90”. And what a delightful two hour outing it was.

Evelyn Osagie’s opening act, reminded the audience of the evil of banditry as captured in Soyinka’s ode to Leah Sharibu, the young Christian girl, who was stolen from boarding school by godless animals in northern Nigeria and remains a hostage for refusing to renounce her faith and standing up to evil men.

For as long as she remains a slave of the filthy pigs, Evelyn said that we are all hostages to bloodied hands that suck unformed breasts and the matter “is no longer Leah”.

Other acts followed in quick succession, connecting with the audience with words, movements, and music that brought their hearts alive, and set their minds, thinking.

Owoicho Oko, Uche Uwadinachi, Ngwatilo Mawiyoo (Kenya), Salamatu Sule, Ruth Mahogany, Akeem Lasisi, Malika Booker (UK), and Natalie Handal (UAE) put up enlivening performances befitting their enchanting names!

Salamatu, adopting the style of a teacher moderating a tutorial class, described a writer, nay a poet, of Soyinka’s standing as a “social crusader, public investigator and defender”. She challenged filmmakers to tap more into the poetic form for a rewarding outcome.

To Booker, poets are those who dissect and challenge language use; indeed “poets anoint the people with words”.

Ngwatilo Mamiyu expressed delight to be in Nigeria, pointing to her shared rage with some of Soyinka’s works. In a tribute to diligence, she noted, “Sweat is living for the earth…”.

Lasisi, waxing lyrical in English and Yoruba, reminded the audience of the return of the savages to the sacred zone …. anarchists, kidnappers, bandits with no notion of order or greatness who would rather hold everyone and everything hostage than let Nigeria breathe.

Wole Soyinka was compelled by the project consultant and compere, Jahman Anikulapo, to speak to the audience. He did for barely one minute, and expressed delight at the turnout, but said his birthday in July would be the best time for more talk.

The turnout was good. It was a good mixture of the Ancient and Modern drawn from the Arts, Academia, Media, the Diplomatic community, and a welcoming crop of young professionals. It was a pointer that with strong corporate organisations showing sustained interest in the Arts, poetry can continue to contribute its quota to making the people vent, think, and act.

• Lanre Idowu is Editor-in-Chief of Media Review

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The upcoming art exhibition and workshop titled Resilience Rising: Navigating Earth’s Challenges was announced in a statement released by The Julia Hester Community Center.  

It is fully supported and funded by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

This groundbreaking event will showcase the work of Olanrewaju Buraimoh, renowned as the son of acclaimed first African bead painter, in an immersive exploration of resilience in the face of environmental challenges.

Stunning collection of Olanrewaju Buraimoh’s signature beadwork alongside canvas artwork, highlighting his mastery of African bead artistry will be featured at the exhibition as visitors to the Julia Hester Community Center will have the opportunity to experience the intricate beauty and cultural significance of Buraimoh’s beadwork, as well as his innovative approach to canvas painting.

An integral part of the art exposition is an exclusive art workshop to be led by Olanrewaju Buraimoh himself. Participants will have the unique opportunity to learn the art of painting with thousands of brilliant glass beads, a technique mastered by Buraimoh under the tutelage of his father. Known affectionately as “Lanre,” Buraimoh will share his expertise and passion for bead artistry, guiding participants through the process of creating their own stunning beadwork masterpieces.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Houston Arts Alliance to present ‘Resilience Rising: Navigating Earth’s Challenges,'” says Sherea McKenzie, Director of the Julia Hester Community Center. “This exhibition and workshop offer a powerful platform to showcase the incredible talent of Olanrewaju Buraimoh and celebrate the resilience of African bead artistry in the face of environmental challenges.”

Lanre Buraimoh Bead Artist

The exhibition and workshop will be held at the Julia Hester Community Center, located at 2020 Solo Street, Houston, Texas. Admission to the exhibition is free and open to the public, providing an inclusive and accessible opportunity for art enthusiasts of all ages to experience the beauty and resilience of African bead artistry.

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of African bead artistry and explore the theme of resilience in the face of Earth’s challenges. Join us at the Julia Hester Community Center from March 8th to June 16th, 2024, and be inspired by the captivating work of Olanrewaju Buraimoh in “Resilience Rising: Navigating Earth’s Challenges.” The statement read.

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