The recent Lagos Black Heritage Festival 2015 was as inspiring as it was entertaining. From the Diamond Bank-sponsored ‘trip’ that took children to Sambisa, to the dance and the drama that featured masquerades and a play written and directed by Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, it was fireworks all the way.
Late last year, the Vision of the Child (VOTC) – an artistic and literary competition, which rewarded winners with cash prizes – welcomed entries from secondary schools in Lagos State.
According to Ayona Trimnell, Head, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank, the bank has supported the competition since inception in 2011.
“We are proud to be a part of these future art and literary geniuses whose paintings and literary works transcend their age and time. As part of our strategic focus, we see a lot of potential in these youth and will continue to support the growth and development of these young minds,” Trimnell stated.
Ashaka Victory Thona, who emerged the first prize winner, went home with N250,000. Ololade Shittu, who came second, was rewarded with N200,000; while Anthony Blessing, who came third, was given N180,000. Anjola Olanrewaju, Amosun Abraham and Okwuchukwu Ivy, who were adjudged fourth, fifth and sixth place winners, in that order, won N150,000, N120,000 and N100,000.
Most of the winners and finalists said they would love to pursue a career in the arts and literary studies because of the enormous opportunities it holds for them.
The stage for stellar drama performances at the festival was set by the Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT) based in Plateau State, which took the drama-loving crowd at the theatre by storm at the Main Stage of Freedom Park, Lagos, venue of most of the activities of the festival. Its interpretation of The Tragedy of King Christophe by Aime Cesaire is still waging tongues in Lagos literary circles. The play, which was staged a day after the festival opened on April 18, had a repeat performance on the evening of April 20, which drew an even bigger crowd.
The opening ceremony on April 18 itself was a spectacle of different clans of colourful masquerades chiefly from Badary, Lagos State. The Zangbeto led the way dazzling in its wake with music from the drums that roused the guests from somnolence to dance.
Lagos State Commissioner for Culture and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Disu Holloway, had declared open the yearly fiesta alongside Festival Consultant, Prof. Soyinka, and many culture practitioners like Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Francesca Emanuel, Peter Badejo, Tunji Oyelana and Jimi Solanke.
Speaking on the ideals of the festival that include promoting and preserving the Yoruba culture and by extension the Nigerian and African culture, Holloway visited some of the exhibition stands to see the activities there. He and the aforementioned also watched the dance troupe, The Footprints of David, perform on the main stage of the theme park.
At the VOTC exhibition stand, the plight of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped over a year ago resonated, as the artists, all school children, told traumatic stories with their paintings around the theme of the art exhibition, ‘The Road to Sambisa’.
There was also poetry recitation from the children whose words did not just carry empathy but also resolved to keep speaking on behalf of the kidnapped and helpless school girls.
The fourth day of the festival, on Tuesday, April 21 featured the Nigerian premiere of Soyinka’s The Beatification of Area Boy. The play filled with A-list actors, including Tunji Sotimirin, Ropo Ewenla, Wale Ojo, Toyin Oshinaike, Inna Erizia, Taiwo Atigogo, Kehinde Fasuyi, Lala Akindoju, and Jennifer Osamor opened at 7pm on the Main Stage at the Freedom Park, Lagos.
Veterans of the stage and screen, Jimi Solanke, Peter Badejo and the evergreen musician, Tunji Oyelana, also featured in the production also directed by the Nobel Laureate.
There was a repeat performances on April 22 and 23 at the same venue and time.
Also, veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, was in conversation on his illustrious stage and screen career at 4pm in the park’s Kongi Harvest Art Gallery as was the performance of the over six-decade-old street theatre, Gbekude, by septuagenarian actor, Gboyega Ajayi a.k.a. Bembe.
Other highlights of the festival included ‘The Night of the Poets’, which drew the curtains on this year’s gathering; and Snapshots and The Tarzan Monologues, a play written and directed by Wole Oguntokun. There was also a Water Regatta on April 19 at the Regatta Village, Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi Lagos with the theme, ‘Celebrating the Aquatic Splendour of Lagos’ on the Lagos Lagoon, which brought Lagosians from home and abroad together.
And still to come is the Lagos Carnival on Saturday, May 9 at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos. The street party, which was postponed owing to the National Common Entrance examinations, will, as usual, paint Lagos in many colours.