From humble beginnings with 25 children, the Creative Station Workshop by the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) has grown to the current heights of over 200 children and teens.
The sixth edition, which command performance of the play, Akrifa, took place on August 30, also had a record number of supporters for the programme that ran the length of the long vacation for children in primary and secondary schools in the country.
This year’s edition, which held at a more spacious Exhibition Hall of the National Theatre, Iganmu, featured singing, dancing and drama from the children, some of them showing up for the first time, while others were repeat performers.
So innovative was the project coordinator, Josephine Igbaraese, who is the drama director of the NTN, that even the kids that accompanied their elder siblings were not left out of the training. The kids had the honour of displaying what they had studied to the delight and unending applause of the guests. But it was the performance of the older children, when they came out in yellow T-shirts to welcome the guests, that will linger long after the night is forgotten.
The same can be said of the cultural display by the same young performers that took the audience, peopled by proud parents of those on stage and others from all walks of life, across the country and back.
It was a night to remember, and would have been even more so had everyone in the hall been able to hear the little actors when they took part in Akrifa written by Mike Anyanwu and directed by Igbaraese. The sound system just didn’t deliver, and this cast a shadow over what would have been a very bright night, thanks to lightening from Zmirage and deft acting from the children.
But in all, it was a great night measured, among other things, by the singular fact that guests stayed right into the night for the play to end and the showering of accolades upon some of the outstanding children performers. Nonetheless, the consensus is that everyone, from the organisers (NTN), participants and sponsors, won.
The Artistic Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NTN said that much when he made his very short opening speech. The night was indeed for the children and their well-wishers.
“All I would want you to please take away is that like the national football team, we are the national performance team of Nigeria. Under the circumstances, we know that our children make our tomorrow, so what we have done is bring forth our children’s first team to show you what has been put together through the guidance of our able sister, Josephine Igbaraese. So sit back, please, and enjoy yourself,” he said.
And that was exactly what the guests did. They cheered all through, scrambling even to get a recording of the proceedings on the stage with their mobile devices until they were told that they were disrupting the official recording by the organisers. They only relaxed when told that copies would be made available to them.
So delighted was Prince Yemisi Shyllon, an engineer and art collector, that he declared that Nigeria is a great country with a lot of talents and resources.
“But the human capacity,” he stated, “is what we need to develop. Our comparative advantage is in the area of the arts and not technology, not science. The advanced countries have gone so far, invested so much (that) it will take us time to meet them. But in the area of arts, we have a lot to offer the world. We need to develop our talent and encourage those coming behind us to develop the arts because it provides a very good opportunity for Nigeria to grow as a nation.”
To further buttress his point, he said countries like France, Spain, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) get millions of visitors annually through tourism. He explained that art and tourism provide a great opportunity for Nigeria to optimise its resources and become great.
“We must do everything in our power to help the young ones to take interest in arts, culture and grow this country. Indeed, our culture is our identity. It is what makes us different from other nations and if we utilise our art, develop and promote our culture, Nigeria (will be better for it),” he said and went on to thank the organisers for bringing the children together.
Among the other guests at the event were: Pa Frank Aig-Imokhuede, Solomon Uwaifo, an engineer and Mrs. Kehinde Kamson, whose company Sweet Sensation is among the sponsors that include Golden Penny, Nestle Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, La Casera, Promasidor, Nutri C, Zmirage, Beloxxi and the National Theatre.
