FOR refusing a mafia-like shakedown from some so-called landowners, the multimillion-naira Workstation of Communal Re-Imagination, Iwaya, Lagos, built by artist Aderemi Adegbite and funded by the Prince Claus Fund, is under threat.
Communal Re-Imagination was conceived and proposed by Adegbite for the Next Generation Project of the Holland-based Prince Claus Fund, to help engage the minds and hands of youths in Iwaya community. The workstation was built as a meeting point for participants and other creative and talented youth.
From August till date, the facility that has become an alternative art school for the youth of Iwaya community has been burgled four times with artworks looted and books destroyed. The first two incidents happened last October, another in November while the latest occurred on January 29.
Items including beadwork by participants, materials for bead workshop and paints bought for space as well as books were destroyed during the burglaries. The bulk of the books destroyed by the unknown hoodlums were donated to the library by artist Abraham Ogbobase who relocated to Canada last year.
Some of the books include Inter Invention by Wole Soyinka, Lagos Street Maps Unifying Africa by Uche James Iroha, The Contemporary Art Book by David Hodge And Charlotte Bonham- Carter, Lagos: A City at Work by Kunle Tejuosho and We Face Forward (Art Form), Available Light by Colin Glanfield. Others are Limbus- Saara Estrom by Kiasama, Between Man and Nature by Sunmi Smart-Cole, Time Frames (The Story of Photography) by Ian Jeffrey and Element of Philosophy by B. E Nwigwe.
Speaking on the latest incident, Adegbite disclosed that almost all the books were destroyed and thrown outside the workstation. He further noted that the looters appeared intent on frustrating the project because he refused their request for N500,000 ‘protection’ money.
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He disclosed that because the facility is right at the lagoon’s edge, some individuals have been bothering him for money, asking to be paid N500,000 from the Prince Claus Fund. They said they would frustrate him and eventually chase him away from the location if he refused to play ball.
The fact that he got the approval of the King-in-Council of Iwaya for the project has not deterred the hoodlums who insist that the plot of land is theirs and that there’s no community land in the area.
Adegbite disclosed: “At the beginning of the project, I met with the Oba-in-Council (King-in-Council) to inform them about the grant and what the plan was all about. I was asked a series of questions by the king and the chiefs present at the meeting. I explained to them in details all about the project phases and payment procedures by the funding organisation – Prince Claus Fund. Their primary concern at that time was about raising fund to build a proper space for the school project and the property that could be used. This was because there is no community-owned property in Iwaya community.
“In fact, some of them mentioned the fact that there is no community cultural centre and therefore it would stress the fund meant for the project because a lot of unforeseen payments have to be made. I assured them that I already have space I started developing four years ago, but which I couldn’t develop beyond foundation level. It will be used for the workstation, which will be built as a multipurpose space where the alternative art school project will take place and other community events. And the workstation was built for that purpose.”
Following the latest burglary, Adegbite, who has tried to explore dialogue to resolve the issue has decided to involve the police finally and hope that they can call the troublemakers to order.
