THE vibrancy of Nigeria’s arts and culture sector is well acknowledged as is the fact that its primary driver is the private sector. While the Ministry of Information and Culture that ought to provide the direction and support has mainly remained lethargic with only some of its parastatals like the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Theatre pulling their weights, the reliable private sector ensured that the beat went on smoothly in 2018.
In visual arts, highlights include experimentations with new media by artists at several exhibitions; the success of the late Ben Enwonwu’s works at local and international auctions as well anniversaries of two art venues, Mydrim Gallery and Arthouse. While Mydrim Gallery celebrated its 25th anniversary with two exhibitions, Arthouse held the 20th and 21st editions of its popular auctions. Individual artists including Victor Ehikhamenor also opened their personal art spaces while the third edition of Art X Lagos happened.
French President, Emmanuel Macron also paid a much-heralded visit to Femi Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine in 2018 while some arts personalities passed on. Renowned playwright, Professor Akinwunmi Ishola; Reggae star, Ras Kimono and his wife Efemena; eminent filmmaker and comedian, Apostle Moses OlaiyaAdejumo, popularly known as Baba Sala and poet IkeoguOke, winner of 2017 The Nigeria Prize for Literature, were among those that transited to the other realm.
It is against the background of the successes and misses of the outgone year that players are hopeful of a better, rewarding and fulfilling 2019.
Culture administrator and General Manager of the National Theatre, Dr Stella Oyedepo said: “The cultural sector is expected to wax stronger in the New Year. The diversification of the economy compels exploring the cultural industry in all its vast dimensions of entertainment, art and crafts, music, fashion, cuisine, carnivals, festivals and several cultural events. No doubt, Nigeria is currently tapping the huge resources. The year 2018 could boast of tremendous growth in this sector. The expectations for 2019 is continued progress in the achievements.
“The National Theatre, under the new management led by my humble self is determined to bring back its lost glory. Our mission for 2019 is to make the beautiful edifice a prime place of entertainment, and cultural exhibitions. We are determined to bring back the traffic, and the iconic structure will be a beehive of activities. We are playing host to quite many programmes organised by various stakeholders. It is pertinent to mention that we have spent the last few months in improving our impressive facilities. They are in top form. We are simply proud of our clean and welcoming environment. Finally, we intend to contribute significantly to the internally generated revenue accruing to the Federal Government from the cultural sector. May God continue to be our strength.”
Visual artist and founder of Araism, MufuOnifade said: “My greatest expectation is for the Federal Government to take a critical look at the issue of the nation’s National Gallery. Here, I refer to an infrastructure of international standard especially since we already have the institution. Nigeria needs a credible National Gallery that can protect and promote her National Collection, host permanent and temporary exhibitions of her aesthetic legacies and the practitioners.”
The founder/Arts Manager of the Lagos-based Ara Studios Limited added that “this will attract tourists from all over the world and give a boom to both the art and the tourism sectors. A country with sound art and artists without a National Gallery is like a country with award-winning sportsmen and women but without a National Stadium.”
Painter and Director of the Harmattan Workshop, Sam Ovraiti said: “My expectations for the art sector is simple. The visual art sector in Nigeria will see an upsurge of specialised programmes this 2019. This will be as a result of more corporate participation in the visual art sector. Artists will concentrate more on innovations and creativity. There will be more business in the art sector as the general population have more education and more need to feed their soul! Art is food for the soul.”
Former Dance Captain of the National Troupe and son of the late Baba Sala, Emmanuel Adejumo, wants more government involvement in the arts. According to him, “my expectations for arts and culture this year is that it will be improved. The government will look into the sector and assist in whatever way. The private sector should come into it too regarding promotion. The sector has experienced lots of setbacks because of inadequate funding. If the government and private sectors can come to our aid, the sector will improve, and artists will keep creating more projects that will be good for citizens.”
Reflecting on his experiences last year and expectations for 2019, artist and art teacher, Nathaniel Hodonu, who is pioneering the use of coconut shells to make artworks said: “My experience last year was not bad. I tried looking into the international art market to introduce my coconut shells installations to them and locally looking for people or organisation to collaborate with for my forthcoming exhibition. Luckily, the Lagos State Coconut Development Authority is willing to collaborate with me. My expectations for 2019 is to see the art sector grow bigger than last year; see more art collectors and lovers coming to appreciate artworks. Make more sales at exhibitions and have more networking and collaboration opportunities.”
A former ANA official and founder of the Minna, Niger State-based Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, Baba Dzukogi disclosed that “ours is to continue the aggressive pursuit of discovering, mentoring and publishing teen authors in Nigeria through our chapters. We are hoping that the Niger State Government will build a befitting art centre for teen authors in the state. It is our brand for Nigeria. As Chairman, Northern Nigeria Writers, we have a series of events for the promotion of literary art in the region; we expect to bring up new voices into the Nigerian literary scene.”
Poet and founder of the Ibadan Poetry Festival, Ebika Anthony is equally upbeat. “Despite what appears to be a gloomy literary and artistic sky, there is hope that the arts will thrive and surely, artistes will smile and bask. What Nigeria has as finished products are our literary and art products, so no matter the ugly political tension, we artistes will smile.”
