Author: Salisu Sani-Idris

By Taiye Olayemi

The Tayese Academy of Arts and Culture, London CIC, has partnered with Nigeria’s Alariya Cultural Group to promote Yoruba culture in the United Kingdom, through series of high street cultural performances.

Babatunde Bamgbode, President, Alariya Cultural Group, in a statement on Thursday, said that the initiative would be launched early 2025.

Bamgbode who is an actor, said this would showcase traditional Yoruba music, dance, and story telling.

He said the initiative would expose diverse audiences to authentic experience of one of Africa’s most vibrant cultural heritages.

According to him, the partnership would see talented members of the two groups bring high energy cultural dance performances to several high streets across the UK.

He said the initiative was part of Tayese Academy’s ongoing mission to promote Yoruba arts and culture in multicultural communities to foster greater appreciation and understanding of Yoruba traditions among individuals from various backgrounds.

“The collaboration is a significant step toward fostering and advancing the Yoruba race and culture.

“Together, we aim to showcase the richness of Yoruba traditions on a global platform, creating a deeper connection with diverse audiences.

“This partnership will not only preserve our cultural heritage, but also strengthen the identity of the Yoruba people by sharing our vibrant history and art with the world.

“At the heart of these performances will be Mr Sunday Fadahunsi and Mr Raheem Awesu, the joint leaders of the Alariya cultural group.

“Both are celebrated cultural ambassadors and will play active roles as lead performers, excelling as cultural chanters and singers.

“Their leadership will ensure that the essence of Yoruba heritageis authentically represented, enriching the performances with cultural depth and artistic excellence,” he said.

Also, Larry Sharafa, Founder of Tayese Academy said :”Through this partnership, we hope to bring the rich and colourful traditions of the Yoruba people to life on the streets of London.

“We want to celebrate diversity while educating the public about the beauty and significance of Yoruba culture.

“The high street cultural performances will not only serve as an engaging spectacle but also as an educational platform showcasing Yoruba heritage in a way that connects people from different cultures.

“These performances will take place in prominent locations across London,providing both residents and visitors the opportunity to witness the rhythmic power of Yoruba drumming, dance and traditional songs in an urban setting.”

By Taiye Olayemi and Aderonke Ojediran

Lagos is set to host no fewer than 200 international tourists from 11 countries for the maiden edition of Afropolis Lagos Festival, slated to hold from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.
Mr Qudus Onikeku, the festival initiator, disclosed this during a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Afropolis Lagos Festival with the theme “Within New Myth”, is a collaboration between QDance Centre and the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Onikeku, who is the founder of QDance Centre, described the festival as an African diaspora-focused festival.
He said 200 artistes and tourists from over 11 countries including South Africa, Togo, Benin Republic, France, U.S., Ghana, Netherlands, Morocco, Ethiopia, Colombia and Brazil would participate in the festival.
According to him, the festival will be celebrating the rich cultural heritage, creativity and innovation of Lagos state.
“We are expecting 200 international tourists from 11 countries to participate in this festival. Over 20,000 local and international tourists are expected.
“Specifically, these people will be coming from Dakar, Cotonou, Lomé, Johannesburg, Marrakech, Addis Ababa, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Cartagena, Saint Anne, New York and Florida.
“You will also have artistes from Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja, Asaba and more. We will have a large gathering of artistes, creators, technologists, innovators and tourists, coming to be part of Lagos landscape for nine days.
“So, we are closing down the JK Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History road from Oct. 26 through to Nov. 3, to create a big festival arena.
“Also, in that festival, there will be visual art exhibition, dance performances, music concerts, dance competitions, pop-up arts spaces, children corner that we call the play zone.
“There will also be a tech zone that will be run by CC Hub. So, the way we have put it together is a real collaborative process between different components of the creative ecosystem in Nigeria and not just Lagos. We will have the comedians, poets and many others,” he said.
Onikeku noted that tourists could register to attend the festival through afropolis.org, as individuals would only be required to pay N3,000 per day or N15,000 for the nine days.
Earlier, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the state Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said that Afropolis Lagos Festival would be a celebration of Lagos people and Nigerian identity as well as a showcase of talents.
She said it would be a testament to the power of creativity to unite and inspire.
According to her, the festival will be an avenue for African creatives to come together, showcase their talents, exchange ideas and collaborate on groundbreaking projects.
She said the festival would further celebrate Lagos as the largest black cultural melting pot in the world.
“From Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, Lagos will become the epicentre of African creativity, welcoming artistes, innovators, and enthusiasts from across the continent and beyond,” she said.
Benson-Awoyinka said that the opening day, Oct. 26, would kick off with a VIP preview and cocktail, followed by a grand opening ceremony at ‘The Vibez Stage’.
“We will be honoured to host a fireside chat with our esteemed Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, where we will explore Lagos’ role as a hub for the global African creative economy.
“On Oct. 27, the streets of Lagos Island will come alive with a vibrant carnival procession, embodying the spirit and energy of our people.
“The day will culminate in the Afropolis Global African Vibez Exchange (G.A.V.E), a testament to our commitment to fostering international collaborations.
“Oct. 28 marks a historic moment with the official opening of the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History. We will be privileged to have Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu lead us on a tour of this significant cultural landmark.”
According to her, the festival will host daily film programmes, interactive art installations, and performances that span the spectrum of African creativity, from traditional to contemporary, dance to music, and visual arts to technology.
She said that the closing weekend would feature an international performance, which would showcase the incredible talents of “Our Afropolis Tribe of 2024”, followed by a grand finale of ‘Afro House and EDM Rave’ on Nov. 3.
“To our young talents who are making significant strides on the global stage, Afropolis is your stage to shine. To our local and international visitors, prepare to be immersed in an unparalleled celebration of African creativity and innovation.
“As we launch Afropolis 2024, we are not just opening a festival; we are opening doors to new possibilities, fostering connections that transcend borders, and showcasing the incredible potential of our creative industries to drive economic growth and cultural exchange.
“I invite all Lagosians, Nigerians, and our international friends to join us in this celebration. Let us come together to experience the magic of Afropolis, to be inspired, to create, and to reinforce Lagos’ position as a global creative powerhouse,” she said.
Also, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, noted that the festival was of paramount importance to Gov. Sanwo-Olu, considering its numerous benefits to the state and individuals in general.

By Taiye Olayemi

Goge Africa, a renowned media and culture brand, has made a passionate appeal to the government, corporate organisations, and culture enthusiasts to support the upcoming Goge Africa Festival, commemorating its 25th anniversary.
Nneka Isaac-Moses, Managing Director of Goge Africa made the call in a statement on Sunday, in Lagos.
She said the festival, scheduled to take place from 26 to 27 October at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos, aimed to celebrate Nigeria and Africa’s rich cultural heritage and empower the continent’s collective future.
Isaac-Moses emphasised the significance of this milestone, stating that the festival would serve as a driver of economic growth and cultural pride, creating thousands of jobs and stimulating local and national economies.
According to her, with over 20,000 attendees expected and 40 million viewers tuning in globally, the festival promises to be a massive platform for local and international investment, positioning Lagos as a leading hub for African arts and culture.
Isaac-Moses highlighted Goge Africa’s impressive track record, having generated employment for over 100,000 Nigerians and trained 1,750 youths in tourism over the past 25 years.
She said in spite of this, the organisation had never received financial support from the Nigerian government.
She appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other stakeholders to rally behind the festival, emphasising that supporting it would be an investment in Africa’s cultural identity, economy, and youth.(NAN) (nannews.ng)

By Taiye Olayemi

The Just Theatre House on Saturday in Lagos staged “Welldone Sir”, a play written by Ola Awakan, which addresses mental health in men.

The play was performed in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day, usually celebrated every Oct. 10.

”Welldone Sir” beams light on the different challenges men are usually confronted with, which lead to depression, suicide, drug addiction and other social vices.

The 50 minutes play tells how men should be appreciated by their spouses, family members and colleagues as often as possible, putting into consideration the huddles they are exposed to in their quest to be responsible individuals.

The play is about the death of Tunmishe, said to be a responsible man and a role model to many while alive.

Tunmishe’s friends felt guilty for not probing into the reason he was not attending social functions just before his dealth as they later discovered that he died due to depression.

Just while digging deep into the cause of Tunmishe’s death, his friends, one after the other discovered that they were also victims of what the deceased went through.

Demilade, another character, thought of commiting suicide because of his fake lifestyle of acquiring loans to live a life of affluence, in his quest to give his wife and children a better life.

The financial institutions where he got the loans plan to confisticate his properties.

Another character lost his self esteem due to his inability to cater for his family while his wife takes over his responsibilities of paying major bills in the family.

Due to this, he no longer gained erection whenever he wants to have intimacy with his wife.

Also, Ken, a medical doctor, got frustrated because as much as he tried to satisfy his family, everyone failed to appreciate him.

Speaking after the performance, Awakan said the play was a call to action for men to start speaking up whenever they were going through any form of depression or maltreatment.

He encouraged women to also cultivate the habit of pampering their men, hugging them and deliberately guiding them against depression.

He said according to a research he conducted, 70 per cent of the cause of depression in men was connected to women related issues, their wives , mothers or sisters.

He noted that the society had a lot to do for the men.

“It’s a story that has caused many men to leave the surface of this earth. It’s a story of how we can avoid this death out of the fact that we bottle up a lot as men. This is a cultural factor.

“While we were growing up, the idea that was put in our mind is that as boys, as men, we have to be courageous, we have to be strong. We don’t have to show to the public that we are timid or that we are weak.

“And because of that, when we’re going through some challenges, no matter how small or big, we bottle them up and we don’t speak up.We don’t cry out to people. And when it gets to a level, it becomes depression.

“The World Health Organisation’ statistics report says that men die by suicide twice as women. So, we feel this is our way of adding to the discourse of saying this has to stop, the silence has to stop, men need to speak up.

“Check on your fellow men. Appreciate your fellow men. Let them know that what they are going through, they are not going through it alone. And they need to be hugged, they need to be smiled to and they need to be appreciated,” he said.

Awakan said the play would be converted to a movie before the next edition of World Mental Health Day.

Also speaking, Ifeanyi Eziukwu, the Director of the play, said it deliberately highlights the essence of hugs, advising men to always hug one another, as it is therapeutic.

“It was very, very challenging doing this. I had to immerse myself into each character. It was a rush of emotions for me at different points.

“And it was mentally draining, it was crazy.

“Every man you see on the streets is going through something, do your best not to add to their problem, do your best, even if it’s a hug, a smile or something,” he said.

Ramanujam Rummy, Executive Director, The Happiness Centre, a stress and anxiety management firm, explained to the audience how to differnciate a healthy mind from an unhealthy one.

“If you can let go of things quickly, it means your mind is healthy, but, if your mind is holding on for a long time, that means it needs a little attention.

“Hygiene for the mind is important. The way we go out and we come back, you see, there is always a little dirt on the face, on the hands, similarly, all our interactions through the day leaves some residue in our mind which needs to be removed,” he said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)