Clinging Glasses to Terra Kulture at 10

It was an Arabian night at the banquet hall of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos, when on that Saturday night a large audience was astounded with eye-pleasing and motivating arrays of artistic flavour alongside thriving stage performances in celebration of the grand successes of Terra Kulture at 10.   Rebecca Ejifoma reports…

Well-fashioned and famous for its art patronage and immense contribution to the literary/entertainment terrain through arts and culture, it’s hard to come to terms that Terra Kulture was only born 10 years ago. This platform of timeless art pieces and preferment of the Nigerian culture both home and abroad rose to such enviable position as an art gallery coupled with auctioning in August 2004.

Even before the set time, guests had already filled the hall to capacity so much so that those present out-numbered the pews in the hall. As the LED lights came up to the illuminating of the centre, Olumide Dada’s recitation of the National anthem with his sonorous voice paved the way for the kick-off. Then Yinka Davis and Ranti kept the audience abuzz with their cheep duet, which gave them standing ovation. While Dolapo Ogunwale presented her spoken word poem alongside Ranti, Saro the Musical lit the air with music from the 60s that have trickled into this modern day such as ‘Destinum beri (Hindu) and epo o n be ewa n be o (Yoruba)’.

Swiftly, there was hunger for the daring one who had successfully fused all these aesthetic formulas of literary genres, founder and Managing Director of the gallery, who is indeed worthy of emulation, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters. She once worked with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Switzerland and Ethiopia, before moving on swiftly into employing labour and creating more jobs for the Nigerian populace.

“Terra Kulture is an educational and recreational private sector organization set up in 2003 to promote the richness and diversity of Nigerian Languages, Arts and Culture, and commenced operations in 2004,” Austen-Peters enthused.

Today, she went on, it has evolved into a resounding success recognised as a major cultural hub in Nigeria for expatriates, students, Hollywood and Nollywood stars, artists and members of the diplomatic corps. And, it has positioned itself as the leading gallery in Nigeria with over 80% of the major and young artists having exhibited at its gallery.

While explaining further that a people without their history is lost, since art is the people, Austen-Peters added that theatre is important. Literature is important. Art is important.

According to Prof. Wole Soyinka it is always good to take two pills of art before breakfast every morning. “Now, this generation will be drinking from the well of our rich and diverse culture.

“Part of what we are doing is presenting Saro the Musical. There will be spectacle of shows including music, dance and performances by great artistes like Taiwo Ajaiyi, and a couple of ministers and actors, who will grace the occasion.

The show, which was in partnership with Access Bank, was entertaining as the gallery highlighted the role of arts in entertainment.

Meanwhile, Terra Kulture, which is sited in the hamlet of Tiamiyu Salvage in Victoria Island, Lagos, has exhibited works of artists like Kolade Oshinowo, Abiodun Olaku, Bruce Onobrakeya, Ablade Glover, Abayomi Barber, Olu Amoda, Sam Ovraiti, Alex Nwokolo, Ndidi Dike, Olu Ajayi, Sam Ebohon, Lekan Onabanjo, Defactory studio, Iponri studio, Guild of professional fine artists of Nigeria, Diseye Tantua, Segun Aiyesan, Gbenga Orimoloye and Adeodunfa just to mention a few.

With its involvement in all corners of art, Mrs. Austen-Peters says the Gallery has been a platform of employment for artists, whose works are exhibited. “In 2005/2006, I decided to start a play. Everyone thought I was crazy. Although the first year wasn’t easy, I still pushed through. The gallery hall used to be empty − we had either two or very few people coming to see the plays but today, it is not spacious enough for the crowd that troops in to see the plays.”

Terra Kulture has successfully altered the face of the art practice in Nigeria in the 10 years of its existence, professionalising the art business and promoting Nigerian cultural heritage. It also started an Art Auction House in 2009 with Mr. Tayo Aderinokun having raised the idea. Terra Kulture auction has grown to become one of the leading auction houses in Nigeria, stimulating activity and growth in the Nigerian secondary art market with hundreds of works sold, boosting the growth in the primary market. The auction house has also helped in valuation of works and promoting price stability.

Interestingly, the chairs and the tables in its restaurant are made from the trees in the compound of the gallery that once shaded the fields.  

She explained: “In 2006, I initiated the Theatre @ Terra project with the aim of igniting growth in the theatre industry. Today T@T is the only consistent theatre house in Nigeria with live plays showing every Sunday and with renowned Nigerian thespians having featured in Theater @ Terra including: Segun Adefila, Joke Silva, Wole Oguntokun, Kenneth Uphopho, Nick Monu, Sefi Atta, Uche Nwokedi, Gbenga Yussuf.

Of course, this creator and curator of the African literature, has successfully carved a niche for herself in the entertainment world. As a proud daughter of erudite lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Afe Babalola, she made bold to say that Terra Kulture has played a major role in the literary art with its bookstore promoting hundreds of Nigerian books and organising book reading sessions to help promote the reading culture in Nigeria. “The centre has hosted Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie, Sefi Atta, Tony Kan and Lola Shoneyin among several others.

Its reading room and virtual office has been part of the success stories of many companies who started small at Terra Kulture but grew to own their own office spaces. It has also supported the ambitions of many people who have studied for many local and international exams at T/Kulture. She also remarked that this stage has played host to most of the foremost primary and secondary schools in Lagos who over the years have consistently visited the centre on excursions to learn more about Nigerian art and culture. “We have conducted cultural orientation programs for some embassies and foreign missions in Nigeria, teaching them about our culture, way of life and language.”

While achieving its penchant in promoting the Nigerian art and culture, Austen-Peters enthused that Nigerian fashion had also enjoyed the Terra Kulture touch with award winning brands like Ituen Basi and Tae among others have been promoted at the gallery. It has also played host to numerous fashion shows and fashion label launch. This, according to her, has been possible thanks to her staff members, who have rolled up their sleeves for the gallery sake. “At Terra Kulture, we believe in what we do. And, we have worked hard to get there through our amazing staff.”

“Just recently Terra Kulture ventured into the promotion of Nigerian movies. Its introduction of Nigerian movies to the corporate world through corporate private screenings has revolutionised movie promotion in Nigeria; thereby bringing Nollywood to the fore front of corporate entertainment such as October 1 and the likes.”

Therefore, with much sigh of bliss, she stated, in its 10 years of existence Terra K has organised over 200 Art exhibitions, seven art auctions, 90 plays, 60 book readings and over 10, 000 adults and children have attended our language classes and excursions. “It hasn’t been easy but it has been pleasurable.”

In association with Bolanle Austen-Peters’ Productions, Terra Kulture raised the bar in the theatre industry with the production of SARO the Musical in 2013, a production which enjoyed numerous accolades and reviews from international media houses including the BBC and SKY News and has since produced five additional plays despite the lack of infrastructure to support such. Saro the Musical is set to show from December 23 to 28 at Shell Hall, Muson centre, Onikan Lagos. “It is going to be bigger and better.”

A proudly Nigerian organisation, the gallery has been in the forefront of the promotion of Nigerian art and culture, developing talents and creating employment in the sector with the employment of over 60 staff and the creation of over 150 additional ancillary jobs on a monthly basis through its theatre and arts products. Despite the difficult business environment, Austen-Peters enthused, Terra Kulture has continued to excel in all aspect of the arts, a sector that is heavily funded by government and grants all over the world but that suffers neglect in Nigeria. Terra Kulture has been passionately encouraging investments in the arts and cultural sector, building capacity and also discovering and developing talents.

With the visionary leadership of the founder Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, Terra Kulture continues to bait local and international attention and accolades, standing out as model in the art business helping drive growth in the sector.

A graduate of Law from the International School Ibadan, the University of Lagos, and the London School of Economics where she obtained a Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law, Mrs. Austen-Peters practised as a Lawyer with Afe Babalola & Co.

In her words, it all began like a fairy tale when from 1992 to 1994, the Terra Kulture Boss worked with the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland; also worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Switzerland and Ethiopia (1996-1998) responsible for assessing Country Reports and resettlement of refugees in other countries. She joined the United Nations Development Programme in Namibia and was part of a team responsible for formulating Namibia’s poverty alleviation plan and Human Rights projects.

Between 2000 and 2003 she returned to Nigeria as a Consultant to the United Nations Development Programme, Lagos, responsible for monitoring and evaluating the programmes in Nigeria. Then she worked with Ajumogobia and Okeke law firm in Lagos and as a Company Secretary for an indigenous Petroleum trading Company before she brooded on being an employer of labour. That dream gave birth and nurtured Terra Kulture in August 2003.

And, with its sponsors as Etisalat and Multichoice among several others, a truly fulfilled Mrs. Austen-Peters said, “I am excited, we are happy! We are in a good space now but in the next 10 years we will be more than this.” And, she hopes that the cocktail of arts, spiced up with all its accompaniment will be served to all art aficionados on the gala night.

No doubt, it is known as the cultural hub of Nigeria and truly the Nigerian Cultural Centre. The gallery has hosted countless solos and groups’ art exhibitions since inception and has over the years clinched the trophy as one of the auction leading houses in the country. With a decade of outstanding service to Nigeria, the organisation started in 2003 but began operation fully in August 2004. 

But above all, it was an eclectic blend of theatre arts that attracted the attention of all until the curtain was drawn. For participants, who neither nodded nor blinked, it was entertaining and grand, indeed.