The Return of Saro Gladdens the Stage

Saro the Musical2 hits the stage of Lagos with the finest and most electrifying performance from 100 casts in sharing the lifestyles of the Lagosians before and after the colonial era evoked a sounding and irresistible standing ovation from the spectators…Rebecca Ejifoma writes

Saro on Stage

Dressed like the Egyptian women in colourfully patterned silk apparel, they trickled on to the stage and displayed how in Lagos, SARO came about. This entertaining and inspiring opening paved the way for SARO2 the Musical.

First, it gave Nigerians a memorable Christmas when it staged at the Shell Hall of Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos in December 2014. It is, indeed, a play to remember for spectators, who saw it from Wednesday April 1 to Monday 6 as an Easter Entertainment.

Its plot begins with four ambitious young men in their early 20s, who sojourn to Lagos for greener pastures having heard of the milk and honey flowing on her soil. Of coure, Lagos the multi-ethnic state, they have heard countless times, is full of varying opportunities and liberty. Even while in jail they didn’t allow their talent to waste. They open their destiny and sing to the hearing of all; that which became a breakthrough for them.

So, for these dreamers (Obaro, Efe, Laitan and Azeez), their ultimate goal was to “blow” through their music career. Hence, they strive to make a success of their stories with their mellifluous voices fused into one! And, their hilarious performances simply keep the show on the move.

Swiftly, there comes the excitement on their faces when they enter the land of Excellence, Eko oni baje on the heels of ‘Welcome to Lagos’! At that moment, the glare of the never-ending gridlock, the hustling and the rugged street life of her citizens stares at these young men like movie. And, gladly they embrace her lifestyle without anxiety.

 

So, they make their way to Lagos, where they count the storey-buildings and admire the aesthetics of the land. Soon they are welcomed by the loads of touts, who not only tasked them of ‘looking-fee’ but also carted away with their luggage and all they came with.

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Neatly woven into the present day society, Saro tells the history of the Nigerian culture and her love for music. It entails Nigeria’s rich musical history, her spruce attire couple with some Nigerian hits of the 80s and 90s, while also delivering its own composed music with fine lyrics as a side flavour for the play.

 

Interestingly, Saro2 is able to blend Fuji and contemporary music alongside awesomely choreographed dance styles and breath-taking stunts from the casts who displayed such attractive dexterity. The choice of costume is extra-ordinary.

Musically built on about 21 acts with 100 casts, the settings is in Lagos and Delta state. There is use of the English Language, the Nigerian English and a few vernacular including Yourba and Urhobo but its style of dancing cut across the most beautiful cultural aesthetic of Nigeria. There were the Yoruba attire, the Hausa, the Niger Delta, the Igbos among others.

 

Tightly seated for about three hours, the mood lightning sedated the atmosphere warmly. And, with the acts and scenic view of the backdrops, both romantic and struggles, it only reminds one of the events that happened before and after the advent of the Colonial Lords. It did not only reel a Fela’s music to the spectators but also pinned them with Davido’s latest Aye, which of course, they sang along.

 

Saro2 the musical demonstrated such piercing and emotional songs that as Laitan (Patrick Diabuah) sings sonorously to Oghenebrume not to forget him, “Magba gbe mi”, lovers and couples glued to themselves like a Night of rekindling passion under the mood lightning of the hall. It was an emotional scene and act of social imbalance that has come to disrupt the two lovers.

 

In all, there is no gainsaying then that Bolanle Austen-Peters, the producer, is truly the Royal Highness of theatre. She is the founder of Terra Kulture Art Gallery sited on the hamlet of Victoria Island; it is known for promoting African culture and heritage. This play gave Lagosians a memorable Easter to ease the tension of silence that had beleaguered the Lagos city after the 2015 general elections across the country.

Prolific actors like Gideon Okeke, Dolapo Oni and movie veteran Bimbo Manuel are among the casts.

No doubt, it was a show of music of many types and sounds such as jazz, afro-beat, hip-hop, highlife, juju, apala and such other contemporary Nigerian music genres alongside well-choreographed dance steps. Songs like “Guitar Boy”, “Water no get enemy”, “Wherever I go”, “This na temptation”, “Wo ju” and “Sina Peter’s o fe se juju” among countless others.

For the less than three hours it lasted, spectators were amused as they pinned to their seats without perturbing, sipping their cans of drinks and taking quick shots with their mobile phones. Even their expression at the drawing of the curtain reminds one of Oliver Twist. It was their sigh for more Saro the Musical! “This will continue. Come alongside your friends and watch Saro the Musical,” she urged

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TKMG Lagos Art Auction Holds on May 1

Aso-Ebi  by Kolade Oshinowo

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Terrakulture Mydrim Gallery (TKMG) Lagos Art Auction 2015, which will hold on Friday May 1 at the Terrakulture Art Gallery, Vitoria Island, Lagos, will display 90 art works of different artists from West Africa.

The auction preview, which started on Sunday April 26, will run until April 30 to set the stage for the biggest auction. With a display of 90 abstract art works of both emerging and master artists within and outside the country.

This was disclosed at a media briefing at the weekend at Terrakulture, where the curator, Ronke Akinleye explained that works of artists including the iconic Bruce Onobrakpeya, Abayomi Barber, Kolade Oshinowo, Ablade Glover will be on sales. For the emerging artists, whom the aution house is responsible for bring to the forefront include Olawunmi Banjo, Onadipe and Oyewole Olufemi.

Speaking further, the curator said that the choice of the auctioneer for this year remains Mr. Yinka Akinkugbe. “Mr. Akinkugbe has proved to be the best beyond doubts; he knows his onions.”

Continuing, Ronke enthused that over the years, the auction house has sold works of artists like Ben Enwonwu, El Anatsui, Ben Osawe, Erhabor Emokpae and Lamidi Fakeye among others. “We hope to have many art professionals and visitors attend the art auction. We believe it is an essential place for professionals, art connoisseurs and artists to meet.”

  Plastogragh & Etching by Bruce Onobrakpeya

They assured that works are unique in all ramifications. And there will be artists from Togo, Benin republic and Ghana among other West African countries. “There is art for everybody. For those who love art but cannot afford the masters’ works, we have fine works of these emerging artists too. This way everyone can have something to go back home with.”

Interestingly, the art house stated that the auction is not about making money but growing the Nigerian art. According to the house, “We are selling and buying Nigerian artists. We’ve grown it to be where it is today.” Adding that TKMG is growing an industry and creating a legacy.

Therefore, TKMG succinctly puts, “We are the biggest auction house in Nigeria. So, we are creating a platform, where people will know the value of art – we’re growing both the young and the old.”

Nike Centre: Consulate General Germany, Michael Derus, Hails Culture

Rebecca Ejifoma

Art pieces displayed on the walls at the Art Centre

The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos, MichaelDerus, on Sunday, commended Nigeria for her rich and vast cultural heritage during his visit to the Nike Art Cultural Day held in Lekki-Lagos.

                                                                                         

With the style of performances put up by the cultural entertainers, Derus  said that each time he visited the centre he learned something new. "A lot of events take place here. It helps me discover more about Nigeria and it's my pleasure    to be here."

According to the Consulate General, who described Nigeria’s culture as rich, says it so because of her various ethnic groups and traditions. “It  represents something that Europeans are striving at; to bring together a    certain blend of cultural identity, which nevertheless is not just a mixture, but a whole identity of different ethnic groups in the country.” Adding, he said that it has had a large impact not only in the country but the entire    African continent as a whole. 

So, painted with colours of Nigerian culture and history, the Nike Art          Centre hosted a crowd of friends and art enthusiasts from all over the       world at its Cultural Day held at its gallery at Lekki.

The cultural day was spiced with indigenous lifestyles ranging from songs to dance and from attire to the vast culture of people from all over the world with a majority of the          whites. These electrifying performances were garnished with a group of    colourful Nigerian dancers coupled with the art pieces displayed in and     out of the three storey-building.

They brought back the jigs and twists of traditional music from Edo,           Anambra, Oyo and of course, Eko. The centre was filled with Europeans and Chinese more than Nigerians to observe and appreciate the history and culture of the country. There wereproduction and sales of adire, beads, kampala, royal hats and regalia.        There were also displays of images and art works that tell   the tales of     million years even without words.

The event had a lot of entertainment and Tv personalities like the popularMoses and Nneka.

Interestingly, Arts Desk Robin Hugh Campbell, Co-chairs, Nigerian Field      Society, Lagos Branch, Robin Campbell expressed her feelings towards the colourful faces and the native makeup the centre applies. “We are the      organizers of the event. We are Nigerian Field Society, Lagos Branch, a     membership organization.”

She said: “Our mission is to explore the culture and environment of           Nigeria and West Africa generally.”

Continuing, she said that NFS has been in existence since 1930 and its      mission is to help people explore their countries. “A lot of our members    are expatriates and we are pleased to be able to help people understand   their culture very well.”

She, therefore, lauded the iconic Nike, whom she described as the              dynamics context of the Nigerian culture. “Through Nike, people can be    exposed to traditional art forms and contemporary arts to dance, music    and also the variety of food in the country. We do hold various                    programmes in the country and we have explored some prominent places of arts in   the country. 

According to the Gallery Manager, Lagos, Tunji Akinsehinwa, it is not         unusual for the centre to organise such a programme because it is more    cultural centre than a gallery.

He said: “We are always hosting events like music and dance among          others.” No doubt, it is a centre that focuses more on culture than              artworks.

LANABLACK to Show at Terra Kulture

 

Rebecca Ejifoma

 

LANABLACK, a solo exhibition of the recent works of Mr. Tunji Lana, will be launched on April 10 by 7pm and run until 17 at the Terra Kulture Art Gallery in Victoria Island, Lagos.

 

The one week extraordinary photography show, which will be unveiling to the world a refreshingly new art form called LANABLACK through his 30 arrays, will showcase the ability of the light-painter to reach into the farthest recesses of his mind and provoke its audience to believe that man can recreate anything in any way that he so desires.

 

“LANABLACK is a style of photography art that speaks to the viewer to see the world in a different way. It is a very imaginative and expressive creative form of photography. It appeals and demands the art aficionado to see a new perspective of what ordinarily is and stretch the imaginative power of the human mind,” Lana enthused. 

 

As the originator of LANABLACK, he said that his concept of art also has a message for mankind that designed to challenge, provoke and excite people. He clearly stated that it is a mind-set that is not unbending but a re-creation that makes "everything international" where every object has an opportunity to become more and every subject has the opportunity to see what could be more.

 

Interesting, the ardent artist, Lana, added that explained LANABLACK to be a visual interpretation of a mind-set and he is urging the world to be magnetized by, to appreciate and to adopt. Technically, he elaborated that LANABLACK captures the expressive nature of light and shade. It springs forth tones and textures, drama over subtlety and subtlety over drama; ultimately taking the viewer though a new experience.

 

His works are, beyond doubt, are abstract and timeless. They appeal to the art enthusiasts; leaving one to muse twice on the images. This concept introduced by Tunji Lana in 2014 is being formally launched this year through a one week double location exhibition.

 

According to Terrakulture’s veteran Curator, Ms. Aderonke Akinyele, Creativity is the use of the imagination, especially in the production of Artistic Work; adding that making a creative photograph (Art) is about objectifying your experience of the world transforming every movement into something visible.

“Exploring Art through Tunji Lana’s creativity helps us understand our environment and how beautiful it is and can be. Surrounding ourselves with Art that can truly be enjoyed and uplifting is an experience we deserve,” she said.