LAGOS OF THE POETS

LAGOS OF THE POETS  &  SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE DANCE DRAMA ‘NIGERIA THE BEAUTIFUL’ MARCH 16: ODIA OFEIMUN’S BIRTHDAY

  As expected Poets gathered at The Muson Center but more than that, lovers of art and drama graced the occasion and enjoyed the rich bouquet of events lined up.

   Odia Ofeimun , a man of character that commands the attention of the literary world with a winning smile show casing his complete joy for his chosen profession: a poet.

The event encompassed a rich array of poetry with the theme LAGOS; it captured many sides of Lagos, the dress sense, masquerades, building designs hustle and character traits exhibited by agberos, desperados and lukewarm spectators.

  Poetry readings by renowned poets bring to life poems to an anxious audience. Some poets like Akeem Lasisi flew in with a dramatic entrance. Others emphasized accents, and exaggerated words bringing fresh humor like Prof. Femi Osofisan and Denger to name a few. Others read with precision and their words made the audience response to the thought provoking poems read with vigor: Toni Kan, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbe, Nike Adesuyi, Tade Ipadeola, Jumoke Verissimo, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Austyn Njoku  and the celebrant himself Odia Ofeimun.

Some of the poems had political tones reminding us of the price Lagosians paid for development and others cheered the current Lagos state governor for improving Lagos and its environs  ‘….. thank governor Fashola for listening to God…’

Nerfatti ti sang like nightingales on a beautiful night and Topsticks drummed, blew trumphets and reminded us of songs like ‘oni dodo oni moi moi’

Segun Adefila’s Crown Troupe whom I have worked with and performed my play ‘THE WAR IN THE SKY: Writen by BUSOLA ELEGBEDE’ gave an outstanding performance of  WOLE SOYINKA’S I LOVE THIS LAGOS I NO GO LIE

Odia Ofeimun reminded us all that ‘….it is not politics….it is the politics for arts all over the world’

The key event for the day was a sneak preview into the drama ‘NIGERIA THE BEAUTIFUL’

 It’s a journey with Nigeria from the late 1800’s into independence and actors: Efe Mayford Orhorha, Ombo Gogo Ombo, Nissi George and other gave a grand performance. The director Felix Okolo did a brilliant job and the crowd cheered at his brilliance. It is a beautiful theatre collaboration between the writer Odia Ofeimun and the director Felix Okolo. They collaborated the year before and produced a masterpiece ‘A FEAST OF RETURN’ and have only raised the bar higher in this new piece ‘NIGERIA THE BEAUTIFUL’   

 So as we celebrate the arts remember we celebrate creativity all around the world

Have a fantastic week

xoxo Busola Elegbede xoxo