Arts/Literary
Nigeria At 50: A Generational Statement Arts Review
Nigeria is indeed a country of heterogeneous ideas and visions. This explains the reason behind the cacophony of voices that trail the humongous N10 billion, now reduced to N6.5 billion, budgetted for Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary. While many Nigerians rail at the amount, some others see the commemmoration of the nation’s golden jubilee as a long-awaited opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s 50 years of political independence, and square with some other African countries like Ghana, Senegal and Cameroun.
The Thought Pyramid Art Gallery owned by Jeff Ajueshi is one of those who share the optimistic view. In preparation for this, it has assembled a variety of captivating art works from seasoned artists to project Nigeria’s image in visual representation to the whole world. The art centre located in Wuse 11 Abuja recently held an exhibition of the art works which captured some of the political and socio-economic happenings in Nigeria since independence.
Mufu Onifade, one of the 50 exhibiting artists takes a look at the one -week event which took place in Abuja last week. The exhibition cannot be better described than a generational statement. He writes:
From now till the end of the year and probably beyond, various artistic nay cultural celebrations would bubble up the space, at various venues across the country. But more importantly, the visual art sub-sector is expected to chronicle the country’s social, economic and political experiences in visual form; and this is one of the thrusts of the exhibiting show titled Generational Statement. This long-awaited 50th anniversary of independent nationhood exudes a multitude of celebrations, which cuts accross all strata of the society. As a nation of multi-cultural diversity and surplus natural resources, Nigeria is reputed to be practically flowing with milk and honey. These are visible in some of the creations packaged ready for public consmption.
Since 1960 when she got her independence from colonial masters, Nigeria has constantly and delicately operated as a nation in transition, even among the comity of other nations. Her post-colonial period has brought on her people from various shades of inconsequential imbroglio ranging from politics to enonomics.
The civil war, the recurrent coups and counter-coups, the internal strife and different shades of struggles among her people of many nationalities are characteristic of experiences culminated in the modern day nascent democracy. Such experiences visually recorded in various media were on display.
In view of prevailing circumstances, the visual art sub-sector, which has been constantly constrained to the lower ebb of food chain, has, within the purview of robust cultural development, provided unequalled succour to both the nation and her numerous immigrants and visitors. The richness of Nigeria’s aesthetic legacies is re-embossed in the variety and diversity of creative outputs engendered by flourishing generations of Nigerian artists.
Ever since Aina Onabolu, the doyen of Nigerian art took the bull by the horn and transplanted visual arts into the school curriculum in Nigeria, academic training has combined effectively with informal training to produce a profoundly rich sub-sector. By extension, various generations from that era through to the era of the modernist artist, Ben Enwonwu to this contemporary times, have engraved their impressions on the artistic sand of time.
That the Thought Pyramid Art Gallery, Abuja founded and run by its curator, Jeff Ajueshi, has generously assembled an astonishing variety of art works from seasoned practitioners for a commemorative exhibition titled Generational Statement is a bold statement on the volume of creative products on the Nigeria’s creatively fertile soil.
As Ajueshi proudly, but succinctly puts it, this one-of-its-kind show “ parades accomplished artists whose works are capable of telling the story of Nigeria from different perspectives of themes, mediums and aesthetics”. These works, as he explains further, are captured in exquisite paintings and sculptures rendered in an array of mediums and concepts. The exhibition also addressed “recreation, pre, post, and neo-post freedom of the Nigerian essence” while not losing sight of attracting expressive visual art forms and scholarly critique and commentaries on Nigerian art.
Bruce Onobrakpeya, in recognition of his masterful antecedence and historical relevance to contemporary Nigerian art, was selected as Guest Artist for the show. His catalystic approach to art development is more than enough qualification to play this noble role in the midst of other 50 exhibiting artists including Ben Osawe, Sam Ovraiti, Duke Asidere, Bob Aiwerioba, Enotie Ogbebor, Sam Ebohon and Mufu Onifade. Others are Donald Onuoha, Ogaga Tuodeinye, Rotimi Akinere, Tony Enebeli, Toni Oshiame, Ayodeji Agboola, Nelson Edewor, Raji Olanrewaju, Ajibade Awoyemi, Ola Balogun, Suraju Adekola, Stanley Dudu, Chukz Okonkwo,Tolu Aliki, Emmanuel Dudu, Ada Godspower, Olumide Oresegun, Klara Nze, lyke Okeyin , Uche Onyishi, Francis Umoh and Stanley Agbontaen.
Chinedu Onuigbo, Moses Zibor, Nelson Okoh, Frank Beli, Joe Essien, Tyna Adebowale, Prosper Akeni, Emmanuel Ozugwo, Babalola Lawson and lke Francis also joined Chike Obieagu, Bob Nosa Uwagboe, George Edozie, Victoria Udoidian, Olufemi Kayo, Oyerinde Olotu, Oviri Aleric, Uche Uzorka, Aldophus Opara, Tom Sater and Godswill Ayemoba to make the show padded with unassuming creativity. These artists are representative of a cross section of generations of contemporary Nigerian artists and their diverse works speak volume about the Nigerian identity in visual form.
Thought Pyramid is one of the few galleries holding the forte in a credible manner in Abuja. It is named after the iconic postulations of one of Nigeria’s political giants, Mallam Aminu Kano whose composite image in the country’s socio-political consciousness, “his unblinking patriotism, his positive iconoclacism, his enlightenment and fervent desire for a strong, united and prosperous nation, through ventilation of progressive and execution of ideals for a respectable visibility in the comity of nations”, are reminiscent of his unequalled legacies.
According to Ajueshi, “At the Thought Pyramid Art Gallery, these qualities and aspirations (for the nation) are shared with the late great patriot”. As a gallery in the promotion of visual arts and culture and the inalienable magic mirror of the sector, the Thought Pyramid goes further to serve as a public space for the singular vision and creativity of thinking heads that create the arts.
As an art centre with untainted world class consciousness, it tells the stories through research, documentation and publication, while, in practical terms, promoting art through exhibitions and providing marketing opportunities within a space conducive for art collectors to comfortably view and acquire rare art works from the nation’s capital city.
All efforts are geared towards the promotion of Nigerian art and culture and one hereby hopes that as Nigeria prepares for her 50th independence anniversary, all these aspirations and operations will, on the long run, rub off on Generational Statement as an avenue to positively project Nigeria’s image in visual representation to the world at large.
It is the idea of God that family should exit. Children form part of the family. God loves family so much that Jesus was born into the family of Joseph.
Everyone’s family is good and important. Children should not look down on their family whether they are rich or poor.
Children should respect and honour their family and foster love among their siblings. They should work together and make peace in the family. They should always stand in the gap. It is good for family members to carry all along since everyone may not be doing well.
The Christianity that children learn is practised in family. Faith-based organisations do a great job in moulding children’s character. Those are the behaviours that children exhibit towards siblings in family.
Every child born in a family is there for a purpose. A baby born into a family is supplying something. It may be joy, wealth and so on. Everyone is important in a family.
Adolescents who have graduated from school but may not be contributing financially can do one or two things at home. You can engage in preparing meals at home while parents are away for a job or business. Contributing in house chores will go a long way to relieve parents of stress after a day’s job.
What do you contribute to your family, especially during holidays both in nuclear and extended family?
The family you were born is constant but friends are temporary. You can decide not to continue in friendship but you cannot cut off your family. No matter how bad you think your family is and you decide to leave home, you must surely return. Your friends can harbour you for a while.
The child’s first identity comes from the family. What the child learns first comes from the family.
Family is the centre of love and care. People have started playing down on marriage because of neglect on basics of family. Marriage starts today and and the next few months, it is threatened. Respect for family plays a crucial role in marriage.
No child grows without parental control and influence. If a child refuses to grow without taking instructions from parents, he may grow up being wild. There are consequences when children do not obey their parents. There are those who want to be rebellious against their parents. They should know that their length of days are tied to their parents.
Your bioligical parents know you more than every other person. There is the wisdom and knowledge your parents have that you do not so it is proper to listen to them before choosing carriers both in academics and job. A young man or woman can choose who to get married to, but a greater role in the choice of who to marry and the marriage proper comes from the parents.
They know what is best for you. No matter how modern trends will influence you and prove it wrong, parent is the key. No one can love you more than your parents because they are your blood.
A lot of parents have been traumatised due to the fact that children they nurtured and trained turned their back on them at older age. Children should not abandon their parents for any reason.
As you grow up, situations may arise in marriage when you decide it is over with your spouse, but no matter the level of provocation with your parents, they will not despise you. Parents will also play a role in that regard. Problem arises in every family but how it is handled matters a lot.
Some children honour their mentors more than their parents. Although there are parents who shy away from their responsibilities. It is important that parents take full responsibility of their children. You cannot bring a child to the planet earth and refuse to perform roles as a parent. But parents may not quantify what they spent from childhood to adolescence. That is a blessing children cannot get from another person.
There are people who have attributed their failure in life to the fact that their parents, especially mothers are witchcraft. It is wrong to feel that your mother is instrumental to your failure in life. The only way to success is hardwork.
Let money not determine the level of love for your parents. Wherever a child goes, family is constant.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
Naturally, when a child is born, it is the role of the father and mother to decide a suitable name for the child. The husband and wife normally discuss and suggest the English or vernacular name of the baby.
But sometimes, when a baby comes into a family, grandparents hearts are usually filled with joy to the extent that they want to answer present, by giving their own names not minding the fact that the biological parents have given theirs.
This happens mostly when the marriage is an inter-tribal one. It also happens even in intra-tribal marriage. Grandparents want equal representation as far as naming a child is concerned. They also have special names as a result of circumstances surrounding the birth of the child.
This is still happening till date.
A lot of people have viewed this in different ways but there is nothing wrong about it. The most important thing is that the child bears as many names as he or she can. But one thing is certain, the child must bear one name in school.
Should circumstance determine a child’s name?
Women who are more emotional are always eager to name their children considering the circumstances surrounding the child’s conception and arrival.
The issue of grandparents naming a child comes up mostly when it is the first of the family.
In naming children by some parents in the olden days, they named their children according to the days in the week in which they were born, like Sunday, Monday, Friday and so on.
You may be shocked to hear that whether a child is given 10 names by parents or grandparents, when he or she grows up, will decide to change. There are several cases where some persons decided to change especially when they feel that the names given by their parents and grandparents do not give them joy. If they are not doing well in life, they may claim that their misfortune is caused by the name their parents.
Competition among children in schools be it primary, (kindergarten) and secondary come in different forms. It can be Mathematics , debate, quiz, spelling bee,competition, from organisations like Cowbell, multi-national companies, faith-based organisations among others.
They are organised mostly for selected intelligent ones, the best among their peers to represent a class, school or group. Prizes are normally set aside for the best as well as consolation prizes for runners-up at the end of each session.
The question is, are children willing to accept defeat when they fail? As parents, guardians, can you encourage your children or wards to accept defeat instead of shouting and comparing them with others who may be performing better either in schools or outside.
Some parents may be blaming their children for not doing well in competitions. They will like to tell their children if others who may perform better have ten heads. Those group of parents blame their children for every failure.
For your children to do better in competition, the parents too must have emotional intelligence. When you continue to blame your children for failure, how intelligent are you?
Some parents always want their children to be in the 1st position and unhappy whenever they secure 2nd position. There were instances where children smashed their trophies because they never got the position they wanted to get and their parents supported them.
Children should be able to accept it whether they win or not. They should be encouraged for every performance. Discourage the issue of “shame, shame, shame, shame”.
A parent says she always tells her children to win even if they will fail. Always give them the mentality that they can win. Children should be given the impression that they can win prizes and laurels in every competition.
Parents should not isolate their children from others in the neighbourhood. Allow them to play with others. Don’t threaten your children that you may not pay their schools fees if they fail. Comparing them with others may encourage or discourage them.
Coming first or getting award as a first class student from the university sometimes does not mean that the person is the best. And if the child does not merit any award in the lower classes, does not mean that he can not merit first class also.
It should be noted that coming first in academic competition may not really mean that the competitor will be the best at work place or business.
Accepting defeat is a way to move higher. Even if a child who competed with others did not come first, there are consolation prizes for runners-up. When you advise the child to accept defeat, you are encouraging her to win in next competition.
Remember all children cannot be on the same knowledge level Their learning abilities defer.
Eunice Choko-Kayode