minister of tourism, culture and national orientation, chief edem duke and director general of cbaac, prof tunde babawale, flanked by winners at the event
In an event that drew the minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, as well as endorsement by the Lagos State government, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) has used the occasion of its annual Children Cultural Festival, Art Exhibition Talent Hunt to reward creativity in Nigerian children.
Tagged: “African Culture: The Beauty in Diversity”, the event which held Thursday, at the Exhibition Hall of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, saw a student of the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, David Obe and a pupil of Temi Tope Nursery and Primary School, Grace Ilori emerge winners in the secondary and primary categories of the 2011 Children Cultural Festival, Art Exhibition Talent Hunt.
The occasion which according to CBAAC is intended to arouse the consciousness of African culture and Arts among children, provided a platform for the agency in the Ministry of tourism, Culture and national orientation to fete the school children, treating them to sumptuous food and drinks.
The winners topped 20 other contestants in each category in the exhibition to bag the coveted prize of a trophy, plaque, 17-inch television set and other fantastic gifts each.
In addition, the third and second runners-up prizes went to Daniel Macus of the Solid Rock College, and Lawal Abesonye of the Stepfield College.
The drawing competition had children attempt a depiction and interpretation of the theme of the competition and festival for the year, which was centred around peace.
Explaining the concept of his drawing, in an interview with Kids and Teenz, 15-year old David Obe said: “I drew lions, goat and one man, then the background was trees. We all know that naturally, lions eat goats and it is only when there is peace that lions, goats, and man can live together without being a threat to one another.”
Also relating her drawing to the theme of the exhibition, the primary four pupil, Grace Ilori said: “I drew a map and a dove. The map signifies the constituent of Nigeria, while the dove shows that we want peace in Nigeria.”
Another highpoints of the event was the cultural dance competition which saw Holy Child Secondary School and Redeemers International School as the overall winner in the secondary and primary category.
While the third and second positions went to Awodiora Secondary School and Rolex Secondary School respectively.
Speaking on the criteria on which the students works were judged, head of the judging panel for the competition who is also the Dance Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Arnold Udoka said the artworks were judged based on originality of concept, interpretation of the theme and artistic appeal.
On the cultural dance, he said, we looked at the chorography, which is the movement in space, the message in the dance, custom being promoted, originality and style.
Commenting on the performance, he said, the children performed exceptionally well, in fact they gave us tough time in selecting the actual winners.
Presenting the awards to the winners, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke urged the winners to strive to remain winners, as it is easy to win but not easy to remain winners.
While commending CBAAC for living up to its statutory responsibility of promoting, propagating and preserving African cultural values, he said, the festival will no doubt encourage the children to appreciate the beauty in the country’s cultural diversity, and eschew violence and other vices.
Continuing, he said: “This programme which brings together children from diverse socio-cultural, religious and economic background will assist in facilitating interaction between them and imbue in them the virtues of love, tolerance and peaceful conduct.
Commenting on the theme of the festival, he said, the theme is not only relevant but appropriate and timely, considering the present security challenge the country is faced with, as a result of lack of understanding and appreciation of the country’s cultural diversity.
Cultural diversity, according to him, takes different forms depending on the country. In places like South Africa and the United States of America, cultural diversity is usually associated with racial differences. In Nigeria, cultural diversity is strewn along the lines of religious or ethnic differences.
Furthermore, he said, despite these differences, our people have many things in common. Before the cleavages that divided us were developed, we had for centuries lived, traded and related freely without hindrance. Therefore, it is sad that we have allowed the differences to obstruct our relationship. Our diversity should drive our resolve to succeed as a nation.
In the same vein, Chairperson for the occasion, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire lauded CBAAC for the initiative, saying it will help in making the children good cultural ambassadors of the country.
The Deputy Governor represented by Director, Child Development in the Deputy Governor’s office, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo said such programmes should be done in schools to enlighten the children about the Nigerian cultures.
While urging the children to appreciate their nationality, she said, it defines their personality and not act as a barrier to what they would become.
Lending his voice on the discourse, his Royal Majesty, Dr. Sejiro Olalekan Ogungbe Okiki Arolagbade II, Oba Henwa of kweme Kingdom, Badagry West, Lagos, said parents, teachers and other stakeholders have vital role to play in promoting the Nigerian culture and values among children.
He said, promotion of indigenous languages and the values inherent in them should be a priority in homes, as well as schools, if our culture will not fade in the nearest future.
On his part, Director General, CBAAC, Mr. Tunde Babawale said the event is aimed at inculcating in the children, the values inherent in the African culture because they represent continuity and serve as the vital bridge that connects us with the future.
He also said the decision to make the programme a yearly event was equally informed by the centrality of children to the actualization of the centre’s objective and the fact that children are not only amenable to change but learn easily and faster too.
On the other hand, he said, Nigeria is saddled with problems associated with nation-building, compounded by inability to accommodate and manage ethno-religious differences.
Added to these, according to him, is the fact that the country’s growth is impeded by nepotism, corruption, socio-economic and political problems and the pressures exerted by globalization.
However, he said it is disheartening to observe that the culture of accountability and peaceful conflict resolution is gradually paving way for recklessness, impunity and unbridled violence.
Furthermore, he said, intolerance, dishonesty, and absence of love and respect for one another have hindered Nigeria’s ability to harness the gains inherent in its rich multicultural heritage.
According to him, these stark realities informed the decision to weave this year’s festival around the theme: “African Culture: The Beauty in Diversity.”
He went further to state that the choice of the theme was informed by the need to make the young children see the beauty in the country’s diverse cultures and to realize that its diversity should be a source of strength and not weakness.
The children, he said, need to appreciate the importance of honesty, tolerance, unity, love and respect for one another as virtues that are essential for personal achievement as well as national growth and development.
The theme for this year’s festival, he said was also spurred by the need to stimulate the children’s interest in cultural values that unite us as people with common destiny, adding that, it is also to make them identify and reject vices that divide us.
Complementary to this effort that CBAAC is making, he said, the country needs to build upon its gains by making education and culture key ingredients for effective and sustainable development.
According to him, this should be done by designing and implementing appropriate educational and cultural policies, even as he said there is also need to ensure that investment in teacher training is central to the implementation of the country’s cultural agenda.
He added that “We must appreciate the strategic cross-teaching and use of our indigenous languages for cross-cultural interaction amongst our people.
We should increase awareness of our tangible and intangible cultural heritage by emphasizing their potential for positively engaging our young people.”
Courtesy: Lorita Chigbo
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