AFRICAN ARTS AND CULTURE PERILS
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Interview by Chris Onofua
Lagos, Nigeria
Prof. Sylvester Ogbechie;
a professor of (History of Arts and Archietcture) at the University of California who recently visited Nigeria having been away for a long time, in interview with Chris Onofua, xrays the problems and gives an insight into turning the fortunes of arts and cultural heritage in Nigeria.
Q: Can we meet you Professor and perhaps get an insight into your background?
A:
I am Sylvester Okwunodu Ogbechie, a native of Onicha-Ugbo in Delta State. I was born in Ibadan in 1965, moved back home when I was 11 to attend high school, lived in Abuja for two years from 1982-83 and then attended UNN (the University of Nigeria Nsukka) where I obtained a First Class degree in Fine and Applied arts (1988) and a master's degree in art history in 1992. I then received a scholarship to study art history for a Ph.D at Northerstern University near Chicago in the USA. I left in 1993 and have lived in the USA since them. After getting my Ph.D, I took a job at the University of California Santa Barbara where I still teach. I am fluent in Igbo, Yoruba, Pidgin, English, read French and some German, and can say a few words in Hausa and Edo.
Before I left Nigeria, I travelled extensively in the country and I am familiar with many places in Nigeria. I still travel a lot for
business, and as a hobby. More >>
What Fela Would Have Sung In Times Like This:
13th October
By Charles Okogene,Senior Correspondent, Lagos
On Sunday, October 15, Afrobeat music creator and one of the best musicians
to come out of the Black race, Olufela Anikulapo-Kuti, would have clocked 66
years if he had been alive.
He would have invited friends, fans, followers and family members to join
him in celebrating the milestone. More >>
Beyonce and other Stars Rock Nigeria
By Peter Bakare
October, 2006 Abuja, Nigeria
It was a move that was as surprising as it was touching. But Beyonce Knowles, the star act at the First THISDAY Music Festival, which ended early this morning had mastered her craft and left the crowd enthralled. Following her introduction Saturday night, she had danced for a while then paused. "I am nervous. I don't know how to begin this but I hope you people will help me by singing along," she said as the crowd waited. The ecstatic members of the audience, most of who had anticipated that Beyonce was about to render one of her popular songs were dazed when she began, in her uniquely sonorous voice, to sing a familar tune: "Arise O Compatriots..." More >>
Onookome Okome: nudity in Nollywood movies is normal
by Jumoke Giwa
October 7, 2006
Nollywood expert, Onookome Okome speaks on mammy water, black magic,
objectification of women, and nudity in Nigerian movies. He also expressed
his views about the unrest in the Niger-Delta, Nollywoodís entrance into the
Toronto International Film Festival, and his vested interest in late Ogoni
environment! alist an d civil rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwaís work. Onookome
is an Associate Professor of African Cinema and Literature at the University of Alberta in Canada. He spoke to me from his base in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. More >>
Hip-Hop and R&B Artists Release "The Green October".
By Harry Baba
(Washington, D.C.USA) --- What happens when a group of Hip-Hop and R&B artists of Nigerian descent get together to showcase their talent? Well, the result is The Green October Project Volume I, a compilation album jam-packed with solid Hip-Hop beats, catchy R&B and Reggae dance hooks topped with traditional Afro rhythms giving each song a unique edge. More >>
Rockwilder [Center] and DJ Twins [Outside] are Hip Hop Headliners
Fighting the Power of Hip Hop–Who is Winning?
by: Amy Draughn
A culture filled with excess, bling (Hip hop slang for jewelry, for the unhip) booty shaking (use your imagination) sampled tracks, and undistinguishable lyrics has infectiously taken over America’s popular music. The world of hip-hop has injected itself into the bloodstream of American airwaves, infiltrating television, influencing clothing styles, and affecting America’s youth on a daily basis.
Its audience is easily tempted by familiar tracks, flashy videos and flaunted lifestyles filled with women, cars, cribs, bling, and even more bling. The idolized life of a rock star has been transformed to that of a rapper, creating a multicultural fan base that crosses all boundaries of class, race and music. A revolution is here, and with it comes the uprising of hip-hop as the defining factor in modern day pop culture. But are fans faithfully flocking to this urban sound, or just eating up what’s constantly being shoved in their faces?
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Read the full article in the June, 2004 Edition of TATimes
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Nigeria will rule world music in 10 years
Mary Ajayi, recently spoke with Europe-based Nigerian artiste, teacher and language consultant Professor Bob Ejike, on his new album Fiesta, his writing and the efforts of The Nigerian Arts Foundation towards the international promotion of Nigerian films, literature and entertainment. Here are the excerpts.
Question: Sir, you have been in the international spotlight lately, what is the new interest?
Ejike: I suppose it is the release of my new CD Fiesta, but then after about three decades of pushing and pushing, the wall begins to come down. That is precisely what the father of modern Nigerian performing art; Professor Ola Rotimi told me when I asked him why he was building such an elaborate Theatre Arts department in Uniport, where the nation ostensibly had just one theatre, The National Theatre. The result today is Nollywood. I took a passionate, almost obsessive interest not only in the production of African arts in form of music, journalism, novels, modelling and movies….perfectionist critics say we make videos and not movies (laughs). I concede the leverage of technicalities and semantics to them…..call what we make in Nollywood video or tapes or what you will, but we have made a resounding impact doing it and Nigeria is better off for it. I declared it a revolution 12 years ago and everybody called me a joker. Now even the New York Times and The Herald Tribune call Nollywood a revolution, and journals quote me from as far as South Africa and Canada, because I am perceived as one of the committed scholars of the Nigerian film renaissance and you can find my works in www.nigerianartes.com, www.nigeriansinamerica.com or by just typing Bob Ejike into any search engine on the Internet. Of course, I still write for The Sunday Sun and The Transatlantic Times of Washington D.C.
Question: Fiesta was released on 3 November, the same day that 2Face won the MTV Award, was that a coincidence?
Ejike: No, I had anticipated the victory, so I pencilled that date to my marketers and e-marketers, knowing that thereafter people would be more receptive to music from Africa. I congratulat2 Face, Kennis Music, Nigerian music, and Nigerians who gave him their supportand patronage.
Question: In what way is Fiesta different from your prevoiusalbums?
Read the rest HERE
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