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Female artists lift Nigeria’s cultural heritage with Art-mosphere

By Benjamin Olisah
14 October 2018   |   4:13 am
Nigeria is a country blessed with diverse ethnic groups. Each group has a compendium of unique and admirable cultural practices and traditions.

Some members of FEAAN at the show

Nigeria is a country blessed with diverse ethnic groups. Each group has a compendium of unique and admirable cultural practices and traditions. And so, the nation boasts of an avalanche of glorious lifestyles, making them cynosures for tourists, who throng en masse to witness the marvelous cultural displays.

To celebrate this cultural heritage and commemorate the 58th independence anniversary of Nigeria, the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN) held a one-week show, where invited artists exhibited their works to the admiration of audience. The show also held in South Africa.

Tagged, Art-mosphere: Celebrating Nigerian Cultural Heritage, the show aimed at making exhibitors work on unique cultural practices of the different ethnic groups in Nigeria.

From costumes to cuisines of each ethnic group, the artists displayed wonderful works that gave the audience extensive knowledge about them.

It had in attendance 15 artists, who displayed three works each in different media like, painting, print, ceramics, textiles and photography.

Addressing guests, Mrs. Chinze Ojobo, President FAAN, enjoined Nigerian women to be agents of change in society by making judicious use of the cultural heritage to positively impact in the present and future generations.

“As women, we serve as ambassadors of peace and friendship, alongside promoting our culture and heritage. We are touched on the various issues and happenings in Nigeria including our current challenges. But we have one thing in common; we are women whose personal experiences and artistic styles have been shaped by our heritage. We in turn will use what we are today to shape and style our country and change the narrative of our beloved country. The glass ceiling is broken. Like a bird, we are free to fly and express ourselves. The sky is our beginning,” she said.

Miss. Ayoola Omovo, South-West Co-ordinator of FAAN and organizer of the event, in her speech, expressed conviction that the show was a perfect platform to address topical issues in Nigeria.

“Each work here pictures various issues we can relate with, whether cultural, social, religious or political aspects. The issues presented here tell adequate stories about the ills of the nation, the wonderful aspects of it and the places that need some form of overhauling.”

Omovo, who did two mixed media works titled Behind the mask and Save the children, also urged the visitors to the show and every Nigerian to acquire art exhibits as it would encourage the artists, attract tourists, boost the economy and most importantly be a driving force for change of anomalies in Nigeria.

“Every Nigerian should have an art work, because having it serves as a form of encouragement to the artists to do more, entice international art lovers to Nigeria, thereby improving our economy and most pertinently, to make us always aware about the need for change, whenever we take a glimpse at the pictures hung on our walls.”

One of the displayed works was Adebayo Esther’s Palmwine Tapper, a mixed media showpiece that depicted the importance of time in the human society. Another was Clara Aden’s Young Bride portraying the traditional costume of a newly wedded Yoruba lady. Evelyn Osagie also displayed her works on photography, one that she titled, Water boy.

Others were Greener pasture batik by Rita Doris Edumchieke, Stella Mofunanya’s Celebration cut print Hafsat Zayyanu’s Fura da nono III, Aisha Idrisu’s Wind, Esuru Ichoku’s Queen Idia, Young dream strings by Onyinye Afam, Glaze vase by Patience Euba, J.A. Nwaje’s Protection, and O.C. Oluchi’s Grace painting.

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