Get Guardian on GoogleThe Macaulay Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and powered by Studio 18 Hub, staged a cultural evening at Freedom Park, Lagos, to celebrate Herbert Macaulay’s legacy through music, dance, food and masquerade display.
The event, tagged, Kirsten Hall Soiree: An Evening Reminiscing of 1940 Lagos — Faaji Night with Herbert Macaulay, sought to highlight the nationalist’s lesser-known identity as a cultural enthusiast and Lagos socialite, according to Gladstone Olufemi Macaulay, Chairman Macaulay Heritage Foundation.
He stated that the initiative was designed to draw attention to Herbert Macaulay’s interest in music, traditional practices and community gatherings beyond his contributions to Nigeria’s nationalist movement.
“Everyone remembers him as the Doyen of Nigeria Nationalism, the founder of Nigeria’s first political party — the NNDP, the man who went to the Privy Council to fight for Oluwa land. But few remember him as a cultural man, the socialite, the man who loved Lagos music, who opened his library called ‘The Temple of Peace’ to young Lagosians. Faaji was his weapon of unity, and tonight, we brought it back,” he said.
“Although he’s our progenitor, our patriarch, we respect him and give him importance. There’s more to come from this foundation than just Herbert Macaulay. For example, his father is the first person to set up the first secondary school in Nigeria, CMS Grammar School.
“His mother trained him from home to pass the GCE examination in London for him to get access. So, there are people, there’s a reason why we chose not to limit the foundation to Herbert Macaulay, but to the Macaulay Heritage Foundation.
The soiree recreated aspects of the social life associated with Macaulay’s residence at Kirsten Hall, 8, Balbina Street, Yaba, where he was remembered for hosting concerts and film screenings, alongside his political and journalistic activities.
According to Macaulay, the choice of 1940 was deliberate, reflecting a period when Herbert Macaulay’s political influence and cultural interests remained significant.
“It was the twilight of Macaulay’s life, yet his most influential period. By then, he had mentored a young Nnamdi Azikiwe, and together they would form the NCNC in 1944.
In 1940s Lagos, war was raging in Europe, colonial grip was tightening, but in Kirsten Hall, ideas were blooming over Sakara and palm wine.
“We started planning for this event about six months ago. We sat down together, and we decided that for Herbert Macaulay to take the place he deserves, we must re-engineer in the minds of people,” he stated.
The Macaulay Foundation noted that Gen Zs are not interested in history because it was taken away from them. “It’s not their fault. So, we have to re-inject it back into society. And the way you re-inject it back into society, even if you have intellectual discourse, you must have social enticements for the children to be able to follow.
“You don’t stay too long when you are trying to get at them. So, this is actually meant to reach out to them and the old folk together. And that’s why we went through generational genres of music that we have in town so that some people can relate to it. Some young adults can relate to it, and maybe the Gen Z’s can start to get interested. So, that was the idea. And this is not our own idea; it was Herbert Macaulay’s idea in those days.”
The programme featured traditional musical forms, including Agidigbo and Sakara, alongside Gelede/Efe theatre and masquerade displays. Eyo, Angere and Fanti masquerades also featured, while Bata, Gese and Kolodo dances drew guests into the celebration.
Organisers said the event was intended to keep alive the cultural dimension of Herbert Macaulay’s legacy as an engineer, journalist and nationalist, and demonstrate how music, performance and communal celebration contributed to Lagos’ social history.
Pix: Kirsten Hall Soiree
