China, Azerbaijan, Brazil, shone at 2019 MUSON Festival
The International Cultural Night, a new addition to the MUSON festival lineup of events this year, showcased foreign contributions that seek to strengthen cultural ties between Nigeria and other participating countries.
The audience were entertained by the colorful display of costume and dance from Azerbaijan, Brazil and China during the International Cultural Night at the annual MUSON Festival of the arts at its Shell Hall in Lagos recently.
The new segments of the festival brought a different vista and injected into the festival mainstream another event that attendees can look forward to as it continues to evolve into its finest form.
One of the spectacles of the night was the Chinese Lion Dance. In Chinese Folklores, it’s believed that the Lion Dance helps to repel evil spirits, and bring good luck and fortune. That night, the dance took possession of the illuminated stage, with agile lions displaying a variety of skills to the audience’s delight.
Dance with Gaul was a onewoman show performed by Billura Bayramova-Bernard, which equally left the audience spellbound. At the end of her performance, Bayramova-Bernard who was an integral part of putting the dances together said, regardless of the short notice, the International Cultural Night was very important because it availed the platform to portray different cultures from various countries, most especially that of the Azerbaijani people.
The Brazilian and Colombian Troupe were not left out of the show. Their dances were equally greeted by resounding ovation from the audience. Reminiscent of a typical Calabar Carnival, the beautifully adorned dancers swayed to the rhythms from drums and other musical instruments. However, it was the Ofala dance (performed annually by Onitsha natives) by
Arts Afrique Dance Troupe that brought the audience back home.
Giving a historical context just before the presentation, it was revealed that Ofala derives from the two root words Ofo and Ala, meaning authority and land respectively, and that the annual festival is specifically celebrated by the Onitsha people. To give respect to their ancestral lineage, a short homage was paid to the Oba of Benin who is the paramount ruler of the Edo people from where the Onitsha people are believed to have migrated to their present location.
The Footprints of David had given an apt curtain raiser at the beginning of the cultural dance extravaganza. They didn’t disappoint in portraying the rich western Nigerian heritage. Also, the Sharo Dance from the Northern part of the country was on hand to perform a dance that highlights the philosophy of ‘winner takes it all in marriage ceremony” popular amongst the Fulani people of Kaduna State.
Speaking after the performances, the CEO of MUSON Centre, Mrs. Ayo Jafojo, said the idea of having an International Cultural Night was mooted by one of MUSON’s patrons, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel, and supported by Billura Bayramova-Benard who similarly advocated for the inclusion of foreign troupes from Brazil and Azerbaijan. An award was given to the different dance troupes by the Vice Chairman of MUSON Centre Mr. Louis Mbanefo (SAN).
The 2019 MUSON Festival came to an end on Sunday with performances at the TOTAL Festival Gala Concert featuring Rebeca Omordia, the NigerianRomanian piano virtuoso, Micheal Volhardt, MUSON Choir and the MUSON Symphony Orchestra.