6 states, 9 countries open AFAC 2015
represent the wealth of rural women?
It depends on who you are reading. Think of Sidi and Sadiku in Soyinka’s ‘Lion and the Jewel.’ Yes they were very articulate in the language and culture but they were nonentities and toys in the hands of Baroka. He had one whom all she did was pluck his armpit. Then you think of Achebe and his women in ‘Things Fall Apart.’ Ozigbo them; who were they? I think there is more consciousness and also a lot of feminist resistance against all those sterotypification and relegation and marginalisation of women. By and large, left to them those women were either objects of desire, objects of sex.
What’s on your mind when you are developing you female characters?
Characters are bodies of ideas. Each character is imbued with certain premeditated ideologies and sensibilities. If my goal is to create a rebellious teenager and I have a lot of such counter culture non-conformist females like Shakara, Galadis whose parents cannot pronounce the new name ‘Gladys’ she has given herself. You embody her with those ideas and it means therefore her resistance is going to go against some other embodied set of values that represent the hegemony. You have Omesiete in ‘Shakara’ who is barely scratching the surface to survive, completely impoverished, and her self-esteem through marriage and all that, she’s been trampled on by her husband because she couldn’t produce male children. Even though she’s materially poor, she’s emotionally, psychologically affluent not just rich and is infused with such dignity and nobility that you admire her. She doesn’t have the material things people celebrate in our society but she is richer than the
The 40th edition of the African Arts and Crafts expo (AFAC) opened on Thursday with six states, Gombe, Katsina, Niger, Taraba, Sokoto and Akwa Ibom, and nine countries including Taiwan, Chad, Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Botswana, as well as individual and corporate businesses, in attendance.
The cultural fair organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), took place at the Arts and Crafts Village, Abuja. It brought together members of the diplomatic corps amongst other culture enthusiasts.
The event which began with cultural performances from Taraba and Katsina states, also featured a variety of craft, art and historic works colourfully displayed in the stands.
Participants displayed items from incenses, perfumes, clothing to jewellery, housewares and technology gadgets amongst others.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mrs Nkechi Ejele who declared the event open advised that its potentials be harnessed towards arresting youth restiveness, ruralurban drift as well as reduce poverty.
Nigeria’s 170 million population, I see tourism as just a word in Nigeria and really not something that the people live on. Take for example, an average Nigerian home. It is partially clean and the culture of cleanliness has become one that some people are forced to inculcate within their environment. The villages are according to Ejele, is indication that the country is a fertile market for any quality product.
NCAC boss, Mrs Dayo Keshi remarked that the theme, ‘Stimulating the Economic Growth Potential of the Culture Industries,’ was a reflection of the council’s proactive programme geared towards contributing to the efforts of the administration in its quest to look inward towards developing Nigeria’s non-oil sector.
She said: “The event which is planned to be on for two weeks, will in addition to showcasing the best of the African crafts industry, have a one-day round table forum with the topic, ‘Economic importance of Nigeria’s cultural industries’ and a keynote address, ‘Showcasing the inevitable role of culture in national development and economic diversification’ to be delivered by Prof. Pat Utomi.
To reward excellence, the programme will end on September 15 with awards for the best product design, innovative and enterprising exhibitor(s) for both individual and country.
New attractions this year include a food court, make up parlour featuring contemporary and indigenous designers who were thoroughly engaged.
Kano-based Hussein Auta who is a first time participant at the fair was pleased that he made it. “Even before I finished displaying my things, I was selling already and have sold some more since then,” he said.
Other early sellers were dealers in ‘Senegalese’ outfits who said they had dedicated clients who bulk purchased from them as soon as they arrive at the expo.
Prospective buyers were however eager to see more and targeted the coming days to do their shopping.
The expo marks the beginning of celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the Council and will include other attractions like schools syllabus production, children cultural fiesta international cultural variety nite and a special NCAC at 40 news edition.