From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Yoruba culture came richly on display in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday December 15, 2022. It was indeed a day for the reawakening of Yoruba cultural identity and values. An evening of glitz and glamour at Christmas.
All roads led to Tunde Odunlade Gallery, Ladoke Akintola Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan.
It was one evening of an art exhibition, tagged: “Ewa-Beauty” and “The Art We Wear.” It featured photo exhibition and a video documentary by Aderemi Davies. It brought back the old memories of the clothes, traditional caps, headgears and hairstyles of yesteryears, with a view to recreating them for universal acceptability for the Yoruba and non-Yoruba in the world.
It was organised by Odunlade Art and Culture Connexion, in collaboration with African Treasures Arts Gallery, Owerri, Imo State.
It featured 12 major Nigerian artists in various artistic media, especially in the areas of beaded batik quit tapestry, sculpture, marble oil painting, oil on canvas, pointillism, yarn tapestry and soil painting. All were parts of the activities to celebrate two years anniversary of the gallery.
Davies explained: “The Art We Wear” is a collection of works that celebrate the beauty of African culture and depth of its traditional systems. The Yoruba culture and heritage is one of the richest in the world. Our people and tradition are widely spread throughout the globe.
“However, if conscious effort is not made to preserve, promote and consolidate our culture, there is the risk of relegation, corruption and eventual extinction due to an increasing exposure to foreign cultures.”
He said he is focused on showcasing the aesthetics and meanings in three fashion expressions of the Yoruba: “These are head gear (Gele), a three-piece men clothing (Agbada), and indigenous hairstyles, including Suuku, Koroba, Adimole, Patewo, and Kojusoko.”
He described the Yoruba as a vibrant tribe that always hold their culture dearly: “Though they do have constant interactions with other cultures of the world. Often, styles of hairdo are expressions in non-verbal forms.
“There are hairstyles that distinguish spinsters from married women.
Also, there are hairstyles that depict that a lady is ready for marriage. So, there is meaning in everything. We need to recreate them and make them trend. This is exactly what I am doing.”
Chief Executive Officer and Curator, Tunde Odunlade Art and Culture, Ibadan, Prince Tunde Odunlade, also emphasised the importance of reawakening of cultural identity: “Working in the arts space should be a thing of pride to all and sundry.
“Art exhibition is a tradition in the art world. It is an avenue to give artists opportunities to showcase their works of art. It is a way of interacting and meeting face-to-face with their potential clients.
“Art appreciates in the world market more than the stock exchange. Mona Lisa is a good example. You can’t even get it for any price now and it was nothing ab nitio.
“The likes of Ben Eneonwu, Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Lamidi Fakeye, Muraina Oyelami and Jimoh Buraimoh, their works may not worth nothing some 30, 40, and 50 years ago. But those who collected their works then, are now thanking their stars.
“This is because they worth a lot more everywhere and they grow in value year in year out. There is no investment as worth as art, especially if you know your onions. It pays greater than anything else, in the long run.
“One of the benefits is that economic emancipation is given a facelift and our history is preserved via art. Moreso, members of the public should see art as an integral part of their cultural heritage, an investment beyond stock exchange and landed property. Art appreciates over time.”
Creative Director/Curator African Treasures Arts Gallery, Mr Samson Ekwubiri, said: “Art is a veritable means of preserving cultural values. The exhibition was put together towards showcasing rich cultural values and heritage of Nigeria and Africa.
“Funding and publicity as parts of major constraints for artists in the country. Government at all levels as well as critical stakeholders should facilitate funding for artists so that they can continue to preserve cultural values of the country and Africa. Banks should also consider giving loans with zero interest to artists.
“Stakeholders can also sponsor exhibitions.
Government should patronise artists by buying their art works to furnish government buildings. Art works, if properly packaged, could generate foreign exchange for the country.”
A lover of art, Mrs. Oriyomi Pamela Otuk, appealed to government, artists, corporate organisations, individuals and other stakeholders to ensure that their cultures were preserved and passed from one generation to the other so that they would not go into extinction.