The Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, which operates as a subsidiary of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, recently organised live performances to mark the celebration of the 2024 World Theatre Day. Themed “Theatre and a Culture of Peace,” the event was held in Ikoyi, Lagos, and served as yet another milestone in the ongoing efforts by the Lagos State government to promote theatre activities in the state, the country, and indeed the entire African continent. Writes MARY NNAH
The Lagos State government is currently supporting various initiatives aimed at promoting the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria and Africa as a whole. To achieve this objective, the state government is taking steps to involve more stakeholders in showcasing Nigerian and African culture through various events and activities, particularly through stage performances.
Recently, the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, a subsidiary of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, organised an impressive event to commemorate the 2024 World Theatre Day Celebration in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event, which was themed “Theatre and a Culture of Peace,” was a vibrant display of African culture, featuring live performances by various groups, including the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, DNMT, Kings and Queens, and Footprints of David.
Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Lagos State, Mr. Idris Aregbe, expressed his delight at the state’s commitment to intensify efforts to promote the theatre sector and expand its scope to involve more people.
“Lagos State governor, BabaJide Sanwo-Olu, believes so much in tourism and entertainment and we need to follow his footprints in this aspect. That is why I am super happy today as a member of his exco group and I have told him that I will continue to do everything possible to ensure that Lagos continues to lead in Arts, culture and tourism.”
“The State government supports every initiative in the tourism and entertainment industry and that has been our guide.
“We need to intensify and increase conversation and continue to loud it to the world because Lagos has a lot to contribute to theatre and tourism.
He said Lagos State is working to promote the theatre industry, and this effort is being recognised on World Theatre Day, adding that the promotion of the theatre industry in Lagos State is a priority and that the state government is taking steps to ensure its growth.
The state’s commitment to the theatre industry, Aregbe stressed further, is evident through its investment in infrastructure, talent development, and the creation of opportunities for local performers.
He emphasized the need to take advantage of Lagos State’s advantageous position, as the state’s tourism sector continues to grow.
He reiterated the Lagos State government’s full support for every initiative in the tourism and entertainment industry, including school competitions and the inclusion of theatre and African culture in the school curriculum.
“There are plans to take it to the next level in the area of school competitions and also inculcate it in the school curriculum so that students in secondary school, as well as the higher institutions, can be part of promoting theatre and African culture.
“It is not just about Yoruba culture, it is about Nigeria. It is about our identity as Africans and what we believe. We are determined to increase the conversation as we continue this journey.
Aregbe emphasised that the conversation is ongoing, and the state government would continue to take steps to increase the tempo and expand the scope of its efforts to promote tourism and culture in Lagos.]He highlighted the importance of increasing the conversation around promoting African culture and theatre and expanding the scope to involve more people.
“We are expanding the scope, making sure that more people are involved and that is what we are doing today and that is why you have seen a lot of stakeholders today, coming together to stand for one thing, which is to promote the theatre industry”, Aregbe said,
The recent event marked a significant milestone for the Lagos State government, as it was the first time the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture had an elaborate event to mark World Theatre Day, reflecting the state’s commitment to promoting theatre and entertainment.
Aregbe said further that he along with Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, is determined to take Lagos to where it truly deserves, adding that Lagosians should expect more entertainment programmes every month and collaborations with public-private partnerships to further promote tourism and culture in Lagos.
He emphasized the need to encourage private-public partnerships for the state and build a Lagos where people don’t need to wait for Yuletides to see such performances.
“We want to build a Lagos where people don’t need to wait for Yuletides to see such performances. It is about looking at what we have in terms of music, theatre, events, films and so on, ensuring that we encourage private-public partnerships for the state”, he added.
Furthermore, veteran Actor and producer, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, stressed the significance of the Theatre Industry, calling on the government and politicians to patronize and support the arts.
She emphasized that arts, folklore, and modern-day entertainment are what attract tourists and bring value to the tourism industry and that politicians can do more by supporting them.
“We are not going to have tourism unless we have something that people are coming to visit. People come to see our arts, folklore and modern-day entertainment, these are what bring tourists.
I believe that politicians don’t know that they can do more by patronising and supporting the art than they are doing now. I think they are leaving entertainment to the periphery and I think it is a mistake. I see entertainers here today coming as guests. So, the government hasn’t thought it through yet. They need to incorporate them in all these because these are the people who will draw people here”, Ajai-Lycett said.
Speaking further, she said, “Look at how alive this place is today and when you equate liveliness and creativity and everything to living your life, people become more interested.
“In theatre, that is where you relate to the audience. Just look at the relationship between the performers and the audience today. And when you are learning to act before you get into the movies, that is where you get to know what entertainment is all about.
Entertainment sells ideas, hope and life – entertainment is about the things that worry us, and the dreams that we have- how can we realise our dreams and how can we make it happen.
“When you see somebody on stage and their life is going on well, you say, I want a bit of that. So you give them hope and they work harder to do what they can to achieve their dreams. You can see the infectiousness of it on stage. Working and training in the theatre will change your life forever. I am a beneficiary of what I am saying. I am almost 84 years old now and still rocking because of my training on the stage”, she said.
Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, who said the theatre industry is the lifeline of Nigeria, added, ”This is where the future of Nigeria is because we are an incredible people. We are creative and that creativity spills into science and all sorts of things. That is why I am saying if you major in the creative industry, you cannot fail as a country.
“If you look at countries like America and Europe, what is making these countries vast is their creative minds. It is not so much the politicians. The politicians are all enablers of the flow of life. And so if they get their priority right, and they start focusing on the people – when they focus on entertainment, you are focusing on the people. It is not all about the entertainers, it is all about switching your people on and getting them happy, excited and interested in what you are doing for them.
“Majority of our masses are just busy trying to survive but I think for a successful country to exist, people have got to be excited about living and not about surviving. So if they switch to entertainment and start thinking more about entertainment, the country will change for the better.”
“I know people may think I am partial because I am an entertainer but it is not so because we have examples all over the place. The people who were celebrating today were sitting in front as guests. I leave you to think about that”, she noted.
However, Lagos State is taking impressive steps to promote arts, culture, and tourism through various initiatives aimed at showcasing Nigerian and African culture.
The recent event was an impressive display of African culture, reflecting the state’s commitment to promoting theatre and entertainment.
The Lagos State government is committed to intensifying efforts to promote the theatre sector and expand its scope to involve more people, including school students, in promoting theatre and African culture.
