At Relaunched Artmosphere Nigeria , Love Takes Centre Stage
Yinka Olatunbosun
It was an intimate session at the February edition of Artmosphere Nigeria last week Saturday at the Aramide Hub, Surulere, Lagos. The event themed ‘Loving and Living’ played host to musicians BR Olorin, Edez, Seunsax and ClassicIBK, as well as visual artist Qwest. As the evening unfolded, the theme sparked a thought-provoking discussion about the complexities of love and relationships.
Culture influencer Femi Morgan posed a question that got everyone talking: Have you ever travelled outside your comfort zone to meet a lover or loved one who lived far away? The audience’s responses were varied and candid. Some shared stories of travelling from Lagos to Osun, Ilorin to Abuja, and Kano to Lagos to be with loved ones, while others had lovers who traversed miles to meet them. However, others objected, sharing their own reservations about taking such leaps for love.
On the floor of Aramide Hub, the conservatives feared the risks and lamented the frequent news of kidnapping, killings, insecurity, and accidents. However, the liberals countered by stating that love is about commitment and travelling to meet friends and lovers.
As the discussion unfolded, several members of the audience shared their thoughts and perspectives. These contributors included Babatunde Odubanwo, a writer and PR executive; Bomi George, an events management executive; Edesiri, a tech enthusiast; Lydia Johnson, an auditor; and Joy Brown, a businesswoman.
The conversation was interspersed with a medley from Seunsax and ClassicIBK, who serenaded the audience with familiar and popular songs. When the music producer, ClassicIBK, went solo, he dug into the depths of nostalgia and performed songs from the 90s on his piano.
Odubanwo read from his unpublished novel about a randy young man from an upwardly mobile family and the pressures from family to have him settle down. He regaled the audience with the character’s escapades while his family struggled with the implications for their buoyant family legacy.
Morgan mooted other layered questions on love and commitment, which elicited several conversations, laughter, nostalgia, empathy, and freedom. The audience members recounted deeply personal stories of their first love encounters and searing heartbreaks.
As the evening drew to a close, BR Olórin, an African folk and pop music artist, took the stage and brought the audience alive with songs of memory, diaspora, and rich African cultural values. His song, “Ire Ojo,” from his E.P. titled ‘Lagiju,’ sent shivers down the spines of the audience and even seemed to conjure up a few drops of rain. Accompanied by ClassicIBK, BR Olórin’s masterful guitar playing added to the enchantment of the moment. In a moment of reflection, he shared his belief that true art should ideally reflect both the character and the background of the artist.
Morgan closed the event by calling on Nigerians to support creativity, arts, culture, literature and develop a heart of fairness to everyone.
With this rallying cry, the stage was set for the continued growth and development of Artmosphere, a platform that has been fostering artistic expression and community engagement in Nigeria. Following a brief hiatus, Artmosphere was relaunched in November 2024 to commemorate the founder’s birthday. This special edition featured a stellar lineup of prominent guests, including Mrs. Esther Ivie Igbinobia, Director of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Lagos Zone; poet laureate Tade Ipadeola; public relations expert John Ogue; social advocate Ennie Sophie Oluwa; Yoruba performance poet Aremo Gemini; poet Clementina Owumi Solutionist; and visual artist Qwestman.
The event was relaunched at the Aramide Hub, a vibrant venue in Lagos’ cultural heart, Surulere. As a space dedicated to fostering artistic inspiration and expression through events, workshops, and performances, the Aramide Hub embodies a commitment to nurturing Nigeria’s artistic ecosystem.
