For Abuja, a New Space for Creativity 

Segun Ade-Martins

In this high season for the arts and creativity, in the Gudu district of Abuja, there is a new space to foster youthful creativity. At the African School of Economics (ASE), the arts director Aisha Aliyu-Bima, who has been setting the Nigerian art space alight with her exploits at Abuja Open House 2022 and the curator project at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art at the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, is currently cultivating a creative centre.

To launch this new space, three creatively diverse events were held on July 13, July 29, and August 15. Shoot. Edit. Repeat. workshop, ASE Art Salon, and the inaugural episode of the ASE Masterminds podcast, respectively. 

First, let’s dive into the free Shoot. Edit. Repeat. portfolio review for Abuja filmmakers on July 13, spearheaded by Temitope Dada, popularly known as Oluwadabest. Dada has cultivated a community of filmmakers whose aim is to achieve technical excellence in the visual department. The Shoot. Edit. Repeat title is also a mantra to encourage continual development in filmmaking because it summarises the video-making process succinctly.

The art salon contained two elements: an exhibition of works by two artists and a discussion of ideas affecting African contemporary art. The artists are Barry Yusufu and David Gilbert-Adeh. This event is an interesting fusion of the practises of Art academy salons in France and the North American practise of having gatherings for intellectual discussions. On this day, both artists answered stimulating questions from the host and an enthralled audience about their processes and views on the various art debates.

This Art Salon was sponsored by Kwakol, a finance, research, and technology company. Their interest in the arts materialises with Kwakol Underground, the platform to showcase talents in music and visual arts.   

The podcast delved more into the themes of work-life balance as seen through the eyes of two creatives, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi and Maryam Ahmad. The uniqueness of their perspectives comes from the different generations they come from: Gen X and Z, respectively. The topics discussed include mental health, workplace etiquette, and a general outlook on life.           

Combined, these showcases present a playground for nurturing creative conversations. What is interesting here is the type of people, the activities, the blend of creative industries, and the variety of topics involved.

The diversity of events for the arts and creatives alludes to the all-encompassing nature of the curator, Aliyu-Bima. She identifies her interest as being in Northern Nigerian social anthropology, but one can surmise there’s more to it. She embraces all with great cultural intelligence and looks to include Northern Nigerian culture into the wider pan-African discourse.   

More specifically, the ASE Arts is a subsidiary of the African School of Economics whose goal is to delve into and showcase the unique and diverse cultural heritage on the continent, in this case, starting in Abuja.

In late September, from September 25 to September 29, Shoot. Edit. Repeat. held a five-day cinematography class in Abuja at the Abuja School of Economics.

Dada’s trailblazing work meets international standards, and corporations are now bringing commercials back to Nigeria to shoot. His cinematography class teaches participants the methods and mindset to achieve cohesive visual stories. He emphasises understanding the motivation for shot selection, composition, subject, and environment lighting, as this is the key to strong storytelling; his secondary mantra is “know your why.”

During the Arts Salon, first-time exhibitor Gilbert-Adeh guided audience members through his paintings on display. He spoke of the inspiration for his paintings, from his Christian faith to the guidance of his mother and sister. He explores themes of dreams and maturity using water, fish, and boats as his iconography. 

Barry Yusufu is an internationally renowned figurative painter. His works may not have been present, but he gave an elegant presentation of them with great insight into his process and journey into the arts. He challenges the “international gaze” of Africa with large portraits of black skin. Some art critics have labelled it a trend, but to Yusufu, “I’m in it for the long haul.” Additionally, he says, “You don’t switch your mission statement midway.”

Aliyu-Bima summarised the discussion succinctly with her take on art and life by saying, “Creativity is next to Godliness.” 

The ASE Arts programme is a welcome addition to the art scene. Especially for the Abuja community because it needs more structure and organisation.

It is particularly exciting that the ASE is an economic and business educational institution with a heavy interest in the arts. Creatives should recognise their contribution as being of great benefit for creative advocacy because they can provide truly sustainable ventures with immense structures.