Monday 31 December 2012

Breaking News: One Week Postponement Of OYASAF Lecture Series II


Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to postpone the OYASAF Lecture Series II by one week, to January 26, 2013 from the earlier announced January 19, 2013.

While we apologize for this postponement, we wish to point out that all other details about the lecture remain as they were, as follows:

New date: Saturday  January 26, 2013.

Venue: OYASAF conference center, Okupe Estate, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos.

Time: 10:30am prompt.

Thursday 27 December 2012

Lamidi Fakeye: book on career, work and untold story of life experience out

Cover of Conversations with Lamidi Fakeye


Co- authored by Prince Yemisi Shyllon and Dr Ohioma Pogoson, the book titled Conversations with Lamidi Fakeye is a 172 pages coffee table-size and is currently in distribution by Quintessence Gallery, Falomo Shopping Center in Ikoyi, Lagos. 

It contains interview with the late iconic wood carver LAMIDI FAKEYE. With a hard cover and high quality color prints, the book features photographic images of some 48 artworks of the artist in the OYASAF collection.


OYASAF Lecture Series II opens 2013


OYASAF, in collaboration with WOTASIDE Art Studios holds the second lecture series titled CONTEMPORARY ART IN NIGERIA: CONTEXTUAL NAVIGATION THROUGH THE WEB OF HISTORY”  to be delivered by Dr. Kunle Filani MFA, PhD on January 19, 2013 at OYASAF conference center, Okupe Estate, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos. Time is 10:30am prompt.



Abstract from Lecture


The dynamics of change in the 20th century Africa, considerably transformed art forms that are typical of the earlier artistic traditions found in the various creative cultures that constitute the present day Nigeria. Within this paradigm shift however, is located the tensile strings of continuities that unify the past with the present; thereby justifying the maxim that culture is a continuum.

Despite the staggered beginnings of Contemporary Art Historical Studies in Africa, a more systematic classification and articulation of formal and contextual genres seems to be emerging. For the artist, form is the outward expression of nuanced experience. It is therefore plausible to examine contemporary art in Nigeria on a historical construct that is premised on contextual narrative.



Dr. Kunle Filani

(Curriculum Vitae)


Dr. Kunle Filani hails from Ikole-Ekiti. He attended the University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where be obtained a 2nd Class-Upper degree in Fine Arts.


He ran his Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA) between 1982 and 1984 at the University of Benin, Benin City. He was supervised by Professor Solomn Wangboje and Prof. Clarry Nelson-Cole in Printmaking, and taught the rudiments of criticism by Prof. Doris Rogers. He obtained a post- graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Lagos in 1995 and bagged his doctorate in Visual Arts History from the University of Ibadan under the supervision of Prof. Cornelius Adepegba.



Filani started teaching in the tertiary institution since 1985. He was at the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo-then a campus under the University of Ife (1985-1992), Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos (1992-?), Federal College of Education Osiele, Abeokuta (2004-2012) as Provost, and Chief Executive. He is an adjunct lecturer at the Institute of African Studies, University Ibadan since 2009, and currently on Sabbatical appointment in the same University.



Kunle Filani reached the peak of his career as a lecturer in the College of Education system when he became a Chief lecturer in 1995. He also served in many administrative and academic capacities such as Head of Department, Dean, Deputy Provost and the ultimate-Provost. He was once the Chairman of Federal Committee of Provosts.



Filani’s landmark contributions to art can be located in his research into art materials and scholarship. He innovated the use of “Petro-polystyrene” for printmaking, painting and sculpture. His insightful and numerous publications can be found in local and international journals and books. He has remarkably influenced a lot of students and colleagues with his pragmatic approach to teaching. As a pioneering member of the Ona movement, Filani has consistently promulgated the art genre and ensured its place in contemporary history. He initiated the “Best of Ife” exhibition series and quite pro-active in supporting Governmental and Non-Governmental art institutions.

He is the president of Culture and Creative Arts Forum (CCAF) since inception in 2001 and holds the membership of numerous local and international art organizations. He is a fellow of society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and Honorary Fellow of the Pan-Africa Circle of Artists (PACA) among others.



We look forward to your honoring us with your invaluable presence and participation at the lecture.



Signed: Prince (Engr) Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon

               Chairman/CEO

Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation



R.S.V.P

 Olu Amoda                                   Emmanuel Adigwe

Phone: 08122676902                    Phone: 08028322578







Friday 21 December 2012

How Obi, Ofala anniversaries thickened cultural cloud in Onitsha


Aside the 10th year anniversary of Ofala Festival held on October 5, in Onitsha, Southeast Nigeria, the people’s passion and cultural energy lifted the festival beyond expectation.   

The reason for the uncommon elation of the people was understandably of a double celebration: the monarch, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nna Emeka Achebe also celebrated his 10th year anniversary on the throne.
Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nna Emeka Achebe dancing with his chiefs during the Ofala Festival and the monarch's 10th coronation anniversary.
The Ofala festival is a yearly event aimed at allowing the Obi to publicly engage his people in a dance of life and celebration. The festival involved hundreds of men, women and youths – attired in beautiful traditional and ceremonial costumes – dancing to the pulsating beat of traditional drummers, instrumentalists and singers, which heralds the celebration with the NdiIchie (high Chiefs and the Obi).

The Ofala Festival 2012 unfolded in the traditional grounds of the Obi’s palace with the people witnessing the majestic entrance of the monarch adorned in his royal regalia and decorated crown (okpu ododo), accompanied by traditional trumpeters who eulogized to announce his arrival.

The whole ceremony was enhanced by the red-cap Chiefs (Ndiichie), colourfully dressed in their various traditional attires as well as symbols of their respective villages. They were accompanied by music and dance as they stepped out one after the other to honour and pay homage to the Obi.

The festival, which is one of the most surviving traditional ceremonies of the Onitsha people and the Igbo race, is organized to mark the climax of the New Yam Festival. The yam festival is an occasion for family re-union and merrymaking, and also a medium for the Obi to meet his subjects.

The Ofala is a ceremony, which every Onitsha indigene, both at home and in Diaspora, eagerly looks forward to every year. It is a homecoming for the sons and daughters of the ancient city who use the opportunity to evaluate and contribute to the development of the city by taking appraisal of the previous year for the purpose of projecting into the future. In his address at the occasion, the Obi of Onitsha, urged government to map out strategies to prevent future flood disasters in the country. He commiserated with victims of last flood disasters that ravaged some parts of the country, including Anambra State. The monarch commended the Governor of Anambra State,  Peter Obi for his efforts in evacuating and rehabilitating the flood victims.

The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, assured the people that the National Assembly would appropriate funds for the development of the town in the 2013 budget .

The event was sponsored by GLO and Diamond Bank plc. The festival closed with the Igwe and his Chiefs giving thanks to God in a church service at St. Mary Catholic Church, Onitsha.