Chinyere Okoye With Agency Report
12 November 2009
Lagos — Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art in the United States is sponsoring a two-year-long celebration marking Nigeria's 50th independence anniversary, THISDAY has learnt.
The Museum of African Art is the only museum in the US dedicated to the collection, conservation, study and exhibition of traditional and contemporary African art.
The high-profile event titled, "Nigeria: Then, Now and Forever" kicks of this fall and continues through 2011. It will feature exhibitions, public programs and special events showcasing the culture, arts and people of Nigeria.
First Lady, Hajiya Turai Umaru Yar' Adua and educator and philanthropist Camille Cosby are co-chairs.
THISDAY gathered that highlights of the celebration include a major mid-career retrospective by Nigerian-British artist, Yinka Shonibare; a Nollywood film festival; the premiere of a new dance by Washington Ballet dancer, Andile Ndlovu; and a series of special events with US and African leaders in the fields of art, entertainment, business and government.
Director of the museum, Dr Johnetta Betsch Cole stated that: "This exciting and meaningful celebration reminds us not only of Nigeria's road to independence, but of the many struggles for freedom and equality that exist across the African continent."
"At the same time, it shines a light on the rich artistic contributions of Nigerian artists, both traditional and contemporary," she added.
The exhbibition of the work of Shonibare, the most celebrated Nigerian artist of his generation, opened two days ago and continues through March 7, 2010. Participants would be able to see paintings and sculptural tableaux (staged scenes made of richly costumed headless mannequins) featuring the artist's trademark use of "Dutch resist wax" fabrics, dramatic photographic series and recent explorations in film.
Other exhibitions include: "The Arts of the Benue River Valley," featuring outstanding yet little understood works of art from the complex, inter-related peoples living along the lower, middle, and upper Benue River of Nigeria. It is organized by the Fowler Museum at UCLA in association with the Musée du Quai Branly, Paris.
In addition, the museum will celebrate the history of Nigerian photography with a special focus on the collection of Chief Solomon Osagie Alonge, one of Nigeria's premiere early photographers.
As an official photographer for the Royal Court of the Benin Kingdom, Alonge documented the rituals, pageantry and regalia of the court for over half a century. The exhibition will also highlight works of art from Benin in the museum's permanent collection and rare collections of Nigerian photography in the museum's Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives.
There will also be symposia, lectures, films and performances. Highlights include: an artist lecture and book signing by Shonibare; lecture and book signing by critically acclaimed author of "Half of a Yellow Sun" and the 2009 collection of short stories, "The Thing Around Your Neck," Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Nobel Prize laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
Others activities are: "Africa in Reel Time," a Nollywood film festival featuring screenings of short and feature films as well as panel discussions with film directors; an international symposium on indigenous modern photography that considers the century-long contributions of Nigeria's photographers and their place within the history of photography worldwide.
Furthermore, receptions, behind-the-scene tours and other special events will be organized for educators, corporate partners and friends of the museum.
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