By Anote Ajeluorou
Two nights ago at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, All
Progressives Congress’ presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd),
Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, former FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir El
Rufai ands Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and other APC stalwarts stormed the
premiere of Nigeria’s foremost cultural production, Saro the Musical 2.
Midway into the
spectacular musical theatre performance that held the audience spellbound, the
politicians breezed in and created a stir and distraction. The audience hailed
the former head of state, who in turn, waved back with a toothy smile. Buhari
and his entourage watched for about half an hour before they left the performance.
Buhari apparently refrained from making any statements. But that in itself
spoke volumes.
Producers of Saro the Musical and Terra Kulture’s Administration
Manager, Mr. Joseph Omoibom, expressed excitement at Buhari and his entourage’s
gesture in attending the show, saying such open support from people in high
places was what the arts needed to thrive in the country.
According to
Omoibom, “Buhari’s visit wasn’t planned. He heard about the show and indicated
interest to attend and he came. It was great to have him. It’s good for people
in high places to support the arts. We actually wish we have more people in
high places supporting the arts; it encourages the artists and producers to do
more”.
On whether such
gesture as the one Buhari demonstrated two nights ago for Saro the Musical wasn’t a flash in the political pan that hardly transmute
into serious artistic and cultural policy of government when such personages
assumed office, Omoibom said that could only be seen when the time comes. He,
however, stressed, “At Terra Kulture and Saro
the Musical, we’re just promoting the arts; we’re not partisan at all as
the entire Nigeria’s artistic and cultural landscape is our constituency. Let
those in high places do it for whatever reasons – political, economic, artistic,
cultural or even selfish – what is important is that all Nigerians should support
the arts. That is what is important to us in our promotion of the arts through
our various projects like Saro the
Musical”.
For artists and
culture producers across the country, however, such concerns as the intentions
of those seeking political offices towards the arts become crucial given how
badly the arts and culture sector of the economy is neglected. Although Gov.
Amaechi could be said to have done well in supporting the arts by instituting
Port Harcourt Book Festival (PHBF), the same cannot be said for El Rufai, who
as former FCT Minister, didn’t see the need to build a usable, vibrant cultural
space for artists to thrive.
The only such space
at Garki, Area 10, Abuja, like the National Theatre in Lagos, hardly attracts real
artistic patronage because of poor conception, execution and location of the cultural
space.
The question that
arises from Buhari’s visit to see Saro
the Musical is if he would look the way of the arts as an elected
president. President Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated his open support for
Nigeria’s film industry, also known as Nollywood,
by his sundry financial interventions to it. In fact, Jonathan is often seen as
Nollywood’s number fan, which many
see as good, even if one-sided support for a vast sector in dire needs of funds.
Jonathan’s support for the book, significant as it is for overall national
development, comes by half at the moment, with Bring Back the Book campaign remaining an unfinished business.
What sub-sector of
the arts would Buhari adopt and lend his weight in support as president? Many
in the arts sector are waiting for Buhari’s campaign to kick off so they could
have a fuller view of his vision for the sector. They will be curious to see
what he proposes to do for a sector that absorbs a large number of youths, who
would otherwise have been targets of sundry anarchic groups and interests plaguing
the country with virulent ideology.
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