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Winners of the 2010 Omoba Yemisi
Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF), Photography Competition were
given their prizes at a ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday, October 13.

The event, held at the home of OYASAF’s
patron, Yemisi Shyllon, attracted artists including Nike
Davies-Okundaye, Oyerinde Olotu and his wife, Dan Ifon, Ariyo
Oguntimehin, Sidney Akaphiare and some of the winners. Dapo Adeniyi,
publisher of ‘Focus’, an arts and culture magazine, was also at the
presentation ceremony.

Timipre Willis Amah came first with
‘Local Wharf Yenogoa’ depicting life at one of the wharves in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State while Gbemile Oluwatosin was second with ‘Bus on fire’.
Abiola Akanbi took the third position with ‘Child Paddles’ while Ophori
Israel and Charles Ijeomah emerged joint fourth with ‘Eyo Display’ and
‘Masquerade on Fire’ respectively.

Olagoke Femi came fifth with
‘GSM/Electricity in Nigeria’ and Akinkunmi Farinto was sixth with
‘Cultural Dance’. Other winners were Emmanuel Osodi (Traditional
Dancers); Akinleye Adeoye (Market Place); Etim Ekenyong (Wrecked Canoe)
and Olatunji Obasa (The Drum Maker).

Shyllon spoke about the competition and
how the winners emerged before cash prizes of N150, 000 and N100, 000
were presented to the first and second prize winners. Consolation
prizes including printers and flash drives were given to the others.
Shyllon disclosed that the competition’s first edition, held in 2009,
featured professional and amateur photographers. Works by the first
five winners were presented to the public in a photo exhibition in
March at the Aina Onabolu complex, National Gallery of Art, Iganmu,
Lagos.

The art collector disclosed that the
aim of the competition is to “develop proactive means of boosting
photography excellence in Nigeria, (and) create a platform for
photographers to confidently engage through their works issues of
national interest through exhibitions, competitions, seminars and
scholarship.”

Shyllon also highlighted some of
OYASAF’s activities. He said the foundation has published books on
Yoruba art while there is a forthcoming one on the late carver and
academic, Lamidi Fakeye. The body, he added, erected a commemorative
monument at the University of Ibadan, his alma mater, and restored Ben
Enwonwu’s work in the Vice Chancellor’s office. OYASAF also assisted in
redeveloping the physical environment of the UI zoological garden and
initiated a fellowship programme, with six scholars as beneficiaries so
far.

Shyllon thanked the organising team
comprising Sidney Akaphiare, Ariyo Oguntimeyin and Ozolua Uhakheme and
assured that OYASAF will not relent in promoting Nigerian art.

Some winners commended the initiative and spoke about why they took
up art practice. The second prize winner, Oluwatosin described himself
as a budding freelance photographer while fourth prize winner, Ijeomah
said it was the first award he would win. The Nike Cultural Troupe
provided the entertainment at the event.