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The series of
activities commemorating culture activist, Toyin Akinosho’s 50th
birthday continued on Sunday, May 30 with a variety night at the
National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), part f the National
Theatre complex in Lagos. Early arrivals waited over an hour before the
show started, leading to discussions about the habitually late
commencement of events in Nigeria, where attendees also embrace the
culture of arriving late.

The Dugombas
Troupe’s ‘Akoto’ was the first of the evening’s performances after
emcee, Ropo Ewenla, had disclosed that the event was not the last
centred on Akinosho. ‘Against All Odds’, a solo exhibition by
convalescing artist Uche Nwosu and a play by Soji Cole, winner of a
competition for young playwrights, Ewenla disclosed, would be held
soon. The highpoint of the performance by the Dugombas was a fire and
broken glass eating magician who however revolted some by regurgitating
part of the meat and glass he had earlier swallowed.

Serious genius

Laying the
foundation of what became the trend as the evening wore on, Tunde
Akingbade, the first Akinosho associate to speak, used fine words in
describing the Secretary General of the arts advocacy group, Committee
for Relevant Art (CORA). He noted that the celebrant is a genius for
being able to straddle both Geology and the arts effortlessly. “He has
been a very wonderful guy. Marvellous guy, intelligent,” Akingbade
said. He also explained that Akinosho is a serious man, contrary to
what some believe. “That’s the way geniuses behave. You will think they
are mad but they have a focus,” he said, adding that Akinosho was
always accessible while working at Chevron.

Poet Uzor Maxim
Uzoatu added a touch of drama to the occasion by initially claiming not
to know Akinosho. “Who’s so called?” He asked but went ahead to regale
the audience with tales of their days at the University of Ife and
careers as journalists. “He is a very serious minded young man,” Uzoatu
stated before he read a poem titled ‘Toyin Akinosho’ he wrote on the
bus on the way to the event. “If the god of poetry wrote a poem about
you, you are not a failed person. You are a serious person,” the author
of ‘God of Poetry’ reiterated in his remarks on Akinosho.

An uncle’s concern

Uncle of the
celebrant, Wole Akinosho, gave an indication of how much the family
cherishes the publisher of Africa Oil and Gas Report with. “He is loved
by the family dearly but we don’t see much of him, Arts has taken up
his time. He is a symbol of pride to us; he is the first scientist in
the family. He did his job diligently at Chevron.” The older Akinosho –
famous ‘Uncle Wole’ of the classic children’s television show, ‘Animal
Game’ – rendered a song he used to sing for the geologist when he was
young. He also commented on his nephew’s status as a bachelor. “Toyin o
ti gbeyawo (He has not married),” he began in Yoruba. “It is the desire
of our family that Toyin Akinosho will come with a beautiful queen this
time next year,” he prayed to loud amen from the gathering. Uncle and
nephew thereafter sang a Yoruba hymn, ‘Olorun Bethel’ together.

Barrier breaker

Singer Cornerstone
halted the flow of tributes with ‘Hero’, a song celebrating notable
Black achievers before Modupe Oduyoye, writer and publisher heaped more
praises on Akinosho who sat quietly in a chair, soaking in what was
being said about him and nodding occasionally in affirmation of some
points. “I like people who cross the boundaries of disciplines,”
Oduyoye, himself a contrarian said of the geologist and Secretary
General of CORA. The author of ‘Le-Mah Sabach-Tha-Niy: Lament and
Entreaty in the Psalms’ also commented on the annual Lagos Book and Art
Festival (LABAF) organised by CORA. He charged Akinosho, Jahman
Anikulapo and others in the group to “continue with what you are doing,
Olorun o ni je ko re yin (God won’t let you get tired). Don’t make it
expensive [LABAF book fair], make it attractive to small publishers.
Continue your promotion of the arts; it is better to live in penury
than not be able to sponsor the arts.”

Chair, Association
of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Lagos State chapter read a poem, ‘Fusion for
Toyin@50’ while Bayo Olupohunda spoke of the ‘poblisha’s’ support for
youth and the nurturing of their talents. Another alumnus of the
University of Ife, Edmund Enaibe, x-rayed Akinosho’s life as a reporter
and his meaningful artistic engagements. “In his restlessness, there is
direction,” he noted.

The problem with Toyin

Poet, essayist and
social critic, Odia Ofeimun, who commented on Akinosho’s ‘eclectic
approach to organisation’, told the celebrant “it is not enough to
talk. You should sensitise our society that creativity and productivity
are what make us human, not consumption.” Ofeimun added, “We need
genuine promoters of the arts to sensitise our society to how things
should be run, [people] like Toyin Akinosho.” Characteristically, the
poet also identified areas in which he wanted Akinosho to improve. “The
problem with Akinosho is that he needs to go beyond the eclectic,
ensure that the ideas are coming down in acid.” Ofeimun also noted that
the celebrant “owes us two books.” The author of ‘The Poet Lied’ said
he would tell Akinosho the first in private, but he revealed the other.
“People tell us how well Toyin Akinosho knows about night life. He must
write about night life in this city (Lagos), not only about Nigeria but
also about South Africa that he knows about.”

Filmmaker Tunde
Kelani on whom the task fell to pour the libation, showed he has
started imbibing traits of the artists he works with. “Our ancestors,
it is not that I’m stingy with this wine. It’s just that there are
(only) two bottles,” he said to people’s amusement while performing the
task. ‘Uncle Wole’, Ofeimun and Iyabo Aboaba joined Kelani in front of
the audience to toast Toyin Akinosho, who took his seat among them.

The night ended on a merry note with guests dancing to ‘Eleleture’
‘Arekereke’ and ‘Asabi Alakara’ from ‘Wonderland, Akeem Lasisi’s
forthcoming album. Edaoto, Ropo Ewenla and the artist performed the
tracks together while guests including Kole-Ade Odutola took the dance
floor.