80 days for Wole Soyinka at 80!

A long list of events that began on April 25, 2014, and will end on July 14, 2014, will define the 80-day celebration of the 80th birthday of internationally-acclaimed Nigerian playwright and poet, Professor Wole Soyinka.

Although the Nobel laureate is currently on a WS80/ICE exhibition tour to the cities of Abeokuta, Osogbo, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Jos, Igbale Aiye and Republic of Benin, other events are going on as planned.

They include drama presentations, dance presentations, dialogues through spoken word, conferences, essay-writing contest by student essayists, visits to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Soyinka at Ijegba, and an interview of the social criitic by CEO of Ebony Life TV, Mo Abudu as well as CEO of Channels TV, John Mommoh.

July 9 and 19 will feature series of dramas and other events that will be attended by 25 delegates, keynote speakers, 80 students essayists from around the country, and 80 Spoken Word performers on the theme, Freedom of Creative Expression, featuring the likes of Mutabaruka from Jamaica, Javon Johnson from USA, Efe Paul Azino and Jumoke Verissimo from Nigeria.

A conference on the topic, The Soyinka Impulse: (Art, Humanity, transition and permanence: celebrating Soyinka at 80) with 2000 participants will be held on July 12 with a spoken word performance featuring Mutabaruka from Jamaica, Javon Johnson from USA, Efe Paul Azino and Jumoke Verissimo from Nigeria. There will also be a mentoring session and workshop for students.

The conference will be concluded on the afternoon of July 12 after an essay writing by the student essayists on the topic,  Education: Path to Freedom and the Future ‘Do Your Own Thing.

Although the events end with visits to Governor Amosun and Soyinka at Ijegba, and the interviews by the media entrepreneurs, the closing dance presentation tagged Dance of the forest on July 14, 2014 promises to hold the greatest charm for the public.

See complete details of the activities below:

WS80 EVENTS LINE-UP

JULY 7 – 9, 2014

Wole Soyinka Portraits Exhibition tour:

Abeokuta – April 25 – July 14

Osogbo – June 13 & 14

Port Harcourt – June 27– 29

Lagos – July 1 – 7 at Freedom Park

Lagos – July 11 at Terra Kulture (Exhibition and spoken word.)

Lagos – July 11 & 12

Ibadan – July 15 – August 15

Jos – August 19

JULY 11, 2014

The Soyinka Conference begins

Topic: ‘THE SOYINKA IMPULSE’

(Art, Humanity, transition and permanence calibrating Soyinka at 80)

• Spoken Words Presentation

(for Conference Guests @ UNILAG (afternoon)

 

• Mentoring session and workshop for students

Time: ???

* Dialogue Through Spoken Words

 Time: 7pm

 Venue:  Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos

(accompanied by exhibition of Soyinka’s Portraits)

JULY 12, 2014

• Conference continues

• Sight seeing and travel for students

• Drama: OBA KOSO; directed by Isiaka Egunbunmi

(for Duro Ladipo Memorial Company)

 Venue: June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta

 Time: Afternoon?????

 JULY 13, 2014

Venue: June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta

• Essay writing (by 80 student finalists)

Topic: Education: Path to Freedom and the Future.

Time: 8am-10am

* Osun, & Ondo States’ Cultural Troupes perform

Time:  11am

• ‘Do Your Thing (Prelims)

  Time: 11am -1pm

• Lunch Break –1pm-2pm

• Do Your Own Thing (Final)

Time: 2pm-4pm

• Spoken Word Performances

Time: 4pm-5pm

• Grand finale of Spoken Word Performances

   Time: 8pm

JULY 14, 2014

• Visit To Governor by 80 finalists & Announcement Of Results

  Time: 9am

• Visit To Soyinka’s Residence At Ijegba by 80 Essay finalists

Time: 11am

• Lunch – 1-2pm

* Dialogue Through Spoken Words

Time: 5.30pm

Venue: June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto Abeokuta

* Drama: ‘Dance Of The Forests,’ dir. By Tunde Awosanmi at Ijegba Forest.

Guests: 80 Essayists, 80 Spoken Word Artistes & other Guests (by invitation)

*  CLOSING CEREMONY and Departures

POST BIRTHDAY PRESENTATIONS:

*  ‘Alapata Of Apata’ by Crown Troupe of Nigeria.

* Madmen & Specialists by Jos Repertory Theatre;

* Lanke Omuti by Tunde kelani& Tunde Awosanmi

*Wole Soyinka Portrait Exhibition — Igbale Aiye, Republic of Benin