Sonuga launches autobiography on 70th birthday

Gbenga Sonuga, a traditional ruler in the Sagamu area of Ogun state and an art enthusiast, on Thursday launched his photo autobiography titled Deep As The Ocean.

The launch coincided with the celebration of his 70th birthday.

Family members, friends and well-wishers gathered at Freedom Park, Lagos, to celebrate Sonuga, who was once director for the Lagos State Council for Art and Culture.

In Deep As The Ocean, Sonuga (pictured, far right) recounts his experience and viewpoints as a heritage of historical photography spanning more than 70 years.

He intends to start organising an annual lecture on the importance of retaining the essence of art and culture, particularly in its affectation of community building and the selection and election of leaders.

“I hope to continue my series of lectures on art and culture, to help and foster the next generation, and propel the ideas and lessons needed to continue to have a good head, and a good nation,” he said.

He bemoaned the challenges of arts and culture in Nigeria, and lamented the under- utilisation of the national theatre.

“The national theatre is a national heritage and should be brought back to the standard needed to support long-running performances and shows in the main bowl and annex halls,” he said.

He went down memory lane to recal SALT, a notable play produced in 1989, saying he would premier its video recording for the first time ever since its performance.

On why he wrote and produced SALT, he referred to the adage “of being the Salt of the earth”, saying “nothing in life is sweet without salt – and art and culture is like the salt of life.

“Without it, we can never truly enjoy life,” he said.

“Leadership without an appreciation for art and recognition of local culture is prone to all sorts of gaffes and misdeeds. Followership outside of a cultural context appropriate, for instance to Nigerians, only fosters an identity of individuals and communities that are alien to the local sensitivities of our surroundings.

“They will never truly fit in well, like a square peg in a round hole. Trying to shoehorn western ideals of leadership without application of our Nigerian culture of selecting leaders with a good head through consistent demonstration of leadership in their communities leaves much to be desired. Obas and Baales and community leaders have a strong role to play.”

He expressed confidence in the new generation of artists, citing Terra Kulture, Beeta Universal, the new Nollywood, and Theatre in the Park, The Omenka Gallery, the centre for contemporary art & culture, and some others as evidence that art has come to stay in the country.

“Art cannot survive without patronage, and culture cannot be preserved without being practised and passed on to the next generation,” he said.

“I am inspired by the new generation of artists, playwrights, and producers. Particularly with the focus on developing sustainable patronage.

“The baton has truly been passed on but we must continue to build an area of art and culture in all the areas we build and develop. Much like the West End in London, Broadway in New York, Le Louvre in Paris, we need more areas where art and theatre, and culture can survive and thrive.

“Onikan was planned for that, with the National Gallery, National Museum, the MUSON Centre, in that area. A master plan to develop a cultural district is still very needed.”

On leaving the Lagos State Counil, Sonuga set up the International Centre for the Art Lagos (ICAL) to promote Nigerian art and culture on and beyond the continent.

ICAL has staged many cultural interventions in London, the United States, Ethiopia and many other countries.