By Japhet Alakam

As part of moves to immortalise one of the liveliest and most committed art promoters that worked in Nigeria in the 21st century, late Peter Dubem Areh for his great contributions to the development of art, the Art Republic in consultation with the Areh family of Onitsha has concluded plans to hold remember him with a lecture tagged 1st Peter Areh lecture on Art and Cultural Enterprise.

The lecture with the theme Celebrating Tragedy: Art and Theatre in the Anatomy of Death and Funeral in Africa is scheduled to hold on the 24, September 2011 at the Aina Onabolu Building , National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos at 2.00 pm.

Addressing the press last week in Lagos, the coordinator, Mr Krydz Ikwuemesi disclosed that “The Peter Areh Lecture for Art and Culture Enterprise has been initiated in Peter’s memory as a rallying point for young artists, visual art scholars, and art collectors/enthusiast and for the production of knowledge.”

He noted that the lecture has been designed to be yearly event to be hosted in Enugu and Lagos and will be delivered by a resource person to be nominated by the Art Republic.

Late Peter Dubem Areh

The Enugu leg of the 2011 lecture was held at the National Museum, Abakaliki Road, Enugu on June 24, 2011 and was well attended by students, scholars, art enthusiasts and others.

The theme according to Ikwuemesi is not to celebrate the sordid death of Areh but that it becomes very symbolic in light of the essence of the Peter Areh Lecture and for the fact that this is the maiden edition.

“It will philosophically look at death as an agency which triggers off a chain of creative and symbolic activities, beginning from the act and moment of dying, through the characteristics of “good death” and “bad death” and the multifarious significations of actions in the funeral arena, which is also a political arena where all sorts of socially relevant negotiations take place.” He added.

One of the highlights of the occasion will be the presentation of a book of poetry on death and loss edited by C. Krydz Ikwuemesi and Okey Nwafor with contributions from poets of diverse backgrounds.

The lecture will be chaired by art patron Mr. Sammy Olagbanju while another art promoter Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, will be the guest of honour. Also expected are Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye, Mr. John Egesi, Alhaji Abdulaziz Udeh as the special guests while the Director General National Gallery of Art, Dr Abdulahi Muku will be the Chief Host.

The lecture will be delivered by C. Krydz Ikwuemesi, International Secretary of the Pan-African Circle of Artists and Senior Lecturer, University of Nigeria.

Late Areh, the former banker turned gallery owner who was murdered in Lagos, on July 2,2009 was untill his death the Chief Executive Director of Pendulum gallery, Lagos. Present at the briefing were Mrs Augusta Areh, Peter Areh’s mother and Chinezie Areh , the sister and others.

Ikwuemezie further stated that “this maiden edition is planned as a pilot edition and will be used to canvas for support and ideas to ensure that the lecture is continued beyond.

This first step, not only to celebrate Peter Areh and the trials and triumphs of art and cultural enterprise in Nigeria, but also to create a discursive forum which artists and others can anticipate every year,with pride and excitement.”

The lecture is supported by PET AFUND (Peter Arch Fund for Cultural Enterprise), National Gallery of Art, CIDJAP (Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace), OYASAF (Omoba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation), Kuroneko Gallery of Art and Craft, AGAN (Art Galleries Association of Nigeria), VASON (Visual Arts Association of Nigeria), the Areh family of Onitsha and some friends of Peter Areh.

Peter Areh Fund for Cultural Enterprise (PETAFUND) has been initiated by the Art Republic and the Areh Family in order to ensure continuity for the Peter Areh Lecture. It is hoped that the fund’s interest will be diversified in the course of time.