By Prisca Sam-Duru

Last week, Nigerian artists under the umbrella of an association called Artists Collective held a rally to challenge Federal government’s  decision to make the nation’s cultural symbol, the National Theatre, a five star hotel.

Right from the minute it was rumoured that the Federal Government has made arrangements to concession the premises of the National Theatre to private profiteers, to the time when the rumour was confirmed by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, things have never been the same again for artists who make their daily bread from doing business in the area.

You are either greeted with sad faces of the agitated artistes who are busy, mapping out strategies of how to confront the Federal Government on the matter or a much more aggrieved stone-faced mascot who positioned himself on the top of the National Council for Arts and Culture’s (NCAC) Artist Village gate, from dawn to dusk, making sure every visitor understood the import of the proposed sale of the National edifice on the arts and culture industry.

*Demonstrating Artists at the National theatre pixs by Prisca Sam-Duru

Acting in compliance of the two-week ultimatum giving to occupants of the Theatre premises, to vacate the area, Works at the National Gallery of Arts (NGA), were also seen being moved into storage.

During a conference which later culminated into a mini protest within the premises of the Theatre, held last Thursday at the NCAC Artist Village, organised by stakeholders in the industry, representatives of associations such as the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA, Lagos chapter), Guild of Nigerian Dancers (GONG), Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), Directors Guild of Nigeria(DGN), Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Universal Studio of Artists (USA), and several others, which formed a coalition; ‘Artist Collective’, took turns to condemn the proposed plan.

Veteran writer and Dramatist, chief Lari Williams MFR, enjoined the artists to be ready for war and stressed that the plan of the Minister Edem Duke and Director General of the National Theatre Alhaji Kabiru “to build the so called five star hotel, shopping malls etc, is totally unaccepted because without arts and culture, no nation can stand, which is why artists built the Artist Village with self help and have been at the fore front of nation building.”

Arts manager and producer, Babatope Babayemi who operates ‘The Little Theatre’ at the National Theatre Annexe, said that the challenge facing artists is that government has not realised the vital role arts can play in boosting the economy as well as governance of Nigeria.

Significant percentage of Nigerians he said, “are culturally deprived because Nigeria is building a nation of hustlers. Nigeria’s biggest problem is no longer corruption but mediocrity because mediocres are running the country down.” Babatope pointed out that President Goodluck’s government is exhibiting gross ignorance by bringing a five star hotel, car park, bar, etc into the only cultural centre in Nigeria, which is a result of lack of specialised skill to run the National Theatre.

Artist Collective which harped on the need to form a synergy in order to win the fight against injustice, pointed out that rather than dislodging the creative hub of Arts and Culture in West Africa, the Federal Government should support the NCAC in developing a world class initiative of an Artist Village.

“The National Theatre as a promoter of the Arts and Culture of Nigeria and indeed the black race as it did in 1977, needs content providers to keep it running and generate self sustaining revenues. The National Theatre requires a very robust programming to enable it attract and showcase the vast cultural heritage of Nigeria.”

In a statement read by the chairman of SNA Lagos Chapter, Dotun Alabi on behalf of the Artist Collective, the group condemned in strong terms the move to displace the Artist village in order to make room for hotels and shopping malls which if allowed, will mean gradual death of the National Theatre thus denying artists of the synergy and creative energy that an Artiste Village creates.

The artists further stated categorically that the “National Theatre and its surrounding should not be concessioned to private profiteers and land speculators, Edem Duke and Kabiru Yar’Adua must go and the government should only appoint professionals to manage the National Theartre and the Art and Culture Sector”, adding that, “the National Gallery of Art (NGA) should not be turned into a store house but should continue to showcase the country’s Art collection.”

The group further disclosed that following a recent threat by some unidentified men who visited the premises of NCAC, to storm the NCAC’s Artist Village with bulldozers in a few days, it has put plans in place, to stage a rally this week and also, to present the case to the National Assembly.