By Japhet Alakam

_The events for the celebration of Prof Wole Soyinka’s 80th birthday continued in Osogbo, State of Osun, few days ago at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, with the hosting of the exhibition of portraits of Soyinka.

With the theme Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Art Exhibition, the touring celebration which had taken off in Abeokuta last April and is expected to continue in Port Harcourt and Abuja as part of the 80-days build up towards the July 13 date of the Nobel Laureate’s birthday. The portraits were produced under Living Legends project that involved leading Nigerian master painters and sculptors led by Olu Ajayi. Soyinka was the first sitter in 2008, the project had also documented others great Nigerians such as Yusuf Grillo, Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya, Prof J.P. Clark and the Oba of Benin, Erediauwa.

At the formal opening of the exhibition, the students of Ataoja High School of Science and Christ African Church Middle School participated in an interactive session. Anchored by Linda Amadi, the interactive period of the workshop had the students shared their knowledge of the Nobel Laureate, Soyinka.

Agents of retrogression

The Governor of State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who opened the exhibition noted that as challenging as Nigeria’s nationhood is, Soyinka always stand against the agents of retrogression. He described the celebrant as “the conscience of Nigeria.” Representated by Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism Oladipo Soyode Aregbesola stated: “Soyinka has transcended tribes and races, defied tyranny to become the conscience of Nigeria.”

According to Aregbesola, Soyinka “is an example of how Africans should live with integrity and honour.” He urged the youth participants of the workshop to “learn from the Soyinka example that honour and integrity are more than money and positions.” The school children also engaged in the drawing session, thereby capturing Soyinka in their own way.

The producer of Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Lillian Amah Aluko stated that the children workshop aspects of the birthday celebration “is very important to Soyinka because of his interest in transferring creative values to the future generation.

”She added that after the two day exhibition and workshop in Osogbo, the project moves to Port Harcourt and Abuja. “ Last year, The Project WS79 train arrived in The State of Osun on 15th July 15 2013 amidst dancing and singing from the various state cultural troupes at the Centre for Black heritage and Culture, Osogbo.

They were received by state functionaries at the Governor’s office which was our initial point of call and ferried to the world famous Osun Oshogbo groove. The 79 students and Project WS officials were taken on a guided tour of the popular tourist site where they were treated to fascinating stories and awe inspiring scenery.

After the tour, the students went to the Centre for black heritage and culture where they were received by the Deputy Governor of the State of Osun Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, the beautiful First lady Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola and other government functionaries.

The 79 Project WS students were introduced to them and the top five winners of the Essay competition duly recognised and applauded. The First Lady and Deputy Governor then went ahead to mentor the Students who also consisted of 1000 senior secondary school students from various schools in The State of Osun.

The Project WS plays which had been touring with the team, Wole Soyinka’s ‘The Trials of brother Jero’ and ‘Childe Internationale’ were staged to the enjoyment of the students and government officials of The State of Osun. After Project WS delegates were given a the royal welcome, they all departed for their hotel rooms as they were expected to be guests of the First Lady at breakfast the next morning at the Government house.

The morning of July 16, the Deputy Governor Mrs. Laoye-Tomori received them as well as the First Lady Alhaja Aregbesola. Once again, they spoke to the children and applauded the effort of the project organisers.