The Netherlands Embassy in Lagos opened
its doors to members of the Nigerian arts community
recently for a
celebration of one of their own, an artist under siege, in an event
designed to send a message, that he is not alone. Anyone seeing
performance artist Jelili Atiku on Friday, April 8, 2016, would have
done a double take. He was resplendent in flowing, sunshine-yellow
agbada traditional attire, topped with an abeti-aja (dog-eared) cap.
The arts community was almost
out-numbered by those one might call ‘the Ejigbo connection’ – from
Atiku’s local community in Lagos. They had come out in force, in
matching colours. One occasion when the cultural concept of Aso-Ebi,
devised to show that one is part of a supportive group, truly
demonstrated its meaning.
Octogenarian Bruce Onobrakpeya led the
artists, including: Olu Amoda, Kunle Adeyemi, Uche James Iroha, Peju
Layiwola, Amaize Ojeikere, Mudiare and Ufuoma Onobrakpeya; and Oliver
Enwonwu, President of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).
Among others: curator Sandra Obiago,
filmmaker Tunde Kelani, Tunji Sotimirin, Shaibu Husseini and broadcaster
Funke Treasure-Durodola. Acting grand dame Taiwo Ajai-Lycett made an
appearance, before heading off with an all-female ensemble for an
international tour with the stage play, ‘Hear Word!’
The art notables came to show support
for Jelili Atiku, a 2015 recipient of the prestigious Prince Claus
Award, who was arrested for his art, not long after the international
recognition.
Reinforcing the principle that ‘culture
is a basic need’, the Prince Claus Fund presents annual awards for
outstanding achievements in the culture and development sectors.
The citation notes that, “Jelili Atiku
is awarded for creating a new artistic language combining Yoruba
traditional art forms with international performance practice; for his
thought-provoking performances that challenge assumptions and stimulate
dialogue in an unconventional and dynamic form of community education.”
Atiku is described as “an imaginative artist whose provocative
spectacles use striking attire, unsettling body language and unusual
props to open up dialogue and influence popular attitudes.”
Speaking of ‘unsettling’, I’ll never
forget seeing Atiku at the Second African Regional Summit for Visual
Artists (ARESUVA) in Abuja in 2009 – where, in performance as a man
tethered like a goat, the artist went as far as to eat grass. And just
in case you were wondering about the props, in a video clip shown at the
soiree, Atiku says, “I use my body as an instrument in my art… I need
to put my expression in a visual language and it makes me to feel free,
like a human being.”
The Award was first presented at the
Royal Palace in Amsterdam on December 2, 2015; and is traditionally
re-presented in the laureate’s home country, which was why we gathered
at the embassy. But the event had acquired an even greater significance,
due to a series of unpleasant events which serve to prove that an
artist is not without honour except in his own country.
On January 14, 2016, Jelili Atiku gave a
performance, titled, ‘Aragamago Will Rid This Land of Terrorism’, in
Ejigbo. On January 18, he was arrested along with five associates and
slammed in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos. All because Ejigbo’s traditional
ruler saw the performance as a rebuke targeted at his person.
To illustrate how misunderstood Atiku
often is, when news of his arrest reached social media along with a
photo of the artist costumed in his ‘Red’ performance series, one
twitter user asked, “Is he a Satanist?” Atiku and his associates were
released on bail on January 20. The initial four-count charge of
conspiring ‘to incite felony to wit public disturbance’ has increased to
seven; and there have been several court appearances. He is due back in
court on June 27.
It was under this cloud that the grand
celebration of Jelili Atiku was hosted by the Netherlands Ambassador to
Nigeria, John Groffen. The event was organized by the Culture Advocates
Caucus, supported by organisations including the Prince Claus Fund.
Formal presentation of the award was by Fariba Derakhshani of the Fund.
And to show that not all traditional rulers feel threatened by artists,
gracing the occasion was HRM Muniru Olatunji Yusuf, Oba of Onigbongbo,
Lagos.
Ambassador Groffen said, “I am very
happy that by awarding Jelili we show in one go and at the same time:
our appreciation of the artist, the acknowledgement of the importance of
art performance and the strongly growing role of Nigeria – and the
impressive metropolis of Lagos – in the field of contemporary art and
culture.”
There were performances including an
eerie one on insurgency by Atiku himself. Adeola Goloba, one of those
imprisoned with the artist, introduced his own reading by saying, “I
wrote this poem for Jelili Atiku and the struggle in Ejigbo.”
Art historian Chika Okeke-Agulu wrote of
Atiku, “In doing this work, he has faced tremendous personal risk and
has, for years, received little support and acknowledgement from the
Nigerian art world.”
“Articulated Atiku, this is wonderful!”
someone cheered, as the artist received his award. Other artists were
encouraged to join him on stage, “to show Atiku he is not alone,” in the
words of emcee Jahman Anikulapo. If the show of support at the
Netherlands Embassy is anything to go by, Jelili Atiku can count on his
friends as he continues the battle for his personal and artistic
freedom.
Promoted by Line Of Culture
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