IN her bid to use the arts and culture effectively in global diplomatic roles Nigeria is planning to set up cultural centres in such countries as U.S.A., China and Brazil. Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq while receiving a delegation of African and African-American scholars and artistes who paid him a vist late last week.
During the courtesy visit, Head of Directing, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, U.S.A. Professor Segun Ojewuyi tasked Nigerian leaders to be sincere and single-minded in utilizing the immense properties of arts and culture in global diplomacy. He described art as an effective means of bridging the gap between nations. And especially important in linking Africans in homeland and her diasporas with the rest of the world.
Prof.Ojewuyi stated this when he paid a courtesy call on the Sadiq along with members of his team who are currently in Nigeria as part of their on-going tour of the Caribbeans, Europe and Africa.
He spoke on Project Preemptive, a stage play aimed at creating a concise effort at stimulating discourse on international relations, international cultural exchange and on redefining the roles of theatre arts in politics and diplomacy.
According to him, “Nigeria can explore cultural diplomacy and exchange to re-address several of her battered image by bringing several other nationals to the country to see us as a people contrary to how the media is portraying the nation. Through this instrument there will be greater understanding, closer appreciation of our culture and afford us opportunity to really understand ourselves.”
Responding the Minister of Tourism,Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Sadiq expressed delight in the project and stated that the ministry is doing everything possible to use culture as a tool for international diplomacy.
He further disclosed that the country will soon established a cultural centre in Atlanta, U.S.A ,China and Brazil and urged the delegation which included several African-Americans, Caribbeans and Nigerians to always be good ambassadors of the country wherever they go.
The play, Preemptive, recently staged in Lagos, pools a cast black artistes from several parts of the world. It dwells on current and on-going internal struggles of races, religions, and politics within the United States, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorists’ attack by some religious ‘nuts’ on the World Trade Center.
The play is set in New York City and Zanzibar in Africa. “Against the backdrop of an impending city-wide racial unrest, police brutality and social paranoia have been made into a systematic weapon of mass separatism …the characters must therefore wrestle with inter and intra-racial demons,” states the director’s note.
In Nigeria, the delegation is touring with Preemptive, visiting such cities as Asaba, Delta state, Lagos, Ile-Ife, Osun state and Abuja. A Nigerian stage art firm, Zmirage whose promoters had seen the team in Barbados and London is co-ordinating the tour in Nigeria.