Soyinka meets Shakespeare at Poetry Potter

By Ireyimika Oyegbami

January 6, 2010
Next Newspaper

It was an eager crowd that gathered for the last Poetry Potter, which held on Saturday, December 27, at its usual venue, the Rotunda Hall, National Library, Yaba, Lagos. The monthly art event was the last for 2009 and the organisers chose to celebrate this fact by tagging it ‘The Wine Party'.

This probably informed the abundance of rich wines which people had brought along as requested by the organisers. It was also poet Jumoke Verrisimo's birthday; Verrisimo was all smiles as she received birthday wishes from some of those at the event.

Seun Ajayi, who emceed the event was brisk in calling performing poets to the podium; perhaps in a bid to make up for lost time as the event started an hour behind schedule.

THE SONGS

Cornerstone, a regular, was the first to perform. Performing to the accompaniment of a properly tuned guitar, the reggae musician sang ‘Don't wanna be here again', which he composed after watching a distraught woman who had been raped during the Odi crisis narrate her ordeal at the Oputa Panel. The fact that the woman has yet to get justice informed the song. Cornerstone's second song, ‘I don't wanna wait in vain' wasn't any more cheerful, though.

Kafayat Quadri's song ‘Mo wo'oke mo wo'isale' was a lesson on being grateful despite perceived shortfalls in life. She obliged someone in the audience who asked for her ‘Wanna be free'. Awoko, the songbird, thrilled the audience with his amazing voice and guitar. He also sang two songs, ‘Lekeleke' and ‘Oro Ife'. Chinyelo Onwubuya performed ‘Sugar' and ‘Zombies' while Bob did a spoken word performance titled ‘Revolution'.

SOYINKA MEETS SHAKESPEARE

Next was the cast of ‘Soyinka in the eyes of Shakespeare', a play directed by Lekan Balogun. They entertained with a juxtaposition of the major characters in Shakespeare's play ‘Macbeth' and Wole Soyinka's ‘Death and the King's Horseman'. The performance was well-staged and held the audiences' attention for well over an hour.

It was a funny moment when Lady Macbeth, who set out to seduce the King's Horseman sharply corrects his pronunciation of perfume after she is rejected by the man who responds to her amorous advances by lamenting, "If only you knew what brought me this far." Macbeth, who is held in the same mansion as the King's Horseman by the comedian, Bilkins, causes a ripple of laughter when at a point he replies, "Man is not meant to be hungry all the time", to Bilkins' admonition that man does not live by bread alone. The costumes were of the Elizabethan era. Macbeth's tormentor, Malcolm's paper dagger, somehow undermined the seriousness of the latter's supposed anger.

The crowd certainly enjoyed the performance and rewarded the cast and crew with loud ovation.

Soon after, the wine cocks popped and rich wine flowed into the cups, and with it exuberance and cheer from the lovers of poetry and art. Ade Bantu, Segun Adefila, and Kolade Arogundade, a lecturer from the University of Cape Town were some of those at the event.

KKM 2009 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE REPORT

Dear Literati,

As 2009 comes to an end we, at Kowry Kreations Media, will like to wish all poets, writers, journalists, theatre practitioners, artists and artistes, dance troupes, musicians, and arts promoters, arts enthusiasts, and our valued audience, who in one way or the other have contributed to the success of our various events this year, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It is only with your support that Kowry Kreations Media thrives and we hope that in 2010 your contribution will be more than ever.

SUPPORT/SPONSHORSHIP

We have come up with another concept in which you can support our organisation - Friends of Kowry Kreations Media. The goal of the Friends of Kowry Kreations Media is to generate funds in order to be able to embark on arts projects for which public funding are not available in Nigeria.

To be part of this new association of our reputable organisation, please find the attached document.

We will be glad you reply on or before 25th of January, 2010.

OUR NEW PROJECT

We must bring to your knowledge that we now have a new programme tagged: P.A.G.E.S, which its focus is to establish the strong connection between art and literature.

P.A.G.E.S

P.A.G.E.S, the confluence of literature, art works, comics and photography brings together artists and writers in dialogue with their art and literature. This programme is designed to converge fictionist, poets and playwrights, arts and literary lovers at Art Exhibition Halls around the world to give literary interpretation to works being exhibited and dialogue around it at all time.

We started this project in collaboration with the Center for Contemporary Art, Lagos, in February 2009, to give literary interpretation to the works being exhibited and dialogue around it at the Centre during each exposition. And it’s been an amazing experience since inception.

REVIEW – P.A.G.E.S
Kowry Kreations Media and Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos continue their innovative programme (P.A.G.E.S) of bringing the Visual and Literary Art into dialogue. We proudly present after the initial groundbreaking collaboration with Jude Dibia during Like A Virgin... the 2nd with Onyeka Nwelue during The World is Flat, 3rd with Toni Kan during Trash-ing, the fourth event with a double portion presenting Teju Cole and Jumoke Verissimo during Identity: An Imagined State.

Onyeka Nwelue is currently working with a Dane artist (Lassie Lau) he met during the second edition of P.A.G.E.S on the film of his book “The Abyssinian Boy.”

Here is our Income and Expenditure for 2009.

Contrary to our financial obstacles owing to the world financial meltdown, 2009 is a great year for us. We recorded seven editions of Poetry Potter, just like last year, instead of twelve; this is due to our financial constraints.

We had yet another exciting edition of our Youth Empowerment Project (YEP); still we explored the Fashion aspect of the project, which had the theme of “Fashion Revolution Reloaded.” We got support from GML Entertainment, Club 02, 0331 Entertainment, Image and Heritage, Soundcity, HEV/Snap Pictures, Danielle Cryptic, Spice TV, Nu3ix, and 21:11 Entertainment.

POETRY POTTER

Poetry Potter, a unique platform created for poets, storytellers, folksingers, folk-dancers, artists, art promoters, cultural workers and arts journalists, to display their creative ingenuity, free of charge.

Separately from what use to be our monthly show, we embarked on a special 3 month show tagged: “1st POETRY/SPOKEN WORD RED CARPET in Nigeria, if not in AFRICA,” in promotion of poetry as a form of social entertainment, with support from Capricorn Tents & More and HEV/Snap, between August and October 2009. Visit our weblog: http://www.kowrykreationsmedia.blogspot.com for the detail.

YOUTH FORUM

In October 2009, Poetry Potter, as a moving/literary arts (poetry/spoken word) platform was chosen to be part of the maiden edition of the would-be yearly festival, sponsored by GTBank Plc; Produced and Directed Ben Tomoloju.

At the GTBank Poetry Festival, Kowry Kreations Media, created the platform to discuss the theme: "Poetry - its genesis and future in the Nigeria literary arts scene," during the POETRY POTTER Youth Forum segment.

The renowned poet, Odia Ofeimun, took the youth, who were the major in participants, through the genesis of poetry, root of poetry in Nigeria and Africa, while Sage Has.son, the Nigerian spoken-word exponent tackled the present phase of poetry which is "Hip-Poetry."

During the Interview Segment, Odia Ofeimun submitted that the only way forward for poetry and spoken words was to start documenting them in books and provide more platforms for further discussion. The Poet, who wrote the “Poet Lied,” argued that New Media documentation (CD, Tape, mp3 format etc) of thoughts in lines and stanzas would make no poet out of anybody that is in the business of poetry and spoken word entertainment.

With this project, POETRY POTTER Youth Forum, we decide to publish a poetry collection of Sage Has.son, which we hope the foreword will be written by Odia Ofeimun. The book will be presented during the second edition of GTBank Poetry Festival, 2010.

We hope that our contribution toward promotion of poetry and arts in general be remembered in years to come. And we promise not to disappoint you with innovative ideas throughout 2010.

Our Guest Artistes through 2009

Toni Kan (Author, journalist and essayist)
Sage Has.son (A spoken word exponent)
Yinka Davis (A musician of high repute)
Red Strat (The organizers of the Future Awards – Chude, Adebola and Emilia)
Terry DaRapman (A renowned rap artiste)
Lilian Amah (An actress and film Producer)
El Nukoya (An award winning author of Nine Lives)
Plus One (A new and promising music group)
Felyne (A Nigerian-American female rap artiste)
Wizkid (A new hip-hop singer in the Nigerian music scene)
O.C Ukeje (The winner of Amstel Maltal Box Office 2 –AMBO2)
Jumoke Verissimo (A poet and award winning author)

POETRY POTTER - FINANCIAL REPORT: 2009

Uche Nwosu-Igbo 20,000
Deji Toye 9,000
Toni Kan 10,000
Juwon Haastrup 55,000
Toyin Akinoso 5,000
Ahmed Maiwada 20,000
Olumayowa Williams 30,000
Babatunde Ajayi 20,000
Mirian Travis 5,000
Oyindamola Adesina 8,000
Ololade Adewunmi 4,000
Wole Oguntokun 10,000
Mobolaji Adenubi 5,000
Total 201,000


MONTHLY EXPENSES

Hall (Rotunda Hall, National Library) 10,000
Public Address System 15,000
Chairs & Tables 3,600
Refresment 10,000
Phone Calls / Sms – Invitation 10,000
Internet 10,000
Transport 5,000
Miscellaneous (petrol and petty expense) 2,000
Total 65,600

TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 2009

65,600 x 7 months = 459,200

Our Debt

Sound System Engineer 44,000
Chair Rental 5,000
Total 49,000

Balance Sheet
Expenditure through 2009 (65,600X7) = 459,200
Income through 2009 = 201,000
Total = 258,200
Subtract debt 49,000
Our Financial Input (KKM) in 2009 209,000

Yours,
Aderemi Adegbite
CEO,
Kowry Kreations Media,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: +234 708 428 7828
Email: kowrykreationsmedia@yahoo.com
Weblog: http://www.kowrykreationsmedia.blogspot.com

POETRY POTTER Wine Party 0|2

December last year was the very first time we asked member of the audience to come with a bottle of wine for POETRY POTTER, and it was awesome.

Baileys, Champagne, Hennessey, Whiskey – Red Label, Black Label were few among the wines that Poetry Potter lovers brought for the celebration. We also relaxed with some episode of Fuji House of Commotion as directed by Chris Ihidero who was our Guest Artiste for that edition of the programme.

We are calling you again to come and SAVE the last DANCE...it's our last event for the year. You will arrive on the REDCARPET and proceed to see the latest technique in the theatre world by Lekan Balogun, in his new play title “SOYINKA in the EYE of SHAKESPEARE.”

For the 32nd edition of this monthly event, there shall be no Guest Artiste. But as part of the plan for this annual event, the publisher of DADA Books will be celebrating the birthday of his first author – JUMOKE VERISSIMO, the author of I AM MEMORY whose name recently appeared on the Future Awards 2010 Nominees list for the Creative Artist of the Year. Sure, we will cut some cake, if not more than that.

And afterward, you shall throw more than two fingers in air as there will be cakes and small chops to accompany the wine, while the DJ rocks your body through the night with some groovy songs.

STILL! POETRY POTTER is the BIGDEAL!

VISA: Your WINE(s), be it soft or hard, we will ICE them for you.

DressCODE: Make sure you never leave your SWAGGER behind!

Everything is all about POETRY!

P.A.G.E.S 0|4: TEJU COLE & JUMOKE VERISSIMO review 12 film ARTISTES

P.A.G.E.S and CCA,Lagos continue their innovative programme of bringing the Visual and Literary Arts into dialogue. We proudly present after the initial groundbreaking collaboration with Jude Dibia during Like A Virgin... the 2nd with Onyeka Nwelue during The World is Flat, 3rd with Toni Kan during Trash-ing, the fourth event with a double portion presenting Teju Cole and Jumoke Verissimo during Identity:An Imagined State.

TEJU COLE & JUMOKE VERISSIMO WITH 12 VIDEO ARTISTS EXHIBITING @ CCA,LAGOS

This Saturday is going to be an interesting one, relaxing, interacting and full of fun @ the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos as Teju Cole the author of Everyday is for the Thief - a fiction novel on Lagos, and Jumoke Verissimo, the author I am Memory - a poetry collection engage 12 artists in a video art exhibition at CCA,Lagos

This is equally an opportunity of getting your copy of either Everyday is for Thief or I am Memory signed by the authors.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE EXHIBITION SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 2PM IS THE DAY

CURRENT EXHIBITION
31st October - 28th November 2009
Identity:An Imagined State
A video art exhibition featuring the works
of Nigerian,African & South American artists.
Curated by Jude Anogwih and Oyinda Fakeye
Gallery Opening Mon-Fri 12pm - 4pm
Sat by Appointment. Call 07028367106

POETRY POTTER 31st

"Representing NAIJA" is the tag for the 31st edition of POETRY POTTER. The tag is neither ordinarily used nor used as cliche, it was creatively coined to be used for this edition of the event, by the Image/Branding Director of KKM, Mr. Segun Olawoagbo, as October is the Independence Month of Nigeria (NAIJA).

Also, Kowry Kreations Media (KKM) is going down with The Future Awards (TFA) on the "I represent Naija" theme of the 5th edition of the truly Nigerian Youth Awards, by RedStrat, this month.

There is no doubt that this edition of the event will surpass the previous in all ramifications. It's going to be a gathering of young meaning Nigerians under one room in a serene atmosphere of the Rounda Hall, National Library, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos. To discuss the present and future of Nigeria creatively, with rendition of rhythmic words and lines which will be accompanied with nice rhythm.

As Yoruba will say, ariwo ko o, it's not unnecessary noise that will drive home the change (the real change) that the country is currently clamouring for, it's by meeting and discussing the issues with creative approach. And this is the reason why KOWRY KREATIONS MEDIA is in partnership with THE FUTURE AWARDS for this very edition of the literary arts monthly platform.

Therefore, let us all, the youth stand up and say YES to change today, in securing our FUTURE. Because yesterday is gone, today we can't stop but tomorrow we can predict like the world leaders and organisations i.e USA, UK; UNESCO, WHO, G8 etc.

POETRY POTTER Youth Forum

As announced by the Producer and Artistic Director of The GTBank Poetry Festival, Ben Tomoloju, in his press release on the festival, Poetry Potter, as a literary arts (poetry/spokenword) platform has been chosen to be part of the maiden edition of the would-be yearly festival, sponsored by GTBank.

As a literary arts platform, Poetry Potter has won the hearts of arts and literary enthusiasts. It is wholly youth-centred and does not alienate adults who are regarded as the reservoir of wisdom from which the younger generation must drink.

And for the first time in the history of the monthly event, the organisers will be coordinating the first POETRY POTTER Youth Forum during the festival. The catch is, "poetry-its genesis and future in the Nigeria literary arts scene."

The renowned poet, Odia Ofeimun, will take us through the genesis of poetry, root of poetry in Nigeria and Africa, Akeem Lasisi, the folk poet, will expatiate on it from the folk/orature point of view, while Sage Has.son, the Nigerian spokenword exponent will tackle the present phase of poetry which is "Hip-Poetry," and the future of poetry/spokenword in Nigeria will be decided afterwords.

Come join the discussion. It's going to be an evening of talk and performances as the OPEN MIC segment of Poetry Potter will be alive.

For enquiry please call: Seun-+234(0)8057143261 or email: kowrykreationsmedia@gmail.com

1st Poetry/Spokenword RedCarpet in Nigeria: Pictures