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The idea
of an exhibition by contemporary fine artists of Onitsha Ado origin came
about in the early part of 2001. My collaborators in this regard were Olisa
Nwadiogbu, Gabriel Emengo, Emmanuel Mbanefo and Peter Areh. The first three
being ar tists I had patronised, Areh a gallery owner who had sold to me the
works of some of these artists amongst others. Indeed, it was Nwadiogbu who
at my prompting, came up with “Olokoto - Songs of Chima” as the theme for
the proposed exhibition.
As in
most endeavours, there were a number of ups and downs but we laboured on,
formulating strategies and identifying tactical actions designed to ensure
the take off of the project.
Coincidentally, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, who as Nnanyelugo Achebe, we had
pencilled down as a possible guest of honour for the opening of the
exhibition, emerged in May 2002 as the twenty first Obi of Onitsha. Igwe
Achebe's decision
that Onitsha should as part of efforts to move forward, begin to identify
and celebrate excellence, wherever it exists in the body politic of Onitsha,
gave further impetus to our effort. We therefore resolved that Olokoto
should not just be a one-off affair but a regular feature of Onitsha
sociocultural calendar.
Olokoto
is an Onitsha expression for goodness and richness (bounty) hence it has
been chosen to represent the identity of this collective effort. In
developing this identity, cognizance has been taken of Eze Chima the founder
of Onitsha, hence the sub-title “Songs of Chima”. We see this effort as a
representation of Onitsha creative pedigree.
“Olokoto
- Songs of Chima”, aims at showcasing the innate creative energy of Onitsha
Ado art in-addition to engineering a renaissance of Onitsha visual arts. We
see Olokoto as a continuum in the tradition of such trailblazers as Ben
Enwonwu, Oseloka Osadebe and Okechukwu Odita, all Onitsha men.
Olokoto
will from 2004 run annually as a two-leg visual arts harvests. It will open
each year at Ime Obi Onitsha during the Ofala, the highpoint of Onitsha
ceremonial cycle, a period in which the Obi of Onitsha marks the end of a
year and the beginning of another. Thereafter, the exhibition will move to
Lagos. We believe that Olokoto will provide a platform for select budding
artists from Onitsha to showcase their talents and that it will re-invoke a
sense of pride in persons of Onitsha Ado origin.
A number
of critics have queried if Olokoto can be described as the beginning of an
art school and even if it is, whether there is a need for such a movement.
Our response is that we are in the pursuit of excellence and in the spirit
of such a quest, let a thousand ideas contend. We are optimistic that the
richness of our cultural heritage which provides the underpinning for
“Olokoto - Songs of Chima” and, above all the Almighty God, will see us
through.
Nn'emeka Maduegbuna
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