…as WSICE rolls out the drums for creative, cultural, and theatrical performances

The 2024 Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) programme, which opened last Friday, continues today and tomorrow at various venues in Abeokuta, Ogun State, including his iconic Ijegba forest residence located in the Idi Aba Housing Estate, Kemta, and the June 12 Cultural Centre, respectively.

The events are part of the activities organised by the WSICE to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) is essentially youth-focused. The youth section of the 2024 edition focuses on the central motif of the project: mentoring and grooming the new generation of thinkers and eventual leaders who would work for the overall national interest of lifting their country and their society to greater heights of human and material development.

Since its inception in 2010, the project produced by Zmirage Multimedia Company (Nigeria &UK), on the platform of OpenDoorSeries, has always honoured Abeokuta, and Ogun State in general, essentially because that is the home base of Professor Soyinka, Africa’s Nobel laureate, whose illustrious personality and resourceful career inspired the project.

Soyinka’s preferred home in Nigeria is his Autonomous Republic of Ijegba, A.R.I, his forested residence located in the Idi Aba Housing Estate, Kemta. WSICE is also a resident of the Ijegba Forestage art hub, which is in the neighbourhood of Soyinka.

The 15th edition of the annual project, which always brings eminent citizens to Abeokuta, has, however, “been curated specially as it commemorates the 90th birthday anniversary of the preeminent African writer, thinker, polemicist, human/civil rights activist and global humanist. It is based on the theme: E.N.I.O.G.U.N—Soyinka’s alter-ego, which however captures the very essence of the man and his struggles for a better humanity.”

The 90 finalists in the National Essay Writing competition converged yesterday, July 13 (the actual birthday of Prof. Soyinka) to write the essay in the full glare of the public and the media in a reality-show-like setting.

The essays will be assessed by an eminent body of jury including teachers, culture scholars and journalists. The overall winners will be unveiled on Monday, July 15.

With the theme, “The Many Lives of An Irrepressible Patriot, Humanist, & Rights Activist”, over 200 students from across the country participated in the National Essay Writing competitions.

The objective, the organisers, stated, is to deepen their understanding of the dynamics of nation-building, especially to think through the examples already established through Soyinka’s personal life and intervention in public discourses and engagements.

The activities continue today as the 90 finalists embark on Sightseeing at Ogun Tourist centres. One of the key virtues of the WSICE project is to foster unity among young Nigerians by encouraging close interactions and sharing of experiences among the 90 finalists drawn from across the country; and also, to expose them to the rich cultural and touristic heritage of the country.

The 90 finalists will have the opportunity to visit top tourism sites of Ogun State, including Olumo Rock, Adiire market in Itoku; the WSICE Gallery at Omida Market, etc.

Later in the day, the Drawing & Painting Competition session will be held at the WSICE Gallery, Omida Market. In 2023, at its 14th edition, and on the occasion of the 89th birthday anniversary of Soyinka, the WSICE formally opened its gallery space located on the 5th floor of the Omida Shopping Complex.

The 90 Essay finalists will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop and mentorship on drawing and painting at the gallery. Under the mentorship of eminent professional artists, they will be taken through the rudiments of artistic creations.

The works realised from the workshop will form part of a collection to be exhibited in the course of the celebration.

Do your Own Thing – DYOT, the youth creative expression, which is a key dimension of the WSICE, will be held tomorrow at Ijegba Forestage – the theatre facility located in the backyard of Prof Soyinka’s A.R.I residence. In the programme, the 90 finalists joined by dozens of students drawn from various schools in Abeokuta metropolis, will partake in free creative sessions, where they will be able to ventilate on their natural talents and skills. With minimal guidance from the adults, the young ones will explore their own innate gifts, and share skills with fellow youngsters.

Part of the DYOT is the Culture House Reception, in which the youth will be exposed to celebration of their individual cultures in areas where Soyinka himself excelled as a youth – music, dance, drama and poetry, spelling, speech making; as well as in dressings, cuisine, etc.

Reception for the finalists is usually the climax of the Abeokuta sessions. This is where the 90 finalists have the opportunity to be formally received by the grand celebrant, Soyinka, in his house.

“It is essentially a mentoring session as the students and youths are able to engage in a Question-and-Answer session with the Nobel Laureate. Usually, Prof Soyinka spends the session mentoring the young ones on the importance of education, self-improvement, pursuit of noble ideals, moral rearmament, and as well as offering tips through his own life trajectories and struggles on how to be good, responsible and citizens with inquisitive consciousness that make them interrogate, and participate responsibly in happenings in their social, political and cultural environment.

“This is geared towards making the youths become active participants in the affairs of the country, and insist on such virtues as Good-Governance and Nation-Building as enunciated in the theme of the edition, “E.N.I.O.G.U.N – Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding and Nation-Building”.

“The general theme, as is traditional to the project since birth, is premised on the general condition of humanity, but specifically for this milestone edition, it is focused on Nigeria, Soyinka’s land of birth to which he has devoted his life-long career as a multi-talented/skilled artist, public intellectual and as well, human/civil rights activist.

Specifically, the WS90/WSICE2024 theme is a summation of the over seven decades of commitment and struggles of Soyinka as a nationalist, patriot, and humanist – as can be gleaned from his voluptuous creative works and consistent public engagement.

In particular, the theme E.N.I.O.G.U.N is, to sum up his lifelong commitment to the cause of nation-building through his relentless fight for the national interest that would ensure good governance for the wellbeing of the general citizenry.

“While the theme domiciles appreciation of Soyinka’s commitment to his birth country, Nigeria, it is by extension an appreciation of his global service to humanity in general, which has seen him advocating for justice, freedom and respect for the rights and freedom of citizens all over the world. The theme will be the focus of all the programme items of the edition.”

The final act of WSICE2024/WS90 in Abeokuta will be the presentation of the play, ‘The Noble Warrior – Eni Ogun’, a theatrical piece written by Aiyeko-Ooto Onadele, and produced by Adubiifa Network Company in collaboration with WSICE. The play explores themes of bravery, struggle, and the human spirit, resonating deeply with Soyinka’s literary legacy.

The WSICE is organised on the platform of the OpenDoorSeries ProjectWS, an international cultural exchange programme designed for the purpose of using the platforms of Arts (literary & performing) and Culture to affirm and uphold the dignity of man. Organised and sponsored by Zmirage Multimedia Ltd (Nigeria & UK) led by Dr Teju Kareem, and co-produced with Prof Segun Ojewuyi (immediate past Dean of College of Art & Media, Southern Illinois University, SIU, Carbondale, USA), the OpenDoorSeries continues to enjoy supports from public and corporate organisations, especially Ogun State Government.

“the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange’s mission is to reaffirm and elevate the dignity of man through the platforms of literature, arts, and culture.

“Project WSICE seeks to create unity among mankind regardless of nationality, culture, or religion by focusing on youth as the future of humanity. Other core value propositions of the WSICE are: Fostering unity, bolstering integrity, and instilling qualities of leadership in young people. The youths are the key to bringing about change and prosperity in Nigeria and around the world.

It is our duty to engage them and ensure that their thinking and goals are oriented toward progress for the motherland and humanity,” stated Dr. Teju Kareem, the CEO of ZMirage Multimedia Company, and Executive Producer of the WSICE.