In the morning the city
Spreads its wings
Making a song
In stone that sings.
In the evening the city
Goes to bed
Hanging lights
Above its head.
Langston Hughes- The City
The above poem, the city by Langston Hughes shows us a vivid image of what city life is like from the poet persona’s environment. In Abuja the Nigerian Capital City, one can also say that the city dot wears a slumbering smile while the sun saps her beauty away. However, many will attest to the fact that it is indeed a city that is beautiful and in search of its soul. To answer the question about how art gives a city its soul is to look deeply at the role artist play when they showcase their art in a manner that lights up the city to its beauty and glows.
This was exactly what the Creative Art Visual and Image Centre (CAVIC) in partnership with the British Council, Nigeria set out to do when they began the hunt for young creatives who have showcased and are continuing to do so by igniting the atmosphere that is dulling up the city. In December, the hub and its partner held the first series of its Art Showcases pulling a large crowd of city dwellers to participate in what is fast becoming a tradition at the British Council Arena.
In the just concluded two Days Art Showcases which was held on the 28 and 29th of January, 2023 at the British Council, Maitama where four Abuja based Authors were hosted in the person of Dr Fatima Baram Alkali for her novel: Personal Angle, Star Okpe for her debut poetry collection title: A Dance of Dawn Dr Uruakpa Obina for his book: My Book of Proverbs and Chi Zoe from one of her young adult trilogy: Memory of Stone.
Participants who graced the event were left with delight and memories from the activities that would last them a long time.
The second day of the event was laced with the performance from an adaptation by a theatre dance group known for their stage name Loose Dance while a Pop Afro singer and dancer, Asian dazzled the audience with her performance and dance style to which the participants joined in the merriment.
Salamatu Sule, an Abuja literary Agent, Poet and Book Reviewer moderated the sessions and delivered nicely to the expectation of the audience.
Will you attend the next art showcase? Many look forward to it as they said, indeed, Art showcases will give Abuja a soul!
