For the Love of Food
Get ready for the mouthwatering, taste-bud-bombing food event of the year!! For the Love of Food is an internationally themed food festival, showcasing some of the best cuisine from around the world, with live music, dance, performances and much more!
VENUE: Sarius Palmetum Botanical Gardens, along IBB Boulevard, Maitama, Abuja
DATE: 7th of May, 2016.
Gate ticket is N1,000 only
For the Love of Food, powered by Diageo Brands.
“Africa does not tell her stories enough. The fact that this one man who saved the lives of millions of Africans is largely unknown is a problem. I tell this story now because it does not exist in the stories we tell of Africans solving their own problems…”
The Maitisong Festival 2015 is an arts and culture extravaganza that’s taking Gaborone by storm for the rest of this week (22nd – 26th April). Among the amazingly talented performing acts is the unstoppable Donald Molosi who leads a stellar cast in the production of his award winning play Today It’s Me on the 25th. We were lucky enough to steal Donald away from his hectic schedule for a little chit-chat. Enjoy!
Tell us about your participation in the Maitisong 2015 festival? How did you get involved? Was it a contest, special selection?
I am elated to be performing at the Maitisong Festival 2015 as a headline act. I submitted my work like any artist and then the Director later informed me that they would be leading the theatre aspect of the festival with my show, Today It’s Me.
How has the public’s reacted to the festival?
The public loves this festival and its staying power 30 years later stands as testament to that. Batswana love seeing many different arts in one place so Maitisong festival provides exactly that. In a way, my show Today It’s Me is a microcosm of the festival in that my show has movement, dance, theatre, acting and live music.
You’ll be performing your award winning play Today It’s Me on the 25th of April, tell us about it.
Today It’s Me is a biographical story I wrote about Philly Lutaaya, the first prominent African to declare that he was living with AIDS. The play explores his courage, musical legacy and struggle from a humanist angle that leaves the audience very inspired and encouraged.
Why this play? What informed its choice for this festival?
Africa does not tell her stories enough. The fact that this one man who saved the lives of millions of Africans is largely unknown is a problem. I tell this story now because it does not exist in the stories we tell of Africans solving their own problems without the problematic intervention of the West. I have not performed in Botswana since three years ago when I performed Sir Seretse Khama’s story so this is an opportunity for me to show what else I can do.
How challenging has it been embodying Philly Lutaaya?
This is so far the hardest role I have taken on. I had to learn Luganda, both language and culture, and also do research in languages I did not know before. I spent years looking through photographs of his, listening to and dissecting his music, speaking with his family and truly beginning to embody him before I wrote the play. It has been a wonderful 5 year journey with his story so far and I look forward to it getting out more.
In performance actors always seek to reveal layers of truth about their characters. Is the pressure to do this amplified when the character is a historical figure?
Pressure is not what I call it. I just call it basic work. Every character must be given the privilege to exist off-stage so that whatever you perform is a slice of a full life. With real historical characters, that work is even more crucial because you are more consciously creating an oral or performative archive about a people’s story. I enjoy every bit of it and it makes me a better human being to know so intimately the legends on whose shoulders we all stand on.
Your body of work reveals an affinity for historical African figures in your dramaturgy, and we must say it is always brilliant to see someone representing an aspect of the African continent that doesn’t get enough mainstream exposure. How has this focus on historical figures affected you as an artist and an African?
Thank you for seeing value in my obsession with African history and having it color my acting work. Too many Africans self-hate without realizing and those are the ones who ignorantly ask me why I tell African stories. So, it is refreshing and encouraging to hear you call my choice “brilliant.” Through my niche I have created a unique identity for myself in Hollywood, Broadway and at home in Botswana. I am a brand that is lucidly understood because the thread of African history runs through all my work. As a human being I have evolved a lot from learning about our communal human ancestors and seeking to live my life in honor of their efforts that in the 21st century I can be on Broadway telling an African story.
How impactful are events like the Maitisong festival on Botswana’s arts and culture scene? Would you say they demonstrate the economic potential of arts and culture in Africa?
Maitisong unites artists that ordinarily don’t cross paths so the networking aspect of the festival must be stated. It is a hub of activity that university students can use for internships and the like, so the festival goes beyond just thrilling audiences. It takes its social responsibility seriously as a gateway to international arts markets. Maitisong does not demonstrate our potential. Rather, it demonstrates our excellence in its fullest glory. I am past the days of celebrating potential and I celebrate excellence because excellent is what I want to always be.
The festival is only a few days away and preparing for it must have been a challenging but exciting journey. What has left the biggest imprint on you, thus far?
I have been fortunate to be working with amazing actors. I will always be grateful to be in such good company and to perform alongside Kgomotso Tshwenyego and Donn Swaby, both of them international actors of note. I am truly grateful and inspired especially that I am doing what I think is the hardest role of my acting life!
Paw Studios presents to you “A Harvest With Soyinka”
The festival will consist of Music, Spoken Word and Site specific theatre.
Date: July 20th and 27th 2014.
Venue: Terra Kulture, 1376 Tiamiyu Savage Street Victoria Island.
Time: 3pm and 6pm
Tickets:
N1500 – Students
N3000 – Regular
N5000 – VIP
Two families: the Olumorin’s and the Erinjobi’s are set on war path because of their children who have chosen to fall in love. The stage is set as both families must overcome their differences to see the pain behind the rebellious duo. Will Ishola let go of his bitterness towards his father? Will Mr Olumorin kill Ishola as threatened?
Find out in this dark ensemble written by the legendary Professor Wole Soyinka and directed by Kenneth Uphopho.
54 Silhouettes plays host (see what we did there?) to a multi-cultural array of characters. Photographer Victor Audu captures this with some eye catching photography. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the characters:
Costumes and accessories by ONTOP Apparel, a leader in top quality fashion. Photography by Victor Audu from VIA Concepts.
This December in ABUJA! Double award winning play 54 Silhouettes LIVE ON STAGE!
Venue: French Institut, Wuse 2, Abuja (Beside Mr. Biggs)
Date: 5th & 6th December
Time: 6pm (pre-show entertainment), 7pm (main show)
Tickets: N2000
1st runner up, BBC African Performance competition, 2011.
Winner, Stratford East/30 Nigeria House award.
Related stories:
A.R.T announces Abuja performance of 54 Silhouettes.
put your creativity to the test with A.R.T’s Creative Interpretation Challenge.
Meet the actors from our upcoming performance of 54 Silhouettes.
Vous cherchez une excellente façon de passer vos soirées? Pour la dernière semaine de Novembre de l’Institut français du Nigeria a obtenu votre couvert. Si vous êtes un amateur de films alors ne manquez pas ça!
Looking for a great way to spend your evenings? For the last week of November the French Institut of Nigeria has got your covered. If you’re a lover of films then don’t miss out on this!
Dans le cadre de son « Festival du film documentaire » L’Institut français du Nigeria vous propose un sujet chaque soir à 19h00 à l’IFN, du lundi 25 au vendredi 29 novembre 2013.
Les projections auront lieu en plein air.
L’entrée est gratuite.
Soyez les bienvenus.
In the framework of the Documentary film festival, the French Institute of Nigeria presents a movie every evening at 7pm, from Monday 25th to Friday 29th of November 2013.
Outdoors screening.
Free entrance
You are most welcome.
Something special in Abuja this August for all you who love the magic of make up.
Photographer Timothy Aideloje caught some of the beautiful faces from the carnival crazy crowd in Lagos. Check out some of these priceless smiles. All photos courtesy Timothy Aideloje (@jtimidal).
The Lagos 2013 carnival was a blast, an experience only good old Lasgidi can deliver. We’ve got pictures to feed your eyes and nostalgia, so gorge away. All images were captured by photographer Timothy Aideloje (@jtimdal) who was kind to share his photo experience of the carnival with African Renaissance Theatre & Ent.
The silver Lagosian
We would have liked to title this ‘blue dancer’, but erm…
Who would like to get tickled by those feather-fingers?
There is only one thing you must do at every carnival, go craaazy!
This guy is cool and he knows it!
The purple gang.
In Nigeria this is what we call, “go down low”
We’ll say it again, every carnival, go crazy!
Now here’s a different way to hang out.
They say staring at the colour green increases your creativity. Well, these ladies certainly amplify that effect.
Even secondary school students got in on the fun. No class today, headmaster.
Cool carnival stunts.
The Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Festival (NUTAF) has announced its return to the theatre academia scene with an invitation to a whooping 37 Universities nationwide.
Following a 7 year hiatus the event is being revamped with Nasarawa State University, Keffi, playing host to hundreds of students from departments of performing arts around the country.
In the past NUTAF was considered the “olympics” of performing arts activities in academia, attracting the support of established Nigerian actors, theatre practitioners, film makers, and more.
The event was last hosted by the University of Jos, Plateau state, in 2006. This year Nasarawa State University, Keffi will be hosting the event from 14th – 20th July, 2013. To all young thespians we say, get out there and have a theatrical blast! The renaissance is well alive!
NUTAF 2013: INVITED NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES
These are the 37 Universities invited to participate at NUTAF 2013:
FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES (16)
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka
University of Nigeria Nsukka
University of Ibadan, Ibadan
University of Benin, Benin
University of Calabar, Caliber
University of Jos, Jos
University of Abuja, Gwagwalada
University of Ilorin, Ilorin
University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt
University of Lagos, Akoka-Lagos
University of Uyo, Uyo
University of Maiduguri, MAiduguri
Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti
Federal University,Otuoke, Otuoke
STATE UNIVERSITIES (15)
Nasarawa State University, Keffi
Benue State University, Makurdi
Plateau State University, Bokkos
Niger Delta University
Imo State University, Owerri
Olabisi Onabanjo University, Aguoye
Lagos State University,
Delta State University
Ambrose Ali University
Kogi State University
Osun State University
Akwa-Ibom State University
Ekiti State University
Kwara State University
Kaduna State University
PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES (6)
Redeemer’s University, Mowe
Igbinedion University, Okada Benin city
Bowen University, Iwo, Osun state
Afe Babalola University, Edo-Ekiti
Obong University
Western Delta University, Oghara
Good things happening for African theatre! Follow this link:
http://www.britishcouncil.org.ng/british-councils-lagos-theatre-festival-holds-this-february
Keep in touch with the festival: @lagostheatre13
The African Renaissance 