Artistes advocate development of theatre arts to empower Ajegunle’s youths
By Adeyemi Adeleye
Theatre Artistes in popular Ajegunle Area of Lagos State on Sunday admonished politicians and community leaders to use theatre arts to develop and empower youths in the area.
Ajegunle, located in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos, is known for being one of Lagos’ toughest, most dangerous slums, but has produced some of Nigeria’s top footballers.
The artistes said in Lagos that many destinies of youths and kids resident in Ajegunle could be transformed with theatre arts if leaders made efforts to earnest the arts potential.
Speaking on the need to use theatre and performing arts to create a better future for youths in Ajegunle, an Artiste, Uzorchi Uyamasi, said his recently organised “Oneness Festival” discovered many talents.
According to Uyamasi, the Ajegunle Theatre Arts Forum’s maiden edition of Ajegunle Cultural and Arts Festival AJECAFEST, which ended on May 1, was to celebrate Nigeria’s uniqueness in culture.
Uyamasi, the coordinator, noted that the 3-day festival had an array of cultural performances from the many theatre groups in the community, saying many youths had discovered their talents.
“Since we have discovered that arts will bring in peace and unity amongst the people living in Ajegunle and help some youths discover their talents, we cannot fold our hands again and watch these destinies waste.
“We have a lot of youths and kids out there wasting away. We approached some of them in Kehinde Aiyetoro community and introduced arts to them, which they embraced and decided to join our troupe; today they are dancers and actors.
“The city of Ajegunle will have a new look especially when our political leaders picks interest. I want to advise them to key in to Arts. They should please put theatre in their plans,” Uyamasi said.
He advised political leaders to create a mini Art Centre in Ajegunle to engage the youths and divert their minds away from crimes.
“When we embrace theatre arts in Ajegunle, there will be no more bloodshed and negative stories about Ajegunle. Art is life, peace and unity,” he added.
He said that the AJECAFEST was not only to bring youths of the area together but to tell the world that cultural unity was the best solution to Nigerians’ problem of unity.
Uyamasi said that the highlight of the festival was the performance of ‘Crows of the Dawn’, a play written by the award-winning Journalist cum dramatist, Ola Awakan, and directed by Prince Chukwubueze.
According to him, playwright suggests cultural appraisal and renewal, peace among ethnic groups and celebration of unity among the more than 300 ethnic groups in the country.
He said that the playwright believed that, if only Nigerians could do without cultural differences and embrace unity despite the diversity, the numerous challenges in the country would be a forgotten episode.
In his remarks, Awakan, who noted that he started professional theatre from Ajegunle, said that the message of the play was apt at this period that the country was under serious tension.
The playwright said: “Ajegunle youths need to embrace the power of the art and theatre for them to be successfully diverted from the social vices inherent in the community. Arts can give youths of Ajegunle a new life.
“Politicians and religious leaders in Ajegunle have a great role to play in encouraging the youth to forgo violence, thuggery and hooliganism. This they can achieve easily by supporting the art.
“The more these community leaders support projects of this nature, the better for Ajegunle. It will also help preach peace and unity among all the ethnic groups residing in the community.”
According to him, such support will even make more creative people stay back to contribute to the growth of the community.
