FROM Monday August 2 through 8, lovers of the theatrical art, and fans of the prominent production company, Crown Troupe of Africa, will be fed fat with diverse artitic offerings by a rich collection of resourceful performers, scholars and exhibitors who deploy their talents, skills and wares in the service of the community.
The weeklong feast of artistic offerings on the platform of the annual Eko Theatre Carnival (ETC) will be staged in the new norm, hybrid format with both live and virtual audiences experiencing the best of performances and visual art products.
The Eko Theatre Carnival, ETC, debuted in 2016 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Crown Troupe of Africa. The objective, according to the founder and director of the festival, dancer, choreographer, actor, director and art activist, Segun ‘OriAde’ Adefila is “to use the instrumentality of the arts in all of its dimensions to mobilise the community towards collective goals of unifying the diverse peoples and cultures for communal sharing and social, economic and environmental advancements.”
The activities outlined for the 2021 edition, according to Adefila, one of the most resourceful and active theatre practitioners in the country, would include: Masquerades display; Carnival procession Theatre performances; Dance performances; Seminars; Games; Workshops; Film Screening; Sporting events; Exhibition; Fashion ; Music Concerts
Giving a breakdown of how the various events would run, Adefila said two seminars have been programmed.
The first session on the theme, Theatre Practice in Nigeria: An Overview, exploring the transitions in dance-drama from the era of Ogunde/Duro Ladipo to the contemporary era, viz- Crown Troupe’s contribution to that transition will be addressed by Professor Duro Oni, Theatre Technician, scholar, practitioner and ex-Deputy VC of University of Lagos, UNILAG. It will be moderated by Professor Femi Osofisan, playwright, poet and retired theatre teacher with the University of Ibadan.
The second seminar on Theatre an Nation Building will be addressed by Professor Tunji Azeez, dramatist, director, Theatre lecturer at the Lagos State University, LASU. The aim, said teh festival director, is to fill some of the gaps in Nigerian theatre criticisms/theory which seem to have been on pause since the Ogunde period and also to get some informed criticism on Crown Troupe’s unfolding works in the past 25 years. It will be moderated by Dr Tunji Sotimirin, actor, musician and theatre teacher with the UNILAG.
Workshops: This is designed mainly for younger theatre artists on dance-drama performance in theory and practice; to be anchored by Crown Troupe personnel with other resource persons. This will serve as a continuing Professional Development programme for members of the CTA and some of their colleagues and also as a means of grooming younger generation of theatre makers.
In this regard, there have been targeted activities like:
- February: Exodus 03, an intensive dance workshop, headlined by Uche Onah of Artlink Productions.
- June: SpunK-TitudE headlined. by Adedayo Liadi.
- July: BornTroway Summer Academy produced by Planetheart Foundation and facilitated by: Acting – Toyin Oshinaike; Dance – Adedayo Liadi; Music —- David Erinjogunola and Alfred Adefila.
- August: Acting Masterclass with Patrick Diabua.
Exhibition & Fashion Parade: The need to look back and engage in self-appraisal gave birth to these new additions to ETC 2021 content. “The earth is screaming but earthlings are not listening. There shall be exhibitions of photographs of performances by the Crown Troupe of Africa as well as installation of junks, inspired by the works of the famed and legendary artist, Professor Junkman,”, stated Adefila, adding that:
“A fashion parade, also inspired by a pacesetter in the art fashion industry, Modela, shall also speak to topic of waste and climate change.”
Performances: The Crown Troupe as well as other guest companies and artistes who have had a relationship with it over the years shall be presenting a mixed menu of some of the best artistic feasts for ETC. Some of these include: Gifted Steppers; Sinmi Jay; Art Castle Academy; DeeStarlite Band; Kings and Queens; RushCoded; Footprints Art Ambassadors; Africana; Footprints of David; FMG; Ijodee Arts; Fash; Q Dance Centre; ADE BANTU; Whitestones Ambassadors; Segun Akinduro (Violin); Starlight Home of Entertainment.
On the format of presentations, Adefila said: “In consonance with current global new norms, the 2021 edition of ETC shall be a PHYGITAL experience — a mixture of physical and digital presentations. Though the pandemic has brought a huge strain on the creative industry, it has also opened doors for more possibilities in the area of art content distribution. It has broadened the digital space not as a replacement but an interesting alternative to live and physical presentations. More people will have the opportunity of having a taste of our rich festival offerings from whatever part of the globe they may be.”
The Festival Director assured that all health and safety precautions shall be observed by the few physically present.
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Crown Troupe of Africa: A Profile
THE Crown Troupe of Africa is a Dance-Theatre Company launched on the 1st of June 1996 by a group of young persons who share a common belief in the viability of the arts as a tool for social re-engineering. The group is steeped in the art of creating new works that are socially-conscious, relevant, thought-provoking and empowering.
From inception, the CTA has been involved in various forms of artistic endeavours such as theatrical productions, creative workshops and seminars organized both locally and internationally. The award winning company has also managed to keep in line with its founders’ laid down aims and objectives of:
• Research.
• Documentation.
• Organizing and participating in art workshops and seminars.
• Composing and experimenting with various genres of the arts such as poetry,
visual art, dance, drama, and music to create new works.
• Producing and performing new works that are thematically relevant and are
socially responsive.
• Engaging in art exchange programmes with local and overseas art companies.
The Crown Troupe of Africa is famous for its dance-theatre creations and has often been commissioned to compose new works around a variety of socially relevant issues as well as to present their works at organized events. Its works have been selected for events such as International Dance Day, International Theatre Day, Refugee Day, AIDS day, Lagos Book & Art Festival and other similar events.
The CTA has several cultural and contemporary dances in its archives as well as its forte — thematically relevant dance – theatre creations.
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ETC 2021 PROGRAMME OF EVENTS AND TIMING.
VENUES:
• Crown Art Factory, 32 Awofodu Street, off Pedro Road Bariga.
• Beeriga, Bariga Boat Jetty, Ilaje Bariga.
- DAY 1. MONDAY, AUGUST 2-
Venue: Art Factory.
- Lecture by Professor Duro Oni. Time: 11 am.
- Nigeria Go Better by Kings and Queens. Time4pm.
- FEDEYEDE by Crown Troupe. Time: 5:30pm.
- Film screening: All that is Golden Glitters by Fiona Whytte. Time: 6pm.
- DAY 2. TUESDAY, AUGUST 3-
Venue: Art Factory.
1. Lecture by Professor Tunji Azeez. Time: 11am.
2. Performance: Eti Inu- (Drums ensemble) by Crown Troupe and Starlight Home of Entertainment. Time: 5pm.
3. Film screening: Bariga Boy by Femi Odugbemi. Time: 7pm.. Venue: Boat Jetty.
- DAY 3. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4-
Venue: Art Factory.
1. Death Not a Raillery by Femi Richards. Time:4pm.
2. For the Sake of Love by Whitestone Ambassadors. Time:5pm.
- DAY 4. THURSDAY, AUGUST 5–
Venue: Art Factory
1. Economic Independence by Art Castle Academy. Time: 4pm.
2.The Last Letter by Ayo Odubona. Time:5pm.
3. Efusetan, Iyalode Ibadan by TheAtreCentrik. Time:6pm.
- DAY 5. FRIDAY, AUGUST 6-
Venue: Art Factory.
1. Recycled Fashion by Kings and Queens and Crown Troupe. Time:4pm.
2. Economic Crisis by Footprints Art Ambassadors. Time:5pm.
- DAY 6. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7–
Venue: Art Factory.
1. Eniyan by Footprints of David. Time:4pm.
2. Omo Odo by Crown Troupe. Time:5;30pm.
3. Kismet by Ijodee Arts. Time: 6:30pm.
4. Film screening: Edunjobi by Q Dance Centre. Time:7:30pm.
- DAY 7. SUNDAY, AUGUST 8–
Venue: Beeriga, Boat Jetty.
- Refashioned Recycle by Kings and Queens and Crown Troupe. Time:5pm.
- Music Concert: BANTU, Moses, Sinmi Jay, Violin, Rush, FMJ, Fashek Time:6pm.
Segun Adefila
ETC 2021
Festival Producer/ Director.
