A 16-MAN delegation of the National Troupe of Nigeria is currently participating in the Market for Performing Arts in Africa, MASA – a pan-African festival of the arts of Africa holding March 4-12 in Abidjan, capital city of Cote d’Ivoire.
MASA, a huge cultural fiesta, is designated a “market” as it attracts high attendance from art “coaches” or “hunters” from around the world, who come in to shop for troupes and artists they could put on tour of their respective festivals or projects.
The delegation which arrived at the Abidjan on Tuesday, March 8, is expected to stage its performances in two slots on Friday, March 11.
The 16-man troupe led by the Artistic Director, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, also has the Director of Drama, Dr. Mike Anyanwu, the Director of Dance, Dr. Shaibu Husseini and the Head of HR, Bisi Ayodele as members.
The piece, according to the coordinator of the delegation, Dr Shaibu Husseini, the Troupe’s Director of Dance, is “a 30 minutes straight dance piece, an extract from our one hour touring production titled “Ajoyo”.
“Ajoyo celebrates our rich and diverse cultural heritage in dance and music. It takes us on a dance excursion from the South West with Dundun drumming and Kposhe dance, to the South East with Abriba warrior dance and Egwu Odum; to the North with Fura dance and we return to base South West with Yengben, a worship dance that will appeal to the Yorubas in the continent and in diaspora. We have included two special yoruba pieces since we know that we shall appeal to our Yoruba brothers in Cote d’Ivoire.”
Today, the Nigerian Ambassador to Cote D’Ivoire, Mrs Ifeoma Jacinte Akabogu-Chinwuba, sent the Minister in charge of Political Affairs at the embassy, Mrs. Esther Ekanem, to check on the high-spirited representatives of Nigeria at the pan-African feast.
Mrs Ekanem assured the delegation of the support of the embassy as well as the Nigerian community in that Francophone West African country, with close affinity to Nigeria.
MASA’s main objectives are to:
- *provide support for the creation and production of quality shows,
- *facilitate the movement of creators and their production in Africa and around the world,
- *provide training of artists and operators in the production chain, performances and;
- *ensure the development of the performing arts sector (Music, Theatre, Dance) within the African continent.
