IT’S no news that the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Liberia started in 1960 has seen both countries establish Diplomatic Missions in each other’s capital. And since then, the relationship has been cordial and with mutual respect, thus giving birth to high exchange of visits between officials of governments of both countries.
On this premise, stakeholders in both countries’ creative industries — artists, musicians and filmmakers — were on Monday, April 1, brought together under one roof in what would be considered a historic entertainment alliance conference in Lagos.
The conference is a collaborative initiative between Dgee Power Entertainment and Padmore Entertainment. Theme: ‘Strengthening Entertainment Fusion between Nigeria and Liberia’, the conference, which is aimed at harmonising the entertainment industry of the two countries, had in attendance the big names from all sectors of the entertainment.
In his welcome and opening remark, Chamberlain Emmanuel, founder of Dgee Power Entertainment, said the conference is targeted at uniting both nations through the power of art by bringing together artists, musicians, filmmakers, and creatives from both countries.
According to him, the collaboration seeks to create a harmonious blend of cultural expression that resonates globally, adding that the initiative will celebrate the shared histories, values, and traditions of Nigeria and Liberia, while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation between their people.
“The inspiration behind the idea stems from the desire to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of both nations and to foster greater collaboration and understanding through the universal language of art.
“It’s driven by the recognition of the shared histories, values, and traditions between Nigeria and Liberia, and the belief in the transformative power of cultural exchange to unite diverse communities and amplify their voices on the global stage,” Chamberlain explained while revealing what inspired the symposium.
On his part, the CEO, The Padmores Entertainment, the partnering Liberian company, Victor Padmore said the objective of the conference is to create a vibrant platform for cultural exchange and collaboration, uniting artists from both nations to produce innovative and compelling works that celebrate their shared heritage while promoting mutual understanding and appreciation.
“This initiative seeks to foster deeper connections between the people of Nigeria and Liberia, promote cultural diplomacy, and showcase the richness and diversity of West African art and creativity to the world,” he said.
In her paper presentation, Liberian queen of airwaves, Grace Hawa Weah popularly known as Master Queen, harped on building a substantial relationship between the Nigerian and Liberian entertainment industries.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Strengthening Entertainment Fusion between Nigeria and Liberia for an Unprecedented Art’, the revered OAP stated that the topic that tends to create innovative and remarkable art between Nigeria, Liberia, and Africa at large.
According to her, it will be a good thing and nice sound to see Nigeria’s Afrobeat style blended with the traditional Gbema sound of Liberia, adding that this will come up like a breath of fresh air in connecting and sharing cultural values and heritage of both countries.
Weah said, “Now, let’s take this same scenario into consideration but from a cinematic perspective. Envision Nigerian filmmakers and Liberian directors joining forces to craft movies that resonate with audiences worldwide, telling stories that reflect the complexities of our societies, resilience, and cultural diversity — the outcome could be a win-win situation that is capable of benefiting both countries culturally, economically, and socially.”
“The potential for collaboration between Nigeria and Liberia in the realm of entertainment knows no bounds. Our cultural traditions, music, and storytelling have the opportunity to create a new wave of artistic expression and break boundaries globally. Therefore, it is with hope that we expand this collaboration beyond movies and begin to collaborate seamlessly in music and other creative sectors as well,” she added.
Master Queen noted that it is a glaring fact that both Nigerian music and movies have taken the world by storm and are indeed forces to reckon with internationally. “However, let’s also be fair enough to admit that it’s with the help of other African countries that this dream turned into reality.
“Hence, in this light, I’d recommend that to Strengthen Entertainment Fusion between Nigeria and Liberia for Unprecedented Art the Nigerian creative sector should start collaborating more with other African countries, including Liberia, in order to make this reality everlasting. For it is through collaboration and unity that mankind truly elevates their voices and achieves greatness,” she stated.
