Tell Magazine

Giants in the arts industry came together recently to celebrate the life, times and works of Akinola Lasekan who contributed to the development of contemporary art in Nigeria

He is an arts enthusiast of no mean repute. So, when he says something about the arts in Nigeria, his words cannot be easily brushed aside. And now, Yemisi Shyllon, a mogul of the arts industry, is worried about the future of the art sector in Nigeria. He recently expressed worries that the country was lagging behind in terms of the utilisation of art as a means of economic revival.

As Shyllon observed, “The world is tired of the Western art, they want something new. They have been to many places and some few years back, now, they are focusing on Africa. South Africa has made a lot of headway in terms of art utilisation in terms of economic development.” And he should know. Shyllon has been a guest of the South African government and seen how the country is making money from visitors to South Africa.

He added that countries like Ghana and Togo will take over from Nigeria if nothing is done about it: “Nigeria has a lot to offer the world and the world is looking forward to what we can do to provide this thing that the world is looking for.” Shyllon lamented how on one occasion when he went to the National Theatre with Bruce Onobrakpeya, an artist of repute, they both saw his (Bruce’s) work, donated to the theatre, being destroyed and some not properly taken care of.

Such treatment of great works of art and artists of renown worries Shyllon and he therefore chose to express his concerns at the opening ceremony of the Akinola Lasekan Symposium and Art Exhibition held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, on November 15, 2012. The four-day event focused on Lasekan’s “life, works and contributions to the development of contemporary Nigerian art.”

Forty years after he journeyed into the great beyond, the memories of Lasekan, popularly called Lash, still linger not only in the minds of his loved ones, but also in the artworks he left behind. And it could not have been otherwise. Lasekan (1932–1972) was one of the first artists to exhibit his works in Nigeria. He was the pioneer newspaper cartoonist in Nigeria, using his brushes in the defunct West African Pilot, a paper established in 1937 by Nnamdi Azikiwe, to contribute to the nationalist struggle for Nigeria’s independence. As a cartoonist, Lash was renowned for his insightful political commentary, such that earned him a mention in one of the latest looks at Nigerian history, Chinua Achebe’s There Was A Country.

Guest speaker at the event, Ola Oloidi, a professor from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, traced the footprints of Lasekan from his humble background. Like many people of his generation, Lasekan was from a polygamous family from Owo in Ondo State. His creative mind endeared him to leaders of the emerging Nigerian nation at that time, particularly Azikiwe with whom he worked closely on the West African Pilot newspaper project, contributing immensely, even at personal risks to the nationalist struggle with his political cartoons.

In the areas of education and political cartooning, Lash seemed to have toiled the most and made the most impact. He taught in secondary schools, trained people personally and lectured in two of Nigeria’s foremost universities –University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

While working at CMS Bookshop between 1936 and 1940, Lash took correspondence courses in fine art, art illustrating and cartooning. His first diploma was in fine art, obtained in 1937 from Norman College of Art, London. In 1939, he obtained his second diploma in advance drawing, illustrating, commercial art and cartooning from Washington School of Art, United States.

Between 1936 and 1940, he executed notable paintings that attracted great publicity in Lagos. These include the effigy of His Majesty King George VI on his coronation in 1937. This portrait, placed in the CMS Bookshop, attracted large crowd of viewers. He also did a large portrait of Winston Churchill, then prime minister of the United Kingdom. The portrait was painted in 1940 in aid of the ‘Win-the-war’ effort organised by the Ritz Club. Ritz Club auctioned the painting to raise money for the event, which was aimed at helping the Western powers to win the Second World War. There was also the much talked about paintings of scenery of Grand Operetta entitled Phillida, which he did for the Breadfruit Church Concert in 1940.

In April 1940, Lash left the services of CMS Bookshop to open an independent art studio in Lagos, in collaboration with Justus Akeredolu, a sculptor and museum technologist. During this period, he organised diploma in art training courses for Nigerian youths. The programme involved training in book illustration, commercial art, colouring, landscape, element and figure drawing. In January 1941, St Gregory’s College, Lagos, Eko Boys High School and St Mary’s Convent School, Lagos, engaged him as an art teacher.

To ensure that the works of such a great artist and teacher of artists do not just fizzle out, but become revenue earner for the country, Shyllon urged art enthusiasts and other Nigerians not to leave the responsibility to only government. “If we have 30 facilities like Terra Kulture in Lagos, millions of people will pay to come here and see,” he said. Shyllon said Nigerians will soon realise that their grandchildren will find in 20 years that crude oil will no longer provide for the kind of lifestyle they are used to living. “America in 2035 will not buy oil like it used to buy because everybody is now discovering oil in their own corner of the world. Togo, Ghana, and even Benin Republic have discovered oil in their countries. Meanwhile the world is saying they don’t want to use the kind of oil we are mining now because it is not environmentally friendly,” he said. So, as far as Shyllon is concerned, Nigerians will wake up in some 30 years’ time and realise that nobody would want crude oil unless the country has something else to offer.

Forty years after his demise, relations and fans of Lash decided to put together the recently held symposium and exhibition in honour of a man who dedicated his entire life to the arts. Olusola Dublin-Green, the family spokesperson who is also a lecturer at the University of Lagos, said that the exhibition sought to celebrate his legacy of patriotism, excellence and nurturing a new generation of artists. Lasekan’s works include an oil painting called ‘The Last Political Mission of Herbert Macaulay’, ‘The Story of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’ oil on canvas, a pictorial and historical composition entitled, ‘The Return of Ajaka of Owo’, painted in poster colour on paper, and ‘Atilogwu Dancers’ among others. “Several of his artwork were donated to the Nigerian National Gallery of Arts and were exhibited during the second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC, in 1977. Other artwork also exists in art galleries across the world,” Dublin-Green said.

The symposium and exhibition also created a platform for David Lasekan, creator of Benbella and Lulu cartoon characters and cartoon sketches in Daily Times and other publications, Kole Lasekan, a United States-based animator, and Akinyele Lasekan, three of Lasekan’s children, to exhibit their works while works by Akintunde Lasekan, Luke Lasekan and Jumoke Lasekan, three of the great artist’s grandchildren, were also on display.

Artificial buttocks. This may sound weird and funny to you, but it is a new craze in fashion that has been putting smiles on the faces of the women folk, especially those who are not proud of the size of their buttocks.

And the reason for this may not be far-fetched. In a society where the African woman is admired mainly because of her outward beauty and other physical endowments, some women often feel inferior when they are not ‘judged’ as looking sexy and beautiful. From crazy hairdos to weird dresses and now artificial buttocks, all a woman craves is to be seen and admired as being fashionable and trendy.

According to some fashion-conscious women, men’s changing ‘tastes’ are part of what is pushing fashion buffs to the extreme. Ask male folks, some say they like it big, though they rarely openly acknowledge it. Therefore, some admitted, a woman tends to be more fascinating and sought-after when she has it well rounded and curved, especially at the behind. Thus, it has become a difficult game to some women who always want to please their men, forcing a resort to artificial addition to their natural buttocks.

However, Nancy (not her real name), a part two student at the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, disagrees with the belief that the reason for patronising artificial buttocks is to please the opposite sex. According to her, she bought the artificial buttocks because she couldn’t wear certain clothes that would fit her. “It looks like the normal tight ladies wear under their clothes as undergarments. The difference here is the foam being added to the hips and buttocks in the tight to give more flesh to my buttocks.”

Asked if it can be noticed when worn, as some ladies are not comfortable with this, some women say it looks like a normal underwear ladies use, which is not conspicuous. Besides, if you take a look through the market when it is displayed, people often mistake it for leggings. This, says Mama Rilwan, a trader that deals in female accessories and undergarments at Yaba market, Lagos, also explains why artificial buttocks come in only black colour. It also comes in different sizes, depending on the shape of the female buttocks.

However, just as it puts smiles on people’s faces, the product, which was introduced to the market early this year, is not cheap due to additional pad put in the tight, as each artificial buttock sells for an average of N1,500.

As sexy as it appears, do artificial buttocks have any side effect on users? A health practitioner at Ajegunle General Hospital, Lagos, who prefers anonymity, explains that it is not detrimental to the health as long as it doesn’t change their physiological composition.  She added that using artificial buttocks is like wearing a padded brassiere to support one’s breasts, emphasising that the only thing that poses a threat is when users change their physical body. “But lets face it, whatever is fake is fake,” observed the health expert.

By RHODA ORIOLA

A reporter recently had a complimentary massage from Bogobiri House, Lagos, and relates the experience as one that brings people back to life

Two hands, then four. From shoulder to waist, waist to shoulder, practised hands glided over my body in long, firm strokes before disappearing at the nape of my neck. The rhythm remains unbroken on my lower limbs as the needling and massage work got underway. Bliss? Not so fast.

The sun had just stepped out in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, October 3. But hard-working people were already up and soaking up the heat of the day. At Bogobiri House, staff members were busy making hay when I sauntered into the premises. I took in the ambience and view immediately. Surrounded with a generous mix of unpolished woods and life-size carvings, Bogobiri House effortlessly creates a natural and unique habitat for its visitors.

A host of African paintings and sculptures adorns the way to the massage room where natural lights and aromatic incense burn in a corner. At the centre of the room lies a big elevated bed where massage therapists do justice to client’s bodies. I hesitated for a moment. The house had invited me for a complimentary experience of its ‘4 hands massage’, a cocktail of head, shoulder, neck and foot reflexology. The massage therapist, Lillian Anaele, told me that the massage detoxifies and relaxes the body and mind. I remember my last massage experience where I had fallen into deep slumber under the gentle hands of the masseur. I wonder if this complimentary treat would be just as soothing.

Anaele and her assistant soon got to work, targeting joints and tendons. Covered with a film of essential oil, the masseurs worked on my tense bones to release the accumulated toxins of the past year. Intensely, I could feel the impact of their hands. Soft sighs and deep grunts escaped my nostrils in a whiff of hiss. The therapists worked on in total silence, with soft music caressing the scented air.

And I knew exactly how important what they were doing was. Far from being a piece of luxury, a regular massage is documented as a precursor of good health. Its major advantages include the improvement of blood circulation to all parts of the body and the attack on stress-induced toxins. A billion dollar industry in many developed countries, massage services are already catching on in the Nigerian market.

Researches show that there are more than 80 massage therapy styles with different types of pressure, movements and techniques. Massage can be delivered by pressing, rubbing or manipulating muscle tissues and other soft tissues. Depending on the massage type, the therapy can be delivered through the hands, fingers, forearms, elbows and even the feet.

Massage and handholding are forms of touch therapy proven to be linked with improved health. A study conducted by the University of North Carolina, United States, US, noted that sitting closely with a partner for ten minutes lowers blood pressure in women. Physical contacts can also trigger a bust of serotonin, a natural anti-depressant produced in the body.

That is not all. Like water, any type of touch lasting at least a few minutes a day has been recommended by some medical experts for great health. In this respect, Mark Rapport, a medical doctor and chairman, department of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles, US, conducted a study involving 53 adults who got one form of touch treatment or the other. Later, blood samples on the participants who had Swedish massage with moderate pressure revealed a decrease in stress hormones and increase in white blood cells.

So with this sort of background knowledge, I knew I was in for a rewarding time. The masseurs were adept at their occupation and I let myself relax under their masterful hands. Intermittently, I would be asked to rate the pressure level, which I found tolerable. My ankles were bent and rotated to encourage blood circulation. Moving to my facial muscles and cranial bones, Anaele worked off the tautness in a gentle manner. Slowly, I felt my mind drift to Sicily.

It was soon over in two hours. I got up, slowly assisted up by smiling professionals. “How do you feel?” asked Anaele. “Lighter, I feel so light,” I croaked. After some minutes, it was my turn to probe the masseurs. “What did you observe?” They had plenty to tell me. “Stress-induced toxins have formed clots over your back and calves. You notice we had to apply pressure when we worked in that area. We also observed that you sit for too long, may be in the office. (How did they know that?) So you need to drink more water and take things easy. Take lots of vegetables and fruit and also take each day as it comes.”

As I stepped out of Bogobiri House, I felt lighter and comforted, the benefits of the Indian massage already seeping through my bones. I also resolved to take a break soon, taking one step at a time.