Adebanji Adelusi
Members of Ekiti State Performing Arts Company, earlier today left Nigeria for Indian to represent Nigeria at the Surajkund International Arts Festival.
The Award-winning Ekiti State Troupe was last year nominated by the Federal Government to represent Nigeria at the Cultural exchange Festival.
Two craftsmen from Niger State, the Permanent Secretary of Ekiti Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Adaran, a Director in the Ministry, some members of the EKISPAC and two Cultural Officers from the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture formed the Nigerian delegation. The delegation is led by the immediate past Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Ekiti State, Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare.
The choice of Prof Ojo Bakare was made by the Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and accepted by the Federal authorities.
In making his choice of Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare who is reputed to be a veteran of global cultural festivals, Governor Oyebamji was said to have made an informed decision.
Apart from being Africa’s first Professor of Dance Choreography and Performance Aesthetics, Prof Bakare has represented Nigeria in many cultural festivals across the globe.
Some of these include: Dance Championship (Bulgaria 1987)), Friendship Festival Poeyong ( North Korea 97) Afrika- in – Tyrol Festival ( Austria 1999), Cervantino Theatre Festival ( Mexico 2001), Arts for Peace Tour ( Mozambique 2002) Jamaica National Festival (Jamaica 2003), Soweto Carnival ( South Africa 2010), Trinidad and Tobago Carnival ( 2013) Brazilian Carnival ( Brazil 2020) to mention a few.
Prof Ojo Bakare was the Choreographer in charge of Gambia National Troupe from 1992 to 1994. He also led the performance content of the rested Heart of Africa campaign round the World between 2007 and 2008.
While speaking with Ekitourism before the team departed Nigeria, the former Artistic Director of Nigeria’s National Carnival thanked Governor Oyebanji and the Federal government for trusting him with this assignment.
Professor Ojo Bakare is a seasoned professional and scholar who, during his tenure as the Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, initiated the government recruitment of well talented professionals to form Ekiti State Performing Arts Company (EKISPAC). The activities of the company and their performances, ever since, have not only helped in promoting entertainment in Ekiti State, it has helped to push the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism to the top rank of best States in national arts and crafts competition in Nigeria.
By this trip, it is expected that the national delegation would market the arts, culture and tourism potentials of Nigeria to the world in order to further expand the prospects of global investment in the country.
The team is expected back in Nigeria after the three weeks duration of the festival.
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