promises govt’s continued support for arts
Professor Rasak Ojo Bakare, Ekiti State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, recently visited Nigeria’s acclaimed ‘Oracle of Highlife music’ and Africa’s’ Largest music collector, Mr. Femi Esho.
Professor Ojo is Nigeria’s first professor of choreography and performing aesthetics and was former Dean of Postgraduate School, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State.
During his courtesy visit, the commissioner reiterated his passion for performing arts saying; “my love for music and dance is unquantifiable. I started my romance with the art at the age of 17 when I premiered in Hubert Ogunde’s play, ‘Aropin N Teniyan’.
According to him, Nigeria possesses a lot of tourism potentials and music is an integral part of her cultural life, “therefore, the onus lies on all of us to promote and preserve our heritage.”
While appreciating Mr Femi Esho for his selfless service to the country in the preservation and promotion of Nigerian music, Prof. Bakare promised that the Ekiti State government will continue to collaborate with Esho’s music company, Evergreen Musical Company, in promoting Nigerian arts.
In response, Esho thanked the commissioner for his visit while he sent his warm greetings to the governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for his support in promoting music, particularly the supportive role Ekiti State Government played during the 60 years on stage celebration of one of the sons of Ekiti State and Nigerian doyen of Highlife music, Dr Victor Abimbola Olaiya, an event that was put together by Evergreen Musical Company in 2012.
Prof Ojo who has committed over 40 years of his life to the creative arts remains till date the first Nigerian to bag about three fellowships in the field of performing arts and one of Nigeria’s cultural ambassadors who have made it their life mission to tell the Nigerian stories with the art.
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