To thrive, the Nigerian creative industry requires ongoing sponsorship, funding, and support.
The minister made the remarks after seeing Wole Soyinka’s play “Death and the King’s Horsemen” at the TERRA KULTURE in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
“After agriculture, the creative industry employs the largest number of people, particularly young people and women. Donations and sponsorships are needed to support the creative industries. Without the sponsors, this production would not have been possible, so we must all work together to help grow the industry,” the Minister stated.
Alhaji Mohammed, in response to Wole Soyinka’s play “Death and the King’s Horsemen,” described Nigerians as “people with cultures even before they were colonized by the White man.”
He stated, “We need to be proud of our roots and culture.”
Mohammed praised the play, saying that the play itself, the death, and the King’s Horsemen all depicted different interpretations and understandings.
Another takeaway from the play, he said, was leadership.
Wole Soyinka’s play “Death and the King’s Horsemen” cast and crew
“You can’t take advantage of a situation while refusing to bear its burden,” the minister said.
Bolanle Austen Peters, the Artistic Director of Terra Kulture, stated that the creative industry tells stories that are relevant to society.
“Life imitates art, and art imitates life.” It’s great to have lighthearted plays or films, but we also need to be able to use art as a catalyst for social change. That is exactly what we do here. We tell important stories, particularly folklore.
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“We’ve done ‘Olurinbi,’ ‘Moremi,’ and a story on Fela and his wives,” says the producer. The list could go on and on.
“The goal is to keep bringing stories to the forefront that our forefathers created and from which they taught their children values,” she said.
According to Peters, there is a widespread appreciation for African arts, culture, and music.
“People are starting to realize that Nigeria has a civilization that is likely older than what western countries have been selling for so long.” “It’s unfortunate that colonialism halted our development, but interestingly, many of us are realizing how beautiful and important it is for our children to be grounded in their heritage,” she concluded.
