2019 African Drum Festival: Another Unique Experience As Ogun Successfully Host The World -

Kunle ADELABU & Mariam AKINLOYE

Live band procession to Olumo Rock tagged, ‘Rocking to the Rock’ on the the final day of the festival

It was indeed another unique experience for international and local master drummers, professional cultural workers, scholars, cultural ambassadors, tourists and residents of Abeokuta as Ogun State successfully staged the 4th edition of the African Drum Festival.

Unlike the three previous editions which was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, and Olumo Rock, this year’s edition was held at the 10, 000 capacity amphitheatre which is still under construction at Oke-Ilewo, and other parts of Abeokuta.

Aside the usual drum performances and cultural discourses which characterized past editions, events such as the launch of Adire Ogun Seal, honouring of some Ogun State music legends, unveiling of ‘The Kutis’ Heritage Museum’, train ride, tagged, ‘Rail, Reading and Ride’, from Iju-Ishaga in Lagos to Lafenwa in Abeokuta and festival parade bus ride from the station to Itoku mall and live band procession to Olumo Rock tagged, ‘Rocking to the Rock’ were featured at this year’s drum festival.

This year’s event attracted contingents and participants from over 20 States across Nigeria and from other African countries as well as outside the continent. There were also about 100 independent performers.

Among the states of the Federation at the festival were Kwara, Osun, Gombe, Lagos, Ondo, Niger, Akwa Ibom….

While Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Congo, Uganda, Senegal and Haiti were some of the African and non African countries that participated in the event.

On the honour list of legendary music acts from Ogun State (both living and dead) are Chief Ebenezer Obey, Juju exponent, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (1938 – 1997), Afrobeat inventor, Emperor Wale Olateju (1945 – 2017), Hubert Ogunde, theatre legend, Haruna Ishola (1919 – 1983), Apala music maestro , Fela Sowande (1905 – 1987), Ayinla Omowura (1935 – 1980), Apala music exponent, Salawa Abeni, Waka queen, Yussuf Olatunji (1909 – 1948), Sakara exponent, Joseph Asamu Elegbede, Batile Alake (1935 – 2013) and Wasiu Ayinde Anifowoshe, fuji maestro.

Also on the list are Shola Idowu (Weird MC) and Dapo ‘D’Banj’ Oyebanjo.

Some of their personal belongings, photo albums, instruments, newspaper cuts and other historical materials were displayed at the gallery hall of the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre for the public to view.

Some of Evangelist Ebenezer Obey and other legendary musicians’ personal belongings, photo albums, instruments on display at the Olumo gatllery during the 2019 African Drum Festival in Abeokuta

According the organizers of the African Drum Festival, the exhibition was designed to give deserved honour to select cultural and artistic ambassadors of Ogun State origin, who in their respective individual practices, have explored and exploited the resources of the Drum in attaining accomplishment in their careers.

The exhibition was primarily in honour of Chief Ebenezer Obey whose section attracted most attention of the public with some of his clothes and shoes wore in the good old days of ‘Miliki’ were displayed.

Also on display were Obey’s guitars and others.

The recording breaking attendance by participants and tourists who filled the amphitheatre and other spots within the amphitheatre premises to capacity during all the events for the three-day long festival underscores the massive global acceptance and attention which the festival is currently enjoying.

Also in attendance were His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Oonirisa of Ile-Ife and the chief custodian of Yoruba culture (both home and abroad), the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi, the Adeyemi III, and the host Oba, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, and other important Obas in Yoruba land.

Also in attendance were important state government functionaries (elected and appointed) from Ogun State and other states with principal officers and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly topping the list.

Meanwhile, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Governor of Ogun State, in his address at the drum festival, stated that he felt nostalgic being the last edition he would witness as a governor.

“The 4th African Drum Festival undoubtedly evokes different expectations and emotions in the minds of our guests as well as partakers of past editions and first timers alike. For me, it brings nostalgia as this is the last edition under my administration. As I think back to when we embarked on the first Nigerian Drums Festival (as it was initially dubbed), I am humbled by the rapid, warm, and characteristically African reception our festival has received, both at home and abroad.”

He expressed satisfaction that despite that he’s on his way out of office, his initiative (the drum festival) has been accepted in African and beyond as a platform to promote tourism and preserve African values.

Late Hubert Ogunde’s group performing at the 10, 000 capacity amphitheatre which is still under construction at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.

“An old adage says, ‘a Prophet is without honour in his own home’. Thankfully this cannot be said of our people in Ogun and indeed other States of the Federation, who have wholeheartedly adopted the festival. In addition, Africa has come calling as have our cousins in far countries like Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil to name a few, joining in the festivities.

“Over the years, the attendance and participation at the African Drum Festival has continued to swell.

“A permanent home for such a confluence of cultures is critical to the preservation of this continent (Africa) . The pulse of Ogun State beats loud in its capital city, Abeokuta, and it’s new City Centre with its iconic amphitheatre as a befitting space for the rich and diverse expressions of our rapidly evolving state. It is here that the Festival has found its permanent place. “

Governor Amosun added that the amphitheatre will give teeming youths in Nigeria and Africa the opportunity to express their creativity at a larger global platform.

“We call it the Amphitheatre City Centre, Abeokuta. With its capacity to hold up to 10,000, the Amphitheatre is our contribution to the development of the cultural and physical landscape that will provide fitting outlet for our teeming youth to find creative expression as an export to other nations.”

Earlier in her welcome address, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga, Deputy Governor of Ogun State and Chairman, Festival Committee of the African Drum Festival, stated that the aim of the festival was to enlist African youths to enable them actively connect with their cultures .

“This year’s edition with the theme; ‘Drumming The Future’ , is focused on enlisting young people of African heritage to actively connect with their cultures, particularly leveraging on music and instruments to keep in touch with the cosmopolitan trends of our youths . Of particular emphasis is the role of the percussion (drumming in traditional and contemporary music and the fusion of these two) which forms the bedrock of today’s youths’ rhythms .

” The talking drum for instance continues to communicate regardless of language evolution, and has its place in contemporary music, making it timeless as a bridge builder between our past and our future and thus, worthy of celebration amongst its peers. As Africans, we have a duty to preserve this unique communication art form, even as it evolves.”

Prof. Wole Soyinka, a Consultant to the Ogun Government on African Drum festival, literally captured the whole essence of the festival and accompanied events in his remarks.

Prof Wole Soyinka speaking at the Round table discussion themed, “Drumming the future”. With him is Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, the Governor of Ogun State and other guests

“It is only natural that we take rhythms so much for granted, we forget that they are sometimes generated by the processes of material production. Thus, the cessation of certain rhythms in daily existence provide subtle to strident signals of the loss of certain forms of productivity, often sacrificed for dubious notions of progress. Recalling and celebrating such rhythms may nudge us towards a recovery of those neglected means of material livelihood. The blacksmith’s hammer on anvil, for instance, offers a sharp contrast to the rhythm of traditional textile industry. A stroll down a certain street in Shaki (and not that long ago) would envelop you in the polyrhythm of the loom, operated by just one pair of hands and a foot —the shuttle flashing east to west and back, the beam along a polar axis, the bobbins in rotation, and the foot pedal interweaving- all prelude to the subtle spectrum of Aso-Oke. With several open-air looms in session along that narrow street, you wondered if this was how the famous African polyrhythm evolved —from activities seemingly unrelated to music.

“Equally the rhythm of the railway once designated the movement of goods, with mini-markets springing up between destinations from Lagos to Jebba, on to Kano and down to Port Harcourt. And the ship-builders of Epe, Aiyetoro remind us of a vanishing maritime culture. Who knows, if those industries are resuscitated, with appropriate living designs around them, our leisure-seeking classes may discover that there is no need to travel all the way to Amsterdam or Venice, when they can simply immerse themselves in the quiet, yet productive pulses of Ijebu Waterside!”.

Also, monarchs at the occasion lauded the initiative of the Sen. Amosun led government in Ogun State in bringing to the fore a globally acclaimed festival.

Cultural troupe from Kwara State on stage

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has pledged continuous support for the drum festival which has consistently pride itself as another Nigeria’s cultural and tourism gift to the world and the largest annual convergence of professional drummers in the globe.

This position was canvassed on behalf of the FG by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during the opening of the festival in Abeokuta.

He was represented by the Director of Entertainment and Creative Services of the Ministry, Mr Augustus Ajibola.

Alhaji Mohammed stated that the central government has categorized festivals like Osun-Osogbo and Argungun festivals among others.

“This administration has conceived what we called a calendar of festivals, this calendar categorises festivals into local, regional and international status.

Late Herbert Ogunde section at the gallery

He stated that the Abeokuta initiative is fast growing to take over from these festivals as number one national festival that is globally acclaimed.

“The drum festival is growing enough to take over from these two festivals if care is not taken.”

The Minister, who described drum as connoting many things, added that it also served in the old days as family occupation and source of income and also meant for entertainment.

“Drums and the act of drumming have always helped the society, drums play a prominent role among musical instruments, drums connote different things for different people in our society.

“Drum plays a prominent role in the palace such as waking the king and for communication between the king and the community.”

Cross-River State cultural troupe on stage at the 2019 African Drum Festival

In the drumming performances held at the 10, 000 capacity amphitheatre and Olumo Tourism Centre, Gombe State displaced last year’s winner, Kwara State in the first position. Kwara State, which also put up an outstanding performance, emerged as the first runner-up, while Ondo State emerged as the second runner-up.

Gombe State went home with the N2million prize money.

Ekeme Group from Akwa Ibom State emerged the overall best in the independent category where about 100 groups participated.

In the category of Best African Troupe, Ghana emerged the winner and carted home the prize money of $5000, while Chad and the Republic of Benin emerged first and second runners -up and received $3000 and $2000 respectively as prize money.

In the international individual category, Morocco came first and won $3000 prize money while Cote D’ivore and South Africa emerged second and third and received $2000 and $1000 prize money respectively.