The Soyinka International Cultural Exchange, which holds July 12-16 at various venues in Abeokuta, Ogun State is essentially youth-focused. The youth section of the 2024 edition will focus on the central motif of the project: mentoring and grooming the new generation of thinkers and eventual leaders who would work for the overall national interest of lifting their country and their society to greater heights of human and material development.
Since its inception in 2010, the project produced by Zmirage Multimedia Company (Nigeria &UK), on the platform of OpenDoorSeries, has always honoured Abeokuta, and Ogun State in general, essentially because that is the home-base of Professor Wole Soyinka, Africa’s Nobel laureate, whose illustrious personality and resourceful career inspired the project. Soyinka’s preferred home in Nigeria is his Autonomous Republic of Ijegba, A.R.I, his forested residence located in the Idi Aba Housing Estate, Kemta. WSICE is also resident at the Ijegba Forestage art-hub, which is in the neighbourhood of Soyinka.
WSICE 15/WS90:
The 15th edition of the annual project, which always bring eminent citizens to Abeokuta, has, however, been curated specially as it commemorates the 90th birthday anniversary of the preeminent African writer, thinker, polemicist, human/civil rights activist and global humanist. It is based on the theme: E.N.I.O.G.U.N—Soyinka’s alter-ego, which however captures the very essence of the man and his struggles for a better humanity.
Outlines
July 12: Arrival:Arrival of 90 finalists in the National Essay competitions, whose writings have been adjudicated by eminent writers, scholars and journalists and adjudged to be the best of the over 200 Essays submitted.
July 13: The Essay Writing competition:
With the theme, THE MANY LIVES OF AN IRREPRESSIBLE PATRIOT, HUMANIST, & RIGHTS ACTIVIST,over 200 students from across the country participated in the national competition.Theobjective is todeepen theirunderstanding of the dynamics of nation-building, especially to think through the examples already established through Soyinka’s personal life and intervention in public discourses and engagements. Ninety (90)finalistsin the Essay writing competition will converge on July 13 (the actual birthday of the patron saint of the project) — to write the Essay in full glare of the pubic and the media in a Reality-Show-like setting.The essays will be assessed by an eminent body of jury including teachers, culture scholars an journalists. The overall winners will be unveiled on July 15.
July 14: Sight-Seeing: One of the key virtues of the WSICE project is to foster unity among young Nigerians by encouraging close interactions and sharing of experiences among the 90 finalists drawn from across the country; also, to expose them to the rich cultural and touristic heritages of the country. The 90 finalists will have opportunity to visit top tourism sites of Ogun State, including Olumo Rock, Adiire market in Itoku; the WSICE Gallery at Omida Market, etc.
July 14: Drawing & Painting Competition:In 2023, at its 14th edition, and on occasion of the 89th birthday anniversary of Soyinka, the WSICE formally opened its gallery space located on the 5th floor of the Omida Shopping complex. The 90 Essay finalists will have opportunity to participate in a workshop and mentorship on drawing and paintings at the gallery. Under mentorship of eminent professional artists, they will be taken through the rudiments of artistic creations. The works realized from the workshop will form part of a collection to be exhibited in the course of the celebration.
July 15: Do your Own Thing — DYOT: A key dimension of the WSICE is the youth creative expression at Ijegba Forestage — the theatre facility located in the backyard of Prof Soyinka’s A.R.I residence. In the programme, the 90 finalists joined by dozens of students drawn from various schools in Abeokuta metropolis, will partake in free creative sessions, where they will be able to ventilate on their natural talents and skills. With minimal guidance from the adults, they young ones will explore their own innate gifts, and share skills with fellow youngsters.
Cojoined with the DYOT is the Culture House Reception, in which the youth will be exposed to celebration of their individual cultures in areas where Soyinka himself excelled as a youth — music, dance, drama and poetry, spelling, speech making; as well as in dressings, cuisine, etc.
July 15: Reception for the Finalists:This is usually the climax of the Abeokuta sessions. This is where the 90 finalists have opportunity to be formally received by the grand celebrant, Soyinka, in his house. It is essentially a mentoring session as the students and youths are able to engage in Question-and-Answer session with the Nobel laureate. Usually Prof Soyinka spends the session to mentor the young ones on the importance of education, self-improvement, pursuance of noble ideals, moral rearmament, and as well as offering tips through his own life trajectories and struggles on how to be good, responsible and citizens with inquisitive consciousness that make them interrogate, and participate responsibly in happenings in their social, political and cultural environment. This is geared towards making the youths become active participants in the affairs of the country, and insist on such virtues as Good-Governance and Nation-Building as enunciated in the theme of the edition, E.N.I.O.G.U.N.
July 16: Departure:After four full days of activities in Abeokuta, thefinalists depart to their various destinations.
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Theme:“E.N.I.O.G.U.N – Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding and Nation-Building”
The general theme, as is traditional to the project since birth, is premised on the general condition of humanity, but specifically for this milestone edition, it is focused on Nigeria, Soyinka’s land of birth to which he has devoted his life-long career as a multi-talented/skilled artist, public intellectual and as well, human/civil rights activist.Specifically, the WS90/WSICE2024 theme is a summation of the over seven decades of commitment and struggles of Soyinka as a nationalist, patriot, and humanist — as can be gleaned from his voluptuous creative works and consistent public engagement.In particular, the theme E.N.I.O.G.U.N is to sum up his life-long commitment to the cause of nation-building through his relentless fight for the national interest that would ensure good governance for the wellbeing of the general citizenry. While the theme domiciles appreciation of Soyinka’s commitment to his birth country, Nigeria, it is by extension an appreciation of his global service to humanity in general, which has seen him advocating for justice, freedom and respect for the rights and freedom of citizens all over the world. The theme will be the focus of all the programme items of the edition.
July 15: Drama Presentation: The final act of WSICE2024/WS90 in Abeokuta will be the presentation of the play, THE NOBLE WARRIOR – ENI OGUN” —a theatrical piece, written by Aiyeko-ooto Onadele, and produced by Adubiifa Network Companyin collaboration with WSICE, which explores themes of bravery, struggle, and the human spirit, resonating deeply with Soyinka’s literary legacy.
