SENATOR Shehu Sani, Professor Sunnie Enessi Ododo, and Professor Udenta O. Udenta have been honoured with the Cultural Ambassadorship Award by the TEA-PRIME Leadership Academy.
The award was recently announced in Abuja during the public presentation of the book ‘Ìbálé: The Broken Pot’, authored by Esther Adelana, the organisation’s founder.
TEA-PRIME Leadership Academy said the literary icons were honoured for their contributions to literature, culture, academia and society.
Senator Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019, is an author, playwright, and human rights activist. He was awarded the Cultural Ambassador Award for his dedication to promoting Nigerian culture, social justice, and global understanding.
Ododo, a professor of performance aesthetics, theatre practice and theatre technology and former head of the National Theatre, has contributed notably to scholarship and creativity in Africa, particularly in the Nigerian theatre and literary landscapes. He was awarded the Cultural Ambassador Award for his dedication, leadership, and impact on Nigerian theatre and arts.
Professor Udenta, a pro-democracy and human rights activist, is known for his expertise in African and comparative literature, creative writing, cultural studies, and aesthetic theory. He was awarded the Cultural Ambassador Award for contributing to Nigerian literature, culture, advocacy, and social justice.
‘Ìbálé’ is a play about gender and African culture. It is a drama of promise and possibility, an intimation of the difficult journey of intersectional struggles against gender inequality, sexual violence, and social stratification.
Professor Ododo lauded Adelana for writing the book and lending her voice to the conversation of gender inequality and social stratification, adding, “I think she is going to be a motivation for other background writers to emerge.”
Dr Wale Okediran, Secretary General of the Pan-African Writers Association, said, “Ìbálé is a refreshing yet complex play about a well-known subject of love and cultural clash.”
Speaking on the awards, Adelana said that African art, literature, and culture should be fostered, and that was why they honoured Senator Sani, Professor Ododo, and Professor Udenta with the Cultural Ambassadorship Award.
Adelana added that ‘Ìbálé’ is a cultural text that projects African culture and raises questions about women.
She further said the play brings to the fore gender-based cultural practices and challenges in Africa, adding, “At the same time, it proffers solutions to these problems.”
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