Life in My City Art Festival @ Awka

ZIK’S Avenue is arguably the most hurly-burly road in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, but tucked inside Number 261 is seminal serenity. Here is the home of the Awka Museum Foundation, facilitated by the irrepressible art connoisseur Barrister Arthur Harris-Eze.

On Saturday, July 22, 2023, it’s noonday, and art enthusiasts are gathered here for the much-cherished Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF). This marks the festival’s first being celebrated in the Anambra Region.

Initiated in 2007, LIMCAF is, according to its Art Director, Ayo Adewunmi. PhD, “an annual celebration of creativity, featuring art competition for young talents in the Nigerian art landscape.”

The day’s programme starts with the presentation and breaking of traditional kola-nuts in the Igbo traditional way of life-giving nuts not speaking English.

The curator at Awka Museum Foundation, Ms Chioma Okoli, introduces the guests, such as Prof Cliff Nwannna, Rector of Renaissance College of Technology, and Sir Chuka Nnabuife, MD/CEO of Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation, publishers of National Light, Ka O Di Taa, and SportsLight. Newspapers.

The Director of Awka Museum Foundation, Barrister Arthur Harris-Eze, who flew in from London, England, for the event, was his upbeat self, getting everybody involved in the proceedings.

In his welcome address, LIMCAF Art Director, Ayo Adewunmi, stated: “Our Mission is to position art for social development through youth empowerment, thereby promoting art as a resource for national development. The vision is to establish LIMCAF as one of the top three high-profile events in Africa within the international art events calendar.”

He revealed that the festival had become the biggest art event in Nigeria, with this year’s edition attracting 576 entries from around the country, which happens to be the highest number of entries received since the festival’s inception in 2007.

For the Awka Museum Foundation exhibition, Dr. Adewunmi informs, “LIMCAF is showing 20 artworks from the entries received from Anambra Region. The local jury may recommend four artworks from these artworks to be part of the Grand Finale in Enugu in October 2023.”

Adewunmi is optimistic about charging further ahead, saying: “This year, LIMCAF increased the Prizes to be won by promising young Nigerian artists to over 6 Million Naira. This increase is made possible with the support from MTN Foundation, the Ford Foundation and other sponsors.

We remain grateful to all the sponsors. LIMCAF is grateful to the Management of the Awka Museum Foundation for their effort to ensure this new partnership is productive. We hope to continue working with the museum to propagate contemporary art and position young Anambra artists for steady professional development.”

The young artists whose works were on display include AbuguOdinakaChristiantus, AhumaraezeEkeomaItah, Anozie Jeremiah Udeh, Dunu Miracle Chijioke, Enebeli Desmond, Fidelis Umahi Stephen, Okafor Ogochukwu Stella, Ezenwekwe Stanley Kosiso, Nwoye Chisom Joseph, Okonkwo Kyrian, Okpe Esther Ogechi, Okosi Chukwuma Joseph, Stanley Nwite Ejike, and Ugwuanyi Chukwuebuka Joseph.

After its establishment in 2007, LIMCAF was registered as a trusteeship in 2012 under Life In My City Art Initiative as an annual celebration of creativity featuring young Nigerian art talents.

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