Muraina Oyelami visual art institute celebrates Yoruba culture

Renowned painter, Chief Muraina Oyelami could not hide his joy while receiving top government functionaries, traditional rulers and other invited dignitaries from far and near to the premises of his Abeni Visual and Performing Art Institute, Iragbiji.

The occasion was the passing out of his students who had successfully completed their three months training in different areas of art. To demonstrate their mastery of their vocations, the students performed dance and later staged a drama, both of which earned them applause of the impressed guests.

Their performance, according to some guests, who witnessed days of stage drama in Yorubaland, was a re-enactment of that era as the performers gave a good account of themselves in their all-adire fabric costumes.

The Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, was represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Babawale Adebisi, who arrived earlier and showered encomium on the students as well as Chief Oyelami, the founder of the institute.

Governor Oyetola revealed that the Osun State government was already working on a public-private partnership with Sterling Bank to boost tourism and tourism products with which the state is blessed.

“On behalf of the government, I have begun meeting with Sterling Bank on how to come up with a workable partnership to bring fortune to our arts with a view to empowering our people who are doing well in that area of production. I want the students here to register with the government in order to benefit from that scheme aimed at helping them to sell their works to the outside world. The Osun State Tourism Vision 2030 instituted by His Excellency is beyond dance. It is a conscious effort to take our tourism development to a higher pedestal,” he said.

In his speech, the Director-General of the Centre for Black Culture and Understanding, Professor Siyan Oyeweso regrettably said that the Yoruba were losing their art and culture, calling on the Osun State government to show commitment to its promise by borrowing a leaf from the Ogun State government which, according to him, just approved adire fabric as official uniform for public schools in the state.

“If I see people like Chief Muraina Oyelami spending their resources on art promotion, I cannot but praise them for their selflessness because without them it means there is little hope left in preserving our art and culture for future generation. But with him, our hope has been rekindled,” he said.

The Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi also commended Oyelami and congratulated the students with a promise to interface with government on their request for seed capital to practice their different vocations.

“These students have challenged us now, and there is nothing to do other than getting their message across to the government. It is important they are assisted to start what they have learnt here before distraction diverts their attention elsewhere,” he remarked.

Chief Oyelami disclosed that the institute was conceptualised about eight years ago to relive the Osogbo Art School of the 60s of which he was a product, expressing his appreciation to his assistants with whom he runs the institute.

“I felt the need to give back to Iragbiji community which produced me to the world and made name in art. That is the history of this place though still under construction. I am satisfied and fulfilled that these students are really showing enthusiasm in all areas of art which we introduced to them. It means we are getting to somewhere steadily,” he said.

The ceremony was rounded off with inspection of some displayed works of the students including adire fabrics, batik among others made available for sale to the guests. During the inspection, the Olororuwo of Ororuwa, Oba Qamar Adeyeemi Bello expressed his delight at the works and picked an item, saying patronising the institute should be on his priority list henceforth.

“The best we can do to promote this institute is to buy what they produce here. I am happy to see the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism. His presence simply means what is going on here will get to the table of His Excellency. It is high time we embraced our products to develop local industry,” he noted.

by Aramide Saanu

 

Renowned painter, Chief Muraina Oyelami could not hide his joy while receiving top government functionaries, traditional rulers and other invited dignitaries from far and near to the premises of his Abeni Visual and Performing Art Institute, Iragbiji.

The occasion was the passing out of his students who had successfully completed their three months training in different areas of art. To demonstrate their mastery of their vocations, the students performed dance and later staged a drama, both of which earned them applause of the impressed guests.

Their performance, according to some guests, who witnessed days of stage drama in Yorubaland, was a re-enactment of that era as the performers gave a good account of themselves in their all-adire fabric costumes.

The Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, was represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Babawale Adebisi, who arrived earlier and showered encomium on the students as well as Chief Oyelami, the founder of the institute.

Governor Oyetola revealed that the Osun State government was already working on a public-private partnership with Sterling Bank to boost tourism and tourism products with which the state is blessed.

“On behalf of the government, I have begun meeting with Sterling Bank on how to come up with a workable partnership to bring fortune to our arts with a view to empowering our people who are doing well in that area of production. I want the students here to register with the government in order to benefit from that scheme aimed at helping them to sell their works to the outside world. The Osun State Tourism Vision 2030 instituted by His Excellency is beyond dance. It is a conscious effort to take our tourism development to a higher pedestal,” he said.

In his speech, the Director-General of the Centre for Black Culture and Understanding, Professor Siyan Oyeweso regrettably said that the Yoruba were losing their art and culture, calling on the Osun State government to show commitment to its promise by borrowing a leaf from the Ogun State government which, according to him, just approved adire fabric as official uniform for public schools in the state.

“If I see people like Chief Muraina Oyelami spending their resources on art promotion, I cannot but praise them for their selflessness because without them it means there is little hope left in preserving our art and culture for future generation. But with him, our hope has been rekindled,” he said.

The Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi also commended Oyelami and congratulated the students with a promise to interface with government on their request for seed capital to practice their different vocations.

“These students have challenged us now, and there is nothing to do other than getting their message across to the government. It is important they are assisted to start what they have learnt here before distraction diverts their attention elsewhere,” he remarked.

Chief Oyelami disclosed that the institute was conceptualised about eight years ago to relive the Osogbo Art School of the 60s of which he was a product, expressing his appreciation to his assistants with whom he runs the institute.

“I felt the need to give back to Iragbiji community which produced me to the world and made name in art. That is the history of this place though still under construction. I am satisfied and fulfilled that these students are really showing enthusiasm in all areas of art which we introduced to them. It means we are getting to somewhere steadily,” he said.

The ceremony was rounded off with inspection of some displayed works of the students including adire fabrics, batik among others made available for sale to the guests. During the inspection, the Olororuwo of Ororuwa, Oba Qamar Adeyeemi Bello expressed his delight at the works and picked an item, saying patronising the institute should be on his priority list henceforth.

“The best we can do to promote this institute is to buy what they produce here. I am happy to see the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism. His presence simply means what is going on here will get to the table of His Excellency. It is high time we embraced our products to develop local industry,” he noted.

 

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