…Taiwanese Ambassador, Others At Opening Ceremony
Hundreds of art enthusiasts, amongst them the Head of Mission of Taiwan in Nigeria Andy Yih-Ping Liu and Africa’s largest art collector Prince Yemisi Shyllon graced the opening ceremony of the Argungu Series 9 Art Exhibition.
The Exhibition opened yesterday at the National Museum Onikan Lagos.
It sought to showcase the best of the culture of the Argungu Emirate in particular and Kebbi state in general to the world.
The Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival has continued to awe the world especially art and culture enthusiasts long before 2016 when UNESCO gave it Intangible Heritage Status, making it the largest festival of its kind in Nigeria and in Africa.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Guest of Honor and Kebbi state Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi commended the organizers of the event for deeming it fit to do an international portrayal of the culture of the people of Kebbi state.
He noted that since the exhibition started eight years ago and even after having been staged in Argungu twice and in Kano and Abuja, the 9th Series was the only one the Kebbi state government was getting involved at the highest level.
He also praised the visitors who spent quality time going round the interior of the hall to marvel at the several eye catching art materials depicting the nucleus of the culture of the people of Kebbi state.
Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed commended the Governor of Kebbi state Dr Nasir Idris for approving the participation, for the first time, of the Kebbi state government in this year’s exhibition. He noted that the promotion of culture had been one of the cardinal campaign promises of the Governor during his electioneering campaign efforts prior to his eventual election.
The Commissioner explained that the Kebbi state government would, despite financial challenges in view of preponderance of areas competing for attention, continue to prioritize development of infrastructure in all sectors such as education, the health sector, agriculture, security, empowerment and culture in order to bring about growth and progress to the state.
Also speaking, the Curator of the event and an expert in visual and creative communication Moses Oghagbon explained that he got involved in the art and culture of Argungu since he watched the Argungu fishing festival more than a decade ago when he was sent to Kebbi on national youth service.
He said the moment he saw the beauty of the festival and its potentials to reach out and make the desired impression the world over, he instantly fell in love with it. “Since then, I have held 9 series in various cities with the intention to attract global attention to it.
The Edo state man who has all these years kept his faith in his passion about the international status of the Argungu Fishing Festival said inquiries have been made by international art specialists and very soon, the Series will go international.
He remarked that the cornerstone for progress in any society is identified as the conscious and passionate appreciation and respect for prevalent cultural trajectory of its evolution.
The Emir of ARGUNGU Alhaji Samaila Mohammed Mera sent a goodwill message to the event. He recalled the passion of the organizers of the event which dated back to more than a decade ago, explaining that their resilience and doggedness despite challenges has gone a long way in giving the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival a pride of place in the culture calendar of the world.
He commended the organizers and urged them to hold dearly on to their beliefs in the inviolability of their passion and to continue to project the culture of Argungu until their objectives are achieved.
The Kebbi state cultural troupe was at hand to entertain guests attracting applause and recognition. Several motion dances depicting several cultural angles and dimensions of the culture of Kebbi state were displayed to an appreciative crowd of people.
The exhibition will be held daily up to the 21st of this month when it will
close.