EDAOTO & THE AFROGENIUS BAND IN ARCHIVE: A CURSORY FLIPPING THROUGH LAGOS LITERARY AND ART LANDSCAPE-report by 'Ari-ajia lanre

The Nigeria Arts and Literary firmament is wide and interestingly it continues to expand within and without the bounder of this country under what is called Diaspora Literature / Arts. Ironically, the spaces available for Literary and Arts exhibitions do not correspond with the available creative high entropy in the land. The truth is that like it is with other sectors of the Nigeria society the management and promotion of Arts have come under low funding as a result of the country’s deficit economy. However for even a few platforms there are in the country, this cursory report does not claim to unveil even a few of them; nor the roles of Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band in them.

Therefore, like we were taught in Regional Geography, back in secondary school: that a study of the climatic and the general landscape of one of the sub-Sahara Africa countries will suffice for the rest; this technique is what we shall adopt here- in taking a speed of light look at Arts in Nigeria, and the role of Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band in it.

Against this background, there can be no any better state in Nigeria that is more qualified a sample for this assignment among the 36 states in Nigeria than Lagos State. Of course Lagos is more than being the commercial heart-beat of the country it is also the country’s cultural meeting-point.

Sequel, any Art that can find its root in Lagos State can represent the country; hence, we welcome you to a parochial narrative album of Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band in the last one, two years.

ANA- ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA AUTHORS- This is the umbrella association of Nigeria writers, and it has branches in all the 36 states of the Federation. The Lagos state chapter meets once in every month at Aina Onabolu Hall, National Theater, Iganmu, Lagos. It is on record that one of the regular performers at this writers’ gathering is Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band till date.

P.L.A.Y: This acronym stands for POETRY, LAUGH, AND, YOU. It is part of Guarantee Trust Bank social responsibility to Arts and Literature. It is always a three-day of poetry and poetic-songs performances. Since it started in 2009 at Terra-culture, Tiamiyu Salvage, Victoria Island, Lagos, Edaoto has never been omitted at this event that married Arts with corporate initiative.

CORA-COMMITTEE for RELIVANT ARTS, is a frontline culture and arts promotional establishment in Nigeria arts and literary space. The group has a handful of programmes under her label; some of these programmes are LABAF- Lagos Book Fair and Elders’ Forum. Since the days of LABAF at the courtyard of Onikan National Museum to its present National Theatre multipurpose hall, Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band remains one of the performers at this annual international event.

WORLDSLAM: A poetry gathering that showcases the best of Nigeria poetry performers. It is a project of Culture Advocate Committee in collaboration with Goethe Institute. The first two editions of this project took place inside the former location of Goethe Institute along Lekki express, Ajah, Lagos. Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band has never missed performing at any of these events; even when it was moved to the open space of National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.the next one is on the 24th 0f sept.visit;www.wordslam.blogspot.com

WORLD & SOUND: This is also a poetry performance evening, though now rested. It is the creation of Beautiful Nubia, the Vet-Medicine turned Nigeria musician. This programme, and those who were not missing it at JazzVile can never forget Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band for his jaw dropping performances.

NAIJAZZ FESTIVAL: This is a Lagos state government sponsored event. It paraded the best of Nigeria Jazzy performers, saxophonists and the likes. It is an exclusive platform for Jazz players and instrumentalists, however, because of the outstanding performance of Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band, aside the fact that Afrobeat is to Africa what Jazz is to the western world, the band has remain a regular at it's yearly event.

IFE POETRY FESTIVAL: This yearly poetry festival holds regularly at OAU- Obafemi Awolowo University, under the directorate of the pharmacist-poet, Professor Laminkanra. The rush that always accords this event in the university community is an index of the popularity of the event in the school. Ditto, the popularity of Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band among the students and the varsity’s don alike.

BEAUTIFUL NUBIA:The ambience of Sparkle Bar, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, is a place for the Nigeria Canada based music artiste- Beautiful Nubia to treat his audience to his genre of music that is full with African vibe; and one of the regular performers at this show is always Edaoto.

CROWN TROUPE: The multiple awards winning movement analyst holds their regular performance at Motherland, Opebi-Allen, Ikeja. It has become commonplace that Edaoto is one of the a la carte this group always looks forward to serving their fans.

SOUL STORM: This is one of the creative platforms in the country. It is the brain-child of The Pen Society- a literati organization that is entirely inclusive to all genres of creativity. When Edaoto, the leader of Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band was invited as Guest Artiste by TPS during one of their monthly show, his outstanding performance made the audience to request for his return, several times than one.

POETRY POTTER: This is a creation of Kowry Kreations Media. As its name suggest, one of the management concerns is the promotion of poetry; and since its establishment some five years ago, Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band was a face to look forward to during this once in every one month programme at the Rotunda Hall, National Library, Alago-meji, Yaba, Lagos.


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FEATURE:

Edaoto, the founder and lead vocal of Edaoto & the Afrogenius Band has enjoyed cordiality from other artistes in no small measure. Like it is with those who have listened to him sing, other musicians too seem incapable to hide their admittance and admiration for his musical dexterity. This is perhaps the pointer for his inclusion in their works. However, as against many offers that he has had from other musicians, Edaoto would only attend to a few of them. No doubt, this is unconnected with his own philosophy of what quality music is, and if a music is serving humanity. From all indication, Edaoto’s philosophy of quality music is not restricted to Afrobeat, though this is his own fort, he however would not compromise the fact that any quality music must respond to the psycho-emotional need of the people, as well as, their socio-politic marginalization.

Hence, in recent time he has featured in the work of such artistes as would be alighted in the following paragraphs.

ELELE TURE: The title of a new poetry CD from the award winning poet, Akeem Lasisi. This work runs largely on the theme of love; and, the role of Edaoto in its success is inestimable. All through the poetic performances, he provided apt songs that make this work loveable by not only literary enthusiasts; even by-standers cannot but acknowledge the effort of Edaoto.

WHERE RIVERS SING A SONG: This is the poetry CD from the poet-musician, Segun Akinlolu (aka Beautiful Nubia). Edaoto was one of the singers-audience in the largely interactive poetry CD.

ORI-AGBE: A EULOGY FOR PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA: This is another poetry CD from the poet-journalist, Akeem Lasisi. As the title indicated, it is a praise-poetry for Professor Wole Soyinka’s achievement as an activist, writer, humanist among others, in a way that is panegyric-like. And like with Elele Ture, Edaoto’s input was simple invaluable.

Al islam: This is another feat from Edaoto’s musical finesse. Kafayat Kafidipe (the popular actress from Saworo-Ide), was the main act in this Islamic music. The fact that Edaoto would feature in this genre of music that is known for its own peculiar modulation is worth commendation.