Click here for some more pics from the fabulous Art’s Own Kind launch in June at Rich Mix.

To take it statistically, one out of four Africans is Nigerian. Also, Nigeria is the 8th most populous country in the world. And when it comes to its inhabitants, it might be interesting to know that more than 20 % of the total Black population lives in Nigeria, which makes it one of the most representative countries for African culture.
Where there’s man (and there are 148 million souls in Nigeria! ), there’s a place to find art, as it is a marker of man’s presence. Thus, Nigeria, comprising almost 250 ethnical groups with their own languages and customs, of which the largest are Fulani/Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, offers us a space to explore artistic and cultural diversity in its utmost richness, exotism and irresistible attraction to ‘roots’ culture. By the predictions of the United Nations, Nigeria will be one of the countries that will account for most of the world’s population increase by 2050, so Nigeria 50 is a project which offers you the opportunity to delve into the creative spirit and mentality of a quickly expanding and developing nation. Nigeria 50 is a cultural event, bringing the best of Nigerian culture – passionate, political, shocking and sexy – to fresh and eager audiences worldwide.

For the very first time the fruits of five decades of music, art, fashion, writing and style from Africa’s most exciting nation will be on tour together with twenty venues are already confirmed, in cities all across the UK and also in international locations as diverse as New York, Tokyo, Paris, Cape Town and of course Lagos, where it all began. Nigeria 50 is modelled on Fela Kuti’s super groups, Africa 70 and Egypt 80, that gave birth to the Afrobeat phenomenon, featuring performances and tributes by many of the greatest international legends in Afrobeat history. These will include Dele Sosismi, Tony Allen and Wunmi. This unique tour of superstars will be accompanied the smash hit exhibition of Nigerian album images – “Art’s Own Kind” by Lemi Ghariokwu.

For more information check out the Punch website !

Check out this video from Art’s Own Kind in Leicester, where designer Mandeep Malhi greets Lemi Ghariokwu (LG) and shows him how the exhibition of his work turned out!

The Art’s Own Kind exhibition has embarked on a tour of the UK and can be seen now in Leicester at The Peepul Centre. Click here to see more photos from the location.

So here is the Art’s Own Kind footage from the Panel discussion entitled Afrobeat: A Culture , with Lemi Ghariokwu, Tony Allen, Dele Sosimi, Wunmi and Rich Medina, moderated by Paul Bradshaw at Rich Mix. Enjoy!

Click here for part 2/8 and then scroll down for the rest of the videos.

Here is the Wahala show edition which focuses on Afrobeat and the Art of Lemi Ghariokwu, filmed on location at Rich Mix during the first days of the Art’s Own Kind exhibition! Click HERE to watch the show.

WAHALA went down the RICH MIX in East London to investigate and capture the raw energy of this amaizing gathering of world-class AFRO talent in London: We meet and greet musicians Dele Sosimi, Philladelphia DJ Rich Medina, recording artist/singer/dancer Wunmi and legendary artist Ghariokwu Lemi and drummer extrordinaire Tony Allen. The event was organised by PUNCH RECORDS. A Birmingham based organisation pushing the boundaries of black culture in the UK.

voxafrica.com

Lemi’s art makes a strong statement about how African people have adopted Western values and thus lost freedom of thought and action as a result of the colonialist era. Even now, the strands of colonialist mentality are still visible through the Western potrayal of African culture, impregnated with prejudices of the Black continent being an under-developed and savage environment.

The Black man and woman is still colonised today. Look all around you and see what I mean. Most of the women in Africa and the Diaspora have their hair permed permanently. We wear Western clothes in Africa. We speak English to our children as the first and major language. Our culture and tradition is rapidly disappearing. With Christianity and Islam in total dominance as religions of Black people, tell me how Black art cannot and still continue to be colonised today? We’ve got to first emancipate ourselves from mental slavery before our minds and art can release itself from being colonised.

Lemi

Lemi distinguishes between the image of Africa thaWestern culture has produced and the representation he gives to his own culture:

The primitive image of Africa is represented by the Western information machinery. It is mostly about wars, hunger, starvation and underdevelopment. I’m trying to portray the image of our society albeit critical at times but in the vein of us taking a look at what is wrong to come up with a progressive and lasting solution. The image of hope, self worth, pride and dignity of the African. This I hope to leave as my legacy.

I missed designing a Peter Tosh cover. He is my reggae hero. I met him twice in the 1980s during his private visits to Lagos. I asked him about the ‘No Nuclear War’ cover and he smiled and said: “Neville Garrick already finished work on it.” Today, right now in Nigeria, I would love to do a cover for Asa, I love her music and message but I’m not gonna go ask for that myself!!!

Lemi

He also named his son after Peter Tosh, but as he did not want an English name he added an African twist to it and the result is: Omotosho.

To have a look at more photos from the Art’s Own Kind Launch featuring live performances from Dele Sosimi, Tony Allen and their bands at Rich Mix, click HERE