BY GREGORY AUSTIN NWAKUNOR
THE voice was sweet over the phone, breathy and clear. His vowels were properly enunciated. They sounded very certain for a youngman, who for so many years was outside the shores of the country.
Nwagbogu is one of the most recognised names in the country’s art scene, and among those who have chosen to promote the African artist. But wait a little. This is not Chike, the owner of Nimbus Gallery. Rather, it is his younger brother, Azu.
Azu Nwagbogu is responsible for the ongoing Lagos Photo Festival. The slender built Youngman is in charge of over 41 photo artists trying to recast the image of Africa.
“I’m just the director of the festival, everything about it is not me,” Azu protests.
Much of the credit for the show, Azu says, goes to the very talented team that comprises Marc Prust, Caline Chagoury and Medina Dugger.
Azu, founder of the African Artists' Foundation (AAF), who is working in collaboration, with sponsors such as Etisalat, the European Union National Institutes for Culture and the Eko Hotels, says the event has been put together as a platform to enable society see history of the city in pictures.
“We want to tell stories that are not obvious and when you really look into the themes you’ll understand why we chose, What’s next Africa? The hidden stories. Really, these are not stories you see often in your televisions. They are stories that will inspire the general public or challenge the people of what we used to see or think that is normal about Africa,” Azu says, burstling with dreams of renascent Africa.
According to Nwagbogu, “a lot of issues are represented. And for the next three years, we shall be focusing on the works that have been done on the continent. We started last year with Lagos photo: No judgment, Africa under the prism. If you look at the show, it gave different views and angles. After having viewed it from a panoramic point of view, you will see that there was no obscure thing from it… We want to bring to the people those stories that you think are obscure.”
Just a breath shy of beating his chest, Azu says, “we want to use the period — first three years of the festival — to show the world, using the popular media: photography, films, music, literature and others. We want to bring the whole world here and most of the people that are in the show are those that have lived in the various parts of the continent. We chose these people because we do not want those who do not know the continent to be telling the history of Africa.”
Is there any particular number from Nigeria?
The University of Benin-trained pharmacist says with a convincing tone of success, “to an extent, yes.”
But he insists, “we are not too concerned about it. We are much concerned about the qualities of the works rather than the origin. So far, the qualities are good enough, no problems. At least, there are photographers from Ghana, Nigeria and other parts of the continent.”
Over 200 works of 41 participating photographers are on display. Among the photographers are Akintunde Akinleye, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, George Osodi, Victor Ehikhamenor, Aderemi Adegbite (all Nigerians), Yuri Kozyrev and Daniele Tamagni.
Beyond appreciation, the photo festival is meant to give opportunities to develop upcoming photographers who are participating along with the professionals.
WHAT other things is the organisation involved in?
“The African Artists' Foundation provides support to professional artists in Africa through healthcare, a pension fund for aging artists, scholarships for young artists, support for the professional development of women artists, international exhibits and community outreach programs to foster an enabling environment for the development and promotion of public health through artistic endeavours.”
He snaps his finger, and says “AAF offers curatorial direction and art consultancy to Embassies, Consulates, High Commissions, multinationals, banks and individuals looking to host art shows or develop their private art collections.”
Azu says AAF curators are uniquely qualified to offer guidance to individuals and organisations, providing more than 30 years of combined curatorial experience. “Our curators are able to reach the best artistic talents in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. They can provide valuations and appraisals of new or existing collections, judge art contests, provide design and décor recommendations, provide purchase recommendations, organise special event exhibits, supply permanent rotating exhibits, and bring mini-exhibitions of new art right to a private residence. They make recommendations based on the specific requirements of the client and the quality and originality of the art available.”
WHAT was it like the first time he held the camera?
“To be honest, I was calm just like any other guy that takes picture. I don’t have any personal relationship with the camera. I’m just a director,” Azu responds.
Do you think you would have risen to this level?
He says, “not at all though I have always had interest in literature, I was also passionate about fine art and had little knowledge of it until my postgraduate, when I began to see what life means, interest and passion anew.”
Could that have shaped his life?
“I don’t think it is only one event that has shaped my life. The people, experiences and events that I have come across while growing up and in the course of my travels have all contributed to shape my life.”
Knowing his limitations, he has surrounded himself with experts in the field and also, taken his job seriously.
“I get to work early, begin to respond to emails, plan for the day, meet with stakeholders and do other things that will help what we are doing at AAF,” he says.
BORN in Lagos to parents from Onitsha, Anambra Stae, Azu attended Federal Government College, Lagos. Thereafter, he was at the University of Benin, where he studied Pharmacy. He did his post graduate studies at the Cambridge University, London. He studied Epidemiology and Public Health. He was working abroad before he came back home in October 2006 to work in his brother’s gallery, Nimbus.
He responds to his homecoming this way: “I have to tell my story in such a way that every Nigerian abroad will want to be back home.”
Being born in Lagos doesn’t make him feel out of place in Onitsha. “I go there from time-to-time. Going to Onitsha during Christmas is really out of place. I have never subscribed to that. We go on different occasions, especially during Ofala Festival. The festival is holding now (at this time) there, I actually should be there to document the show or promote it. By next year, one of the things we will be doing is to promote African festivals, bring it to the knowledge of the world and showcase it in pictures and make people from across the globe to see it.”
Azu believes that every human being is special, “and you have to look inside of people to bring out the best in them. As a person, you have to always give your best, give yourself, because you cannot give what you don’t have. Give yourself before giving to others. I believe that development comes from the inside of man.”
Azu is one of the many who chose a career different from their course of study. He exclaims, “I have a lot of experience working in the field and one thing I have to say is that you have to be passionate on the things you do. It is very important. Also, you have to be humble, learn to involve other people; especially those more knowledgeable than you are. This will make you to be successful.”
You want to know who his mentors are?
He pauses as the question is broached. Draws a long laugh and says cynically, “I have several of them.”
He sips from the cup of water on his table and chuckles. “My brother, Chike, is one. My parents too are my mentors. They shaped me. My elderly and younger siblings are all my mentors because I learn from all of them.
Don’t expect to see a moral curator. Though he cherishes his work, he also takes time to dance and hangout with friends.
“As an extrovert, I dance and as an introvert, I read and write. I play both roles. I could sometime be a quiet person and sometime an extrovert. I don’t think I can be grouped into any, I am just adaptable,” he says.
What if there is no music for him to dance?.
“Ughhh!” He exclaims. “I go for a long walk.”
Is he a fashion crazy person?
“No! I just dress according to the occasion and my mood. I dress for comfort, but not fashion.”
A photo feast in the park
TODAY is the final day of a two-day photo party started yesterday at the Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island.
Dubbed Party in the Park, it holds between 11 am and 6 pm and features photography exhibitions with live music. Billed to perform today are jazz musician Somi, Tari and Sha.
Attractions of the open-air party include a kid's play corner, photography maze, cooking demonstrations, artists' talks, wine tasting and raffle draw.
Prizes like iPad, Blackberry, weekend accommodations at Le Meridien Ibom Resort for two will be given out.
The Lagos Photo Walk for amateur and professional photographers holds on October 22 and 23.
The departure point for the walk, which is based on the theme, Lazy Lagos, is from the AAF corporate headquarters on 54 Raymond Njoku Street in Ikoyi.
On October 30, the Lagos Photo Fashion Photography Exhibition will hold with a special cocktail reception at Oceanview Restaurant, Victoria Island from 4 pm.
A series of photography workshops, which started on Friday October 7, ends on October 23. They will run concurrently with portfolio reviews and discussions.
There will also be film screenings at the Freedom Park, in Lagos Island on October 30.
Will this month long event not be stagnated at a point?
Azu adds with a laugh, “what we are doing is to make it interesting. We had the opening on Saturday, October 8, and we had between 1,200 and 1500 guests.”
He says, “the next day, which was Meet the artists, had over 200 people turning up. This weekend, we will be having an out door picnic at Muri Okunola Park, where people can come to comment on the event.”
According to Azu, the programmes have been designed in a way that will engage the general public. The reason we have extended it is that we want to reach wider audience and give the public the privilege of partaking in the programmes.”
Azu hopes that by next year, when the first phase of stories in Africa would have ended, “we would have trained, improved or offered a wide range of the photographers the chance to improve on their skills, get more of their works published in the international media and inspired more people to take to photography as a career. Make those from other countries that participated in the event go back to their countries to tell the story of Nigeria, better. We also hope to improve readership, the viewership and to tell the stories better.”
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