Children strut the red for Soyinka @78

BY OMIKO AWA

THE ambience of Musical Society of Nigerian (MUSON) centre was last week brightened up by pupils, parents and the 78 Senior Secondary School students selected from across the country and in the Diaspora to participate in the 2012 edition of the WS/78 International Cultural Exchange (ICE) project essay competition. The topic of the essay was The Mind Of A Patriot dedicated to the 78^th birthday celebration of Professor Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate.

  Apart from essay writing, the young ones strutted the red carpet in beautiful traditional attires of the various tribes that make up the federation.

 The fun-filled event also saw the pupils sing and speak different dialects, put up traditional dances, short plays and recite some of Soyinka poems and even imitate his mannerism. Drawing loud ovation was a boy, who dressed like the Nobel laureate, himself.   

Gospel singer, Benita Okojie

   Around to provide music was the gospel singer, Benita Okojie, who sang her gospel songs alongside old skool music that kept the pupils and adults, too, on the dance floor for hours.

 The event climaxed with the staging of Sam Art Williams's famous play, Home, directed by US-based Nigerian Professor of Theatre, Segun Ojewuyi. It featured a mixed cast of actors from US, Britain and Nigeria.

 The children were hosted the following day by Prof Soyinka at his Abeokuta, Ogun State home in continuation of the birthday celebrations.