"Since art is very powerful and one of the strongest tools of changing the mindset of a particular environment, artists and musicians should be one of the top-notch politicians."
This was the opinion of the Director of Social Media Affairs and Special Adviser on Media to the President of Okun Alimosho, Opara Chukwuebuka, while expressing his views on what "art" means, during the Independence Edition of D'Gathering organised by Adeojo Oluwaseun recently in Alimosho.
An art work on display
He further clarified: "Art is not what, art is who. Art is not a thing, art is actually a personality. Art is the whole world that we are living in. Art is very powerful and it is one of the strongest tools of changing the mindset of a particular environment. In my opinion, artists and musicians should be one of the top-notch politicians that we have in the world because they have the ability to interprete and prophesy.
The stage backdrop while it was being designed by an artist on stage
"Also, solutions are being given to them via their arts which nobody takes seriously, but I can see that there is a change happening. There is a revolution. I feel that art is coming out and the D’gathering is ensuring it. I am glad I’m part of it this year and I hope to be a part of it in years to come," he said.
Glowrie during her music rendition
Opara, who was attending the D'gathering event for the first time, said the event was a perfect representation of "one art" because artists came together to showcase and speak one language, no matter the different outcomes of their artworks.
"This year, I discovered all the artworks were able to speak one particular theme. They talked much more about ‘Black’, which is one of the ways of reshaping the mindset of Africa as a whole."
An art work on display
Speaking about D'gathering, the organiser, Adeojo Desoji Oluwaseun, told AlimoshoToday that D'gathering is an event organised to celebrate, network and showcase young people of passion and creativity. "This is because we believe that if we give the youth the platform to express themselves, there is so much more that they can do. It has a major feature of an art exhibition, while other features include spoken words, poetry, music, comedy, dance and others.
The Independence Edition of D'gathering witnessed the presentation of gifts to winners of the online contest (Afuwai Bodam Michael - 1st position; Olaleye Abdullah - 2nd position and Olutimehin Ifeoluwa - 3rd position),
Sixty different artworks were on display from exhibiting artists that include Adeojo 'Desoji' Oluwaseun, Amosu Lekan, Olaleye Abdullah, Nwakunor Ugonna, Buhari Torifat, Olusegun Damilola, Meshack Ejiro, Amoo Emmanuel, Niameh Richard, Godonu Mautin, Bello Quadri, Arcartist Simeon, Adebayo Quadri, Ajibola Ayomide, Famuagun Favorite, Oladunni Moshood, Adebayo Tolu, Olubunmi Mariam, Wusu Emmanuel, Agbemetsi Isaac, Kehinde Abraham and Esan Samuel.
A spoken word artist during his rendition
Other fun activities at the event include music renditions by Glowrie, Olasage, Bamskid and Mamo; spoken word by Kormbat, Oluwadara Oke and Sarah Tope; poetry by El-Peters Author, dance by Boneless and Comedy by Herbegbeyin, Henry and Eddyranking.
Desoji told AlimoshoToday that D'gathering started an online contest, usually hosted towards his birthday (April 24). In the first edition which held in 2016, contestants were asked to upload a picture they wanted him to draw on Instagram, including an accompanying caption centred on the theme "purpose."
Young minds during the networking session
He said, "the idea was to remind, inspire and encourage somebody about the discovery and pursuit of purpose." Thereafter, contestants with the highest post likes would emerge as the winner. In turn, Desoji would draw them and also hand souvenirs given by sponsors to them.
In the second year (2017) – 'vision' was the theme of the contest, the third year (2018) – 'mission', the fourth year (2019) - 'passion'. Passion is what birthed D’gathering – the quest to bring together young and passionate creative people.
In previous editions, the winners of the contest are invited to a mutual location and the gifts are presented, but the fourth edition of the contest and the first edition of D'gathering held at Ikeja, April 27, 2019. Meanwhile, this year's edition theme is creativity.
Michael Bodam, winner of this year's online contest with the pen name - El-Peters Arthur, while speaking with AlimoshoToday, said: "I saw an opportunity to express what I love doing. I love to write poems and do spoken words. For this contest, I wrote a poem titled "Adulthood" and solicited for votes and garnered the highest likes and highest comments.
"I dedicate this win to all law students that graduated from Houdegbe North American University that could not have access to Law School. I appeal to the federal government to look into our case, especially the Council of Legal Education. We have been unable to go to Law School since 2015."
Talking about the event, Michael said he was really excited to see young minds come together with the motive of connecting. "It’s difficult to do without networking in this age and this event offers that opportunity. Desoji is a humble man, I wish him success and a greater height. He should just keep up with what he is doing. People out there should endeavour to support my brother," he said.
Adejo Favour simply told AlimoshoToday that she was happy to be a part of this year's edition of D'gathering: "I’m happy I came here. The event was quite nice because I was happy seeing people with different talents doing things I didn’t imagine was possible."
