AFAC 2014: A potpourri of sorts

“There is remarkable improvement this time around with the participations from countries and particularly, we’ve discovered a lot of enthusiasm and interests generated by exhibitors and producers.” These were the words of the NCAC boss, Mr. Mwajim Maidugu in describing the just concluded Expo. Maidugu added that there is a lot of improvement in the […]

“There is remarkable improvement this time around with the participations from countries and particularly, we’ve discovered a lot of enthusiasm and interests generated by exhibitors and producers.” These were the words of the NCAC boss, Mr. Mwajim Maidugu in describing the just concluded Expo. Maidugu added that there is a lot of improvement in the array of items displayed: “We’ve also seen that the industry is growing interests from far and wide. This year, corporate bodies are exhibiting like Federal Inland Revenue Service and National Board for Technology Exhibition. It’s a plus to have inter-agency participation.
The event which began on July 18, featured works from countries within and outside Africa as well as Asia, and alsoattracted private businesses and corporate institutions and states from across Nigeria. Each one showed off their expertise in craftsmanship and presentation of their various wares and cultures. AFAC was also a platform for young and upcoming artists to sell themselves by showcasing their ingenuity.
With art wares in wood, textile, clay, raffia, beads, hide, paper, metal and recycled materials among others, visitors came in to patronise the craftsmen who complained about the low turnout and patronage.
Malian participant, Korotoumou Aliyu, who sells ‘bazan’ fabrics known as ‘shaddar’ or brocade, said: “This is the toughest outing since I began attending AFAC. There’s not a lot of movement because it seems people are scared of the blasts. Sales aren’t very encouraging.In previous years a lot of clients bought in wholesale quantities for resale but this time they come in trickles.” Like some of the other participants, she said publicity was lacking and needed to be improved upon.
Sudanese products also made their presence at the Expo as several women trooped to the stand to buy perfumes and fragrant incenses. Sarah James,who spoke on behalf of Sudanese trader Yakubu Idris, who had an array of traditionally mixed assortment of cosmetics and perfumes performing several functions for women from acne treatment to skin glow, said he was participating for the sixth time. Idris was happy that even though the cosmetic products were not selling as much as he would have loved them to, clients were making up for it by buying incense.
 Valentine Djoko, who was participating at AFAC for the second time, showed off Cameroonian craftsmanship in his four piece settee with a centre table made from cow hide and horns. Djoko who spoke to our reporter, said it was a tough five years the first time he attempted to create thecrafts but that now it takes him two weeks to make them.
“At some point I felt like giving up. It wasn’t an easy path to tread but determination kept me going. Conceiving the idea and bringing it to reality took time. A lot of mathematics and physics go into the production. This time I brought only one set and it sold off on the second or third day of the Expo,” Djokosaid.
On how much he sold the work for, Djoko said: “Art has no price. I only give my works to people who have a value for them. I don’t give my work to the man who has money and I’m not sure if he’ll simply dump it somewhere.”
An elated Beth Forzzan from the Philippines was very happy to receive third place for best designed pavilion. She said: “I’m happy that all our work and efforts were recognised.” On her thoughts on the exhibition, she said it was very quiet this time around, attributing the lull to security challenges confronting the country. Forzzan added however, that though this was their second time here, they would participate in future editions.
One of the major attractions was the ‘Nigerianised’ version of world renowned game, Chess, showcased at the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC). The figures sculpted are characters in traditional attires and body expressions typical of Nigeria. The artist, who his name simply as Lateef, told Weekend Magazine that it was an interesting project to work on and was happy with the response it received at the Expo.
Speaking on the colloquium as a great success, Maidugu said the best of the best of scholars from the various countries and Nigeria were there and a lot of ideas were exchanged on the best way to carry the industry forward. He said: “Our emphasis is to carry these products to compete on the global level and ensuring producers, marketers and promoters do a lot of research in terms of product quality, finishing, packaging, research and also to be able to have standardised products to present.”
Citing an example, he said: “Handcrafted leather shoes are excellent but we always emphasise the need to adopt an international standard of producing particular products. Such that whatever global market it ends up in people know that it is of international standard.”
Maidugu said there was to collate data on the value of products, how much they generate, how many craft practitioners are in the industry and how many marketers there are in the sector. “This is a special field that requires statistics and data gathering. This way we can know, tangibly what the craft industry contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
A communiqué issued at the end of the colloquium recommended more support for initiatives that would bring value addition to enhance competitiveness of Nigeria’s crafts products in the global market as well as support for the establishment of incubation and production centres for the arts and crafts industry in states to stem the tide of youth restiveness and enhance skills’ acquisition. It also called for support for capacity building initiatives through workshops that facilitate the exchange of skills among craftsmen locally and internationally.
Another attraction was Sam Palmtree’s art piece which occupied the centre stage of the Expo, standing at six feet tall. The circular piece made up of different panels of paintings chronicling Nigeria’s leadership from colonial era to date, drew crowds who stared endlessly with admiration at the work as the artist educated them on the faces they saw.
Insurgency was no impediment for Borno State that had a stand selling ‘secrets of women and men’ and a second one selling assorted incense.
It was not an all-arts affair as dealers of household items also had their fair share at the Expo, drawing clients to their stands.
Winning participants at the event included Kano State (best designed pavilion), Ghana (best participating country), AkwaIbom and Jigawa (most consistent states) and Emedi Ogboso (most enterprising exhibitor, for inventing an ingenious loom among others.