Lagos Black Heritage Festival unveils “Heritage 30; Lagos, a city of a thousand masks”
The 30 artists known as ‘Heritage 30’ were selected by a four-man panel out of 108 painters who originally enrolled for the competition, says the organizers. Recently, the painting was unveiled before the Festival Consultant, Prof. Wole Soyinka, The Chairman Globacom Nigeria Limited, Dr. Mike Adenuga, The Group COO Mr. Jameel Mohammed, The Executive Director […]
The 30 artists known as ‘Heritage 30’ were selected by a four-man panel out of 108 painters who originally enrolled for the competition, says the organizers.
Recently, the painting was unveiled before the Festival Consultant, Prof. Wole Soyinka, The Chairman Globacom Nigeria Limited, Dr. Mike Adenuga, The Group COO Mr. Jameel Mohammed, The Executive Director human resources, Mr. dewale Sangowawa and Art Icon Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye.
The painting competition is an offshoot of the 2010 Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF) and was sponsored exclusively by Globacom Nigeria Limited with the support of the Lagos State Government.
Of the 30 artists who contributed to the painting, a panel of judges led by Prof Agbo Folarin selected five of the best painters of the group. The top five artists were awarded cash prizes (1st Prize –$20,000, 2ND Prize – $15,000, 3rd Prize – $10,000, 4th Prize – $7,500, 5th Prize- $5,000).
In a speech delivered by Ms. Foluke Michael, Principal Partner, Caterina de Medici Africa, at the award presentation, she explained that the maiden edition of Caterina de’ Medici International Painting Competition took place in the city of Florence in 2002. Three Nigerian artists participated in the award and one of them- Olubunmi Ogundare made it to the top ten. In 2009, four Nigeria painters participated in the competition and a Nigerian artist Samuel Ebohon emerged the best painter.
She said: “There are many talents in Nigeria that can help the Nation’s economy! I have a dream that the work of art will be an attraction to many Nations of the World. It is the first time in the world that 30 people will come together to produce a single painting! It is a sign of unity in Nigeria and the World.”