Calabar
 

Theme - Ekpe Festival
23 - 24 November 2007    

Calabar was the last leg of an intense Expressions Again tour. The theme for Calabar was the Ekpe festival.  This was explored by participating children.

The organisational team and participating artists had just recharged their batteries at the breathtakingly beautiful Obudu Ranch Resort. The overnight experience there seemed like a dream. It was very hard to leave and we managed to delay our journey until late afternoon, an unwise move in a system that has little infrastructure in place to deal with the potential eventualities of night travel.

As things would have it, we had an uneventful but nerve wracking ride from Obudu to Calabar, arriving late in the night. We met up with our exhibition co-ordinator Bassey Orok, stopped by at the Nollywood studios in Tinapa to offload, then went to the hotel were Richard was waiting. We signed in and collapsed for the night.

At first light, the intense pace resumed as we had to get organised quickly. The artwork had to be mounted at Tinapa by the art team whilst the children's tour was coordinated at the same time. Buses had to pick children and teachers from all participating schools and bring them to the Slave History Museum at the Marina.

The tour of the museum was both chilling and thrilling. The stark reality of slavery was well presented by our tour guide......... whilst a short film drove the message further home. Some children were visibly shocked. Thankfully, the Marina kindly allowed children to unwind with two free goes on the carousel...even the adults couldn't resist a go.

Lunch followed and then the children were taken on the buses to the Nollywood Studios at Tinapa. You can see from the pictures that having fun was number one on the agenda.

The workshops started off well and Olusola got into gear, motivating the children into the usual frenzy of role play and drama. Then came an unfortunate hitch. The management of Nollywood, who had not been properly advised about the tour, turfed everyone out of the studio at 5pm. This action infuriated the Kambani organisational team. Unfortunately, the Director was on his way from negotiating with sponsors when this took place and arrived only to find the entire team of artists, organisers, school children and teachers, sitting outside with the exhibition studio locked.

In disbelief, frantic calls were made and Tinapa management apologised profusely and promised to rectify the problem. Unfortunately it would take too long. Then something extraordinary happened. Olusola got up and from nowhere, motivated an impromptu drama "workshop". She gathered everyone in a large circle and proceeded to enthuse incredibly positive vibes from all present. Before long, the depression was replaced by ecstatic dancing, singing and euphoria. We could not believe our eyes as we danced our way into the sunset, oblivious of time, the experience,...sublime. Adults became childlike in expression, shameless to their inhibitions, children tried to outdo adults and each other, the result was something that defies description, suffice to say, everyone was left feeling good.

The Tinapa management then arrived and unlocked the studio, offering profuse apologies. This was too little too late and we simply tidied up what we could, made arrangements with schools to complete the workshops in the morning, then left.

The next day was indescribable. The display was breathtakingly beautiful. The work on display was awesome. The children engaged in explosive workshops around art and slavery. Their written work defied their ages. The evening was another befitting display of culture, centred around the cultural theme of Ekpe.

Calabar provided a befitting finale to the Expressions Again tour. The sponsorship challenges, logistical problems, infrastructural dilemma, all paled into insignificance in light of the final achievement. It was simply a remarkable outcome from a beginning of such uncertainty.

Work will now focus on Kambani Diaries II - Sounds of Silence a documentary which will bring together, a realistic enactment of art and slavery themes explored during the tour.

© Kambani Arts 2008

The Slave History Museum at the Marina in Calabar, venue for the children's slavery education tour.

Children at school during assembly, shortly after a visit by the Kambani team.

Children were excited to be part of the creative writing experience.

A cultural dancer at the Duke family festivity day, supporters of Kambani.

Members of a young traditional troupe at the Duke family day.

Chima (centre) with elders of the Duke family.

The formidable Ekpe masquerade of Calabar performs at the Duke Culture day.

Children unwind on the carousel after a revealing tour of the Slave History museum.

A group of school teachers and Slave Museum education staff pose for a picture with Chima.

Excited children on the bus to the Tinapa Project.

A view of the Expressions Again exhibition display in Studio II, Nollywood Studios, Tinapa.

Childrens Creative Writing facilitator, Olusola Oyeleye motivates the children.

An impromptu workshop erupts outside the Nollywood Studios, courtesy Olusola Oyeleye.

Smiles reveal all as the children take pride in their work.

Another view of the Expressions Again exhibition area.

Another view of the exhibition area.

Chima with students from Auntie Margaret International school at the evening of culture.

An armoured model warrior at the Nollywood Studios.

Beautiful canopied hut overlooking the Tinapa lake.

Children get down to some serious creative writing at the workshops.

Calabar City gates, elaborately carved pillars greet you as you enter Calabar.

Art work is laid out all over Calabar town. These monoliths at a popular roundabout.

Artists and organisers pose for a group photo in the Nollywood Studios.

Children and teachers of Police school pose for a group photo at the exhibition.

Artists and organisers of Expressions Again, looking excited at the end of the tour.