Nigeria’s talented Juju music living legend – King Sunny Ade added colour to the ongoing New World NigeriaSports and Cultural Showcase when he mounted the stage of the 128-year old building housing Theatre Royal Stratford in East London yesterday.
New World Nigeria is an initiative of Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BOI), created to market the diverse and vibrant Nigerian economy – promoting investment and business opportunities.
BOI’s General Manager of Strategic Planning and Corporate Communications – Waheed Olagunju said: “We are looking forward to promote inward missions of Nigerian businesses to the UK and UK businesses to Nigeria.”
Launched officially by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Court of St. James’, United Kingdom – Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida CFR last week; BOI are driving the country’s Olympic Hospitality venue – Nigeria House at the Theatre.
At the official launch, the Managing Director and CEO of BOI – Ms Evelyn Oputu asserted that “we are here to take the opportunity of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad to showcase Nigeria … We (Nigeria) are the best secret in the world.”
Representing Engr. Sani Ndanusa – the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Mr Tunde Popoola – the committee’s Secretary-General, noted that “BOI was the first partner we had for the Olympics” emphasising that the partnership was “not based on commercial value.”
The showcase at New World Nigeria will also include films, literature, theatre and poetry. Attendees can also enjoy an exhibition of Nigerian manufactured goods which will also be on display.
This evening’s showcase, (25 July), will feature Nigerian Diasporama All Star band featuring Asa, Dele Sosimi and Tony Allen. The evening will be rounded up by Seun Kuti and his Egypt 80 band.
On Saturday 28 July, there will be an evening of poetry tagged Voices and Vocations while Sunday 29 July will see the staging of Sefi Atta’s play: The Naming Ceremony.
Next week, Wole Soyinka’s play The Lion and the Jewel will be staged on Monday 30 July and Tuesday 31 July. Fred Agbeyegbe’s The King Must Dance Naked, will take stage on Friday 3 August.
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