The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) on Wednesday felicitated with its matron, board member, and mentor Taiwo Ajai-Lycett on the occasion of her 80th birthday.
A statement signed by the CORA programme officer Samuel Osaze on behalf of the programme directorate of the prime culture advocacy group said the actress, social activist and culture advocate Aunty TAL, as she is fondly called, meant more than just a board member to CORA. It stated that she is a vital force behind the dreams and passion that drive CORA and its various activities.
“Like all the other eminent members of the board, she is ever ready to listen and help to think through programme ideas, offering much-needed advices and critiques as desired,” said Mr Osaze.
He continued, “We indeed cannot quantify her contribution and support to the progress of the organisation these past three decades.
“It is thus with pleasure that the CORA Working Committee (CWC) has dedicated the entire 2021 programme season to celebrating the illustrious life and career of the enigmatic matriarch of the Nigeria stage and screen. All through the year, several programmes would be held to celebrate various strands of her blessed life. Some events will also be staged in partnership with other organisations to which she subscribed.
“The climax of the CORA 2021 season would be the 7-day Lagos Book & Art & Festival, LABAF, which is entirely dedicated to Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. With the working theme, A FORK IN THE ROAD… LABAF 2021, will be a week-long comprehensive open-air carnivalesque ‘feast of Life and Ideas’ featuring a mix-grill of artistic and cultural events including: exhibitions of books and arts, live reading sessions; conversations around books; seminars on visual, performing and allied arts; displays of paintings, sculptures, mixed media, installations and crafts; children and youths art workshops; live music, poetry, drama and dance presentations among others.
“All the programme items will have event or section celebrating Aunty Ajai-Lycett.
“But for the restrictions dictated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and especially the strict guidelines by the Lagos state government, the year-long programme would have commenced today, February 3, with a mentorship event that had been exclusively designed to spotlight the very essence of Aunty TAL: Mentoring the Future. The event has now been rescheduled to when the raging pandemic has simmered and the city has reopened.”
Meanwhile, the CWC recently concluded an interview documentary on the matriarch titled ‘Matriarch of the ACT’ which would be unveiled in the coming weeks. An excerpt from the documentary is, however, expected to be screened on all CORA communication platforms from Wednesday throughout the rest of the month.
