Lagos – An artist, Mr usaji Ibrahim, says Nigerians need to acknowledge the intrinsic values in arts but decried the their dwindling economic fortunes, saying it was affecting patronage of different art forms.
Usaji, the Secretary, Artist Village, located within the premises of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, said the patronage of the different forms of arts was dropping daily.
He said that if the trend was unchecked, the idea for creating the village to promote arts generally would be destroyed.
“The Artists Village was an idea that came from the artists themselves and sold to the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), and they embraced it.
“The village is the first and only in the West African coast for the past 30 years and hrbours artists of different work forms who have come together under one umbrella.
“We have sculptors, musicians, dramatists, script writers, film makers, and indeed, artists from every aspect of arts,’’ Usaji told NAN.
“The Artists Village which is one of the symbols of art and culture is being neglected by the government and the people.
“There is need for the government to create an avenue for people to feel creativity and the nature in arts.’’
He lamented that the economic situation had prevented people from valuing arts and culture and investing in it.
“The black man syndrome, which makes some to come and steal what you have and get away with it without punishment even when caught has not supported the development of the arts,’’ Usaji said.
He said the artists in the village were pleading to the government to help them in the development of arts and culture, especially now that the country was diversifying its economy.
“There are huge potential in the arts which can leverage the economy if adequately tapped,’’ Usaji said. (NAN)