Event Report: DWSeries8: Kelani, Kelechi and Kodje

The Art, Cinema and Architecture Edition

LAGOS- 25TH FEBRUARY 2012

Recent Work: MAAMi

The respected filmmaker and cinematographer traced the roots of his basic knowledge of architecture to his native Abeokuta. Relishing the traditional carvings and style of old, he stated that his work had always bordered on documenting this rich history we have in Africa, from her buildings to events, political situations and so on. This inspired epics like Saworoide, O Le Ku, Agogo Eewo etc. Though his was brief and revealing, Kelani shed light on the inspiration behind his latest flick- MAAMi. It all started out as an adaptation of Femi Osofisan’s short story titled Maami, while he (Kelani) merged a new plot with the short story. He enthuses that in line with the vision of Mainframe Productions, the outfit he owns; documenting Nigeria’s qualification for the first world cup to be held on African soil- South Africa 2010 was compelling. He narrated the story of beauty of African values displayed by the lead character, Funke Akindele who acts the character- Maami and how her son, Adewole Ojo would later be picked to represent Nigeria at the world football showpiece. The movie, he says is just in line with his principle of documenting timely events especially in the African continent. After taking a barrage of questions from the teeming audience, he invites all to the World Premiere of MAAMi at the Ozone cinemas, Yaba

The Way We Think
Paul Kodje’s The Way We Think took a chunk of the audience by surprise, as he played down the expectations of a pure architecture talk. His session however was a mix of his findings on daily life scenarios, people’s attitudes to the environment and responses. This he tactically presented with hilarious photographs and sounds that endeared the audience to him. Kodje weaves his university days- in terms of expectations and results with a pragmatic look at how he had taken steps to correct societal ills through his architecture. He reveals that against the backdrop of a true African architecture was a number of efforts by people like Demas Nwoko, Suzanne Wenger, David Aradeon and John Godwin. He linked the essence of Fela’s music to the societal value it had and challenged young designers to pick up issues in the society as a path to relevance.  Paul Kodje did not leave the audience in doubt of his romance with photography and music and got a few surprised about his other sides.  Bringing the talk to the issues of relevance, he inquired from the audience what they felt about the UBA-Unilag Park located at the University of Lagos gate. As a panacea, he linked the failure of the park to a couple of social and administrative iadequacies. The fact that students were not part of the design process and the fact that the authorities could render such a valuable space lifeless and wasted unchallenged was a huge sign of worry for the future.  But before Kodje got too activist, he stated that it wasn’t in his style to criticize and not proffer better solutions, he put a proposal before the house in form of a well-guided re-sketch of the park and a simple model. It was a multi-tiered park to accommodate a plethora of activities including relaxation, photography studio and arts gallery. He bowed out of the stage with a rapturous applause.

The Mind Not the Lens

Kelechi Amadi Obi, defied the cut of power supply in the room just after he presented a chunk of his photo slides, to deliver what many refer to as a mind-blowing session. In what started out as a presentation of the impressive commissions Kelechi had handled, it grew to become a motivational one as intended. Speaking on a topic dear to his heart, Kelechi started by revealing the initial struggle he faced choosing between law and art. Indeed, he opined that his father who was a high court judge at the time would not hear of any of his offspring going into art. Fatefully, his father died after Kelechi rounded off his programme at the law school and was about to reveal his decision to settle into full time studio art.
The struggle began as Kelechi moved to Lagos from Enugu where he had his varsity education to begin painting, and soon his works had become worthy enough to be admired and purchased. He proudly mentioned that his first work went for N40, 000 and that was the point where he felt the change and urge to push his career further. Kelechi organized his first solo exhibition at the cost of N500,000 and at the same exhibition found someone to fund his next at the same cost…. Alas success was ringing its bell. But Kelechi was undone as he found that part of him that could decipher lighting, colours and easily photography came to him.
Kelechi enthused about his work for Guinness Nigeria, in which he had to project the logo on the back of a lady to achieve a ‘painted effect’ he had created and which attracted a top manager in Guinness to invite him to develop the creative photography content for their brand. He revealed that he was no believer in talent but practice while urging the audience to pick that profession they knew nobody could beat them in. In settling to the context of the topic, the Mind, not the Lens; he was categorical in his remarks stating that a good photographer or artist needs such a fine level of refinement to produce a genius work of art, this he stated comes with dedicated hours of practice. He analysed how he had a full portfolio of a professional artist even before he gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to study Law.
Amadi-Obi shocked the audience when he attacked the architectural designs he has seen in upscale neighbourhoods like Banana estate, Lekki and the likes. His idea of architecture in the tropics was that which was weather-friendly and reminiscent of culture and tradition. He challenged designers to emulate Demas Nwoko, whose buildings he had photographed. I slept in one of Demas’ rooms while in his plae at Idumuje, , Southern Nigeria and there was ‘breeze’ through the night, he says. It is when our buildings have relevance to we Nigerians that we can say we have a true Nigerian or African architecture.  

Kelechi Amadi-Obi’s presentation was as compelling as it was informative.

The moderator who doubles as editor of Brief, an architecture magazine- Ola Joaquin Iyinolakan, was thankful to the audience for their time and indeed the guest speakers for squeezing out of their hectic schedules to make the event.