Middle-Aged British Nigerian Artist Basks in Glow of Liverpool and African Youth
7 February 2022
Greetings,
I remember when this family photo was taken, at Igbobi College, Lagos. A few years later, it seems, my 60th Birthday Concert and Party are now just round the corner, in a few days! Tickets are selling quite well, and with the numbers for the party limited to 120 (in the smaller of the two spaces), it’s beginning to look like that part of the evening might be fully subscribed. For those of my friends who want to come to the party without enjoying the concert, I’m sorry to say, you can’t – I’ve got so much talent opening the evening, and they, rather than the party, are the main attraction, and why it is ticketed.
So, please book your tickets now, here, and don’t assume you’ll be able to get into the party by showing up on the night. The concert will be live-streamed, and tickets are available for that too. At a later date, an edited recording will be available to anybody who has bought a live-stream or any other ticket, or made a donation.
Live performances of my plays remain several months away (some in the works in the summer and beyond), but in the meantime, I have some more filming coming up: my first proper (small) film role, on which I’ll give more information later. This makes up for just missing out on being cast in two commercials, but my agent and I keep trying.
Meanwhile, I’ll be sharing Paul Robeson’s Love Song again on Sunday, 27th February. UPDATE: THIS HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED, WITH APOLOGIES.
Asylum Link Merseyside is holding a virtual fundraiser, and I am one of several artists who have contributed performances in support. You can join the event on Wednesday, 23rd Februaryhere.
Click image to view video
There is an interesting exhibition on at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, on the work of a Walter Sickert. Called, Sickert: A Life in Art, it includes a painting thought to be probably inspired by Paul Robeson’s Othello in London in 1930. In that regard, the museum commissioned a short video interview/documentary of me and my work on Paul Robeson, filmed at Liverpool’s Playhouse Theatre last year. The exhibition ends on February 27.
Parting Shots.
I understand that Mexico is the most dangerous place in the world in which to be a journalist, with several of them having been murdered already since the start of 2022. I continue to be in awe of journalists everywhere who continue to expose the truths that their governments want to keep hidden, knowing that their very lives and/or liberty could be at stake. I end with recent outputs from three I admire, starting with a Nigerian journalist-turned-politician, Omoyele Sowore. In this short clip, he shows why he is a different breed of politician, which in itself indicates why he hardly ever gets onto mainstream Nigerian media, why he has been in and out of jail, and why there have been a number of attempts on his life.
Here in the UK (Scotland), the journalist who recently spent six months in jail on a charge of contempt of court has come out fighting. In his latest blog, he uses his brilliance with the word to give us a damning exposé on the alleged corruption of the British Establishment, from the Lord Chief Justice, through Tony Blair to the current leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer. He (Craig Murray) knows of what he speaks, as he was once a member of that very Establishment. As a prodigal son of that family, however, he may well end up back in jail if he continues to write stuff like How The Establishment Functions. It is certainly well worth a read.
Dozens of tributes were paid by journalists to Sidney Poitier when he passed away last month. Among the best of them came from a journalist behind bars in what he calls the “Imprisoned Nation” of America. Mumia Abu Jamal's radio essay, Sir Sidney Potier, causes one to marvel at how he gets all the information he condenses and relays so expertly from within the bowels of such an oppressive system.
Watch the penalty and celebrations
The Final, Decisive Shot
The Africa Cup of Nations (AfCoN) final was played last night, and decided on penalties. The penalty that won it for Senegal was scored by Sadio Mané of Liverpool Football Club. That one shot ends the most recent paragraph in a truly inspiring story, not just because Mané had missed a penalty very early in the game, and it would have been very understandable if his nerves had made him decline that second chance. Mané’s life started in abject poverty in Bambali, but he now earns stupendous amounts of money as one of the English Premier League’s biggest stars. I understand that in recent years, in addition to giving citizens of his home town a regular living allowance, he has funded the building of a school and a hospital there. His Liverpool co-star and captain of the losing Egyptian side, Mo Salah, does similar. Much for citizens and politicians alike to ponder and learn from here.
That’s all for now. Kindly forward as you see fit, including to people who might wish to book one of my shows or presentations (see below). I am also keen to get more contributors to my Mapping “Greatness” project, especially from the many of you who have promised to take part in the past. Ngugi wa Thiong'o, who has just won the prestigious PEN America Award did a recording, so you would be in very good company!
