REPORT
Abuja, Jos & Online
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. ~ Socrates
- Letter from the Founder/Festival Director
- About Baraxana Arts Festival 2022
- 2022’s Theme: Recovery
- The Moderator, Panelists, Speakers
- The Participants
- A Cross-Section of the Festival
- Collaborators, Sponsors,Partners
Letter from the Founder & Festival Director
Looking back over an eventful and transformative year, I feel immensely thankful and proud. 2022 marked an important chapter in our journey as we worked to navigate through lingering pandemic strains while finding creative approaches to celebrate arts and culture.
Arts and culture play an essential role in post-pandemic society. When there's uncertainty and isolation, arts have provided solace, connection, and hope. Our organization, serving both as social enterprise and arts and cultural hub, has been at the forefront of this endeavor.
Last year marked our triumphant return to in-person events by holding two vibrant festivals - Abuja and Jos. Each event celebrated creativity while attesting to our community's resilience and adaptability - an indication of its collective spirit and determination.
As well, we acknowledged the necessity of evolving with the times. Our inaugural online panel discussion, held on the first day of the festival and featuring esteemed panelists from Nigeria and the US alongside a keynote speaker from our homeland was an enormous success - successfully crossing geographical divides while sparking meaningful discussions on arts' role in society.
But this journey wasn't without its obstacles: due to economic repercussions resulting from the pandemic, we couldn't offer memberships. Yet adversity often breeds innovation; so we found new avenues of engagement, support, and uplift for our creative community.
As we move into 2023, my confidence remains unshaken. Our experience from 2022 has only strengthened us further and our mission has become crystal clear: champion the arts, promote creative business development and ensure an active dialogue between cultural practitioners and society remains impactful and vibrant.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Your support, belief and passion has been essential in driving us forward to a brighter, more creative, culturally rich future.
"Warm Regards from Tally Ozegbe,
Founder | Festival Director.
About Baraxana Arts Festival 2022
2022 Festival Overview
The 2022 festival was an unforgettable moment in our organization's history, marking our return to in-person gatherings following the pandemic's challenges. Through live performances, exhibitions and digital engagements alike, this festival showcased the vibrant arts community.
1. Locations of Abuja and Jos
Abuja: British Council Nigeria, Abuja was host to an exciting array of events, drawing audiences from all walks of life. From open-air performances and gallery showcases to intimate gallery events, Abuja was buzzing with creativity and cultural exchange.
Jos: Renowned for its history and vibrant culture, Jos was an ideal location for our festival events. Jos' creatives added their special flair, providing attendees with an exciting combination of traditional and contemporary arts.
2. Embracing the Digital Shift: Online Panel Discussion
Recognizing the global nature of arts, and need for wider conversations, on Day 1 of our festival we hosted an online panel discussion with an international focus. This digital initiative allowed us to reach beyond physical borders to ensure maximum impact from this festival experience.
Our panelists included highly-respected professionals from Nigeria and the US who each brought a distinct perspective to the table. Through interactive Q&A sessions and their insights, this discussion generated thought-provoking and enriching dialogue.
Keynote Speaker: Mrs Memunat Idu-lah, former deputy director, Minustry of culture and Information, Abuja, Hailing from Nigeria, our keynote speaker provided an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion about how arts play a vital role in post-pandemic societal healing. Her address reminded us of creativity's capacity for creating connections and understanding among us all.
The 2022 festival was not simply an event; it was an experience. It proved the strength and adaptability of our organization as well as everyone involved - and now, reflecting upon its success we feel both gratitude and hope for what lies ahead!
4. Creatives Showcase
At the heart of our festival is its talented creatives whose works grace our stages, galleries, and platforms. Not only do these creatives captivate their audiences but their work also challenges, educates and inspires. Here is just a small sampling of those participating in 2022 festival:
Visual Artists: Profiles and Works
Our two visual artists presented a varied mix of traditional and contemporary forms, captivating audiences with their individual perspectives and techniques.
Exhibitions: From abstract paintings to intricate sculptures, visual art exhibitions were an eye-opening spectacle, encouraging viewers to reflect, question, and participate.
Fashion Designers: Collections and Inspirations
Five fashion designers unveiled their newest collections, which combined cultural traditions with modern trends. Their pieces proved how fashion continues to serve as an avenue of self-expression and storytelling.
Behind the Designs: Attendees had the chance to explore what inspired each collection, exploring the narratives and passions that drive each designer.
Music Artists: Performances and Releases
Melodies and Rhythms: Our ten musical artists performed music of various genres, from soulful ballads to upbeat dance tracks. Live performances had attendees swaying, dancing, and losing themselves in the music.
Album Launches: Numerous artists took advantage of the festival to unveil new albums or singles to their audiences and give fans first-hand experience of their latest creations.
Poets: Readings and Themes
Our three poets left listeners deeply moved with their powerful readings of poetry that covered themes of love, loss, hope, and social reflection - leaving an impactful legacy of listener responses and impactful poems that resonated deeply within their listeners' lives.
Interactive Sessions:Poetry readings were followed by interactive sessions where attendees could engage with poets, pose questions and express their interpretations of their poems.
Models: Walks and Collaborations
Strutting the Stage: Twenty models brought the fashion collections to life on stage, each walk telling its own unique tale and embodying their designs perfectly.
Behind the Glamour: Models engaged in workshops and panel discussions after taking to the runway to provide insight into modeling's world, the challenges involved, and its joys.
The 2022 Creatives Showcase was an amazing celebration of talent, passion, and the indefatigable spirit of the arts community. Each artist added something special to make the festival a success - leaving attendees eagerly anticipating its next edition.
5. Collaborations and Partnerships
Collaboration is at the center of arts and culture's evolving landscape, driving innovation, growth and broad impact. Our 2022 festival showcased this concept brilliantly: we gathered stakeholders together from multiple fields for an enriching experience that truly fulfilled its promise.
Local Creatives: Recognizing and Contributing
Homegrown Talent: Our collaborations with Nigerian artists added depth and authenticity to the festival. From musicians to artisans, contributions showcased Nigerian arts and culture.
Workshops and Masterclasses: Local artists led sessions on various art forms, sharing their expertise, techniques, and experiences with eager participants.
Local Businesses: Support and Synergies
Sponsors and Benefactors: Local businesses were instrumental to the festival's success, providing financial support, venues, and logistical help to make our vision come alive. Their trust in our mission made all of this possible!
Pop-Up Stalls and Exhibits: Multiple businesses set up pop-up stalls at the festival to showcase a range of their products and services, adding both vibrancy to the festival itself as well as building community and mutual support relationships between attendees.
International Organizations: Global Links and Collaborative Projects
Panel Discussions and Webinars: International organizations hosted discussions on global arts trends, challenges, and opportunities facilitated by these sessions - providing insightful analysis while building a sense of global unity and understanding.
The 2022 festival was more than an event: it was an amalgam of ideas, cultures, and collaborations that brought people together in celebration and advocacy of the arts. Our partnerships both local and international played a vital role in amplifying its impact and engaging audiences from diverse backgrounds. Looking ahead, we look forward to forging new relationships while deepening existing ones as we continue our work to celebrate and advance arts in all forms. Launches: Numerous artists took advantage of the festival to unveil new albums or singles to their audiences and give fans first-hand experience of their latest creations.
About 2022’s Theme, Recovery.
Recovery they say takes time and comes with changes; some good, some bad.
As the world forges ahead into recovery, many changes have occurred and given rise to new births especially in the creative and cultural industry scene.
Yet, through it all, the creative and cultural industry has been the beating heart that offered hope in the face of despair, healing especially in the mental space and avenues to expression.
Never taking a break, it reached everyone through their favourite tech devices, thoughts and materials.
