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 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:41 am Post subject: Joseph Igbinovia Alufa-Reproduced the Festac Queen Idia Mask |
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Joseph Igbinovia Alufa - Reproduced the Festac Queen Idia Mask
The FESTAC 77 mask of Queen Idia was a replica of the original art work stolen by the British plunderers during the Benin invasion. The original carving was part of the more than 5,000 works of art plundered from the treasury of the Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, the then Oba of Benin during the rampaging exploit of the British Punitive Expedition to the Benin Kingdom in 1897.
Because of the nature of the festival, the nation needed the art work so badly to the extent that it had to approach Britain, which now retains the stolen property with vehemence to rent it for the festival. Following the refusal of Britain in 1976 to release the original in its possession at London Museum, even with Nigeria agreeing to pay £2 million as "rental fee" for the duration of the festival, the then federal military government under General Olusegun Obasanjo was in a quandary about what to do on the subject of emblem for the festival.
Joseph Igbinovia Alufa helped the nation reproduce the Queen Idia's mask, that popular icon and logo of the 2nd World Black Festival of Arts and Culture more popularly known as Festac, held in Nigeria in 1977.
[Excerpts from Layi Olajumoke, The Punch]
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm |
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