National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Dayo Emmanuel
A fine artiste and dancer, Funmilayo Emily Ajamufua has stated that arts and crafts sector of the Nigerian economy have the capacity to rescue the country from the current recession.
The artist however recommends bead fashion in particular for Nigerian fashion enthusiasts in place of now expensive gold and silverware during the yuletide and beyond.
Funmilayo, a graduate of the theatre arts, Lagos State University (LASU) until recently was on the staff of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture (LSCAC) where she worked for 13 years promoting arts and crafts.
While the economic recession continues in the Nigerian economy, Ajamufua enjoins fashion enthusiasts to look inwards and patronize made in Nigeria fashion accessories including beads and wire wares.
“I make beads for religious, royal and festive purposes. So through this festive period it is the best period and a great opportunity to make a statement with adorning my bead works as they are unique and creative. Nigerians are creative and should be encouraged by patronizing them.”
Ajamufua who also studied Dramatic Arts and Music(Dip) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), had represented LSCAC and Nigeria at various cultural exchange programs and events in Venezuela, India, Cuba, Ghana, Tunisia among other nations, added that despite the recession, fashion enthusiasts can still make a statement despite the hard times.
“You can still make a statement in this time of recession, that for sure there is an expansion in you. It is uniquely creative and very affordable. They last longer. Beads have been in existence for long and can never go out of fashion,” she assures.
An arts and crafts instructor, Ajamufua sure has arts running in her veins which perhaps was taken from her mother. She however encouraged young Nigerians interested in arts to give time to training and practicalise such trainings. “I must have taken the craft thing from my mother who was a member of the Leventis Stores Dance group back then. She used to knit too and I think I took most of my talents from her,” she said.
Stating further on her arts career she said, “I am vast in beading, head gear skills(gele wiwe), facial treatment, manicure and pedicure, hair braiding and dancing which I started way back in 1989.” “I was actually in a dance group led by Sola Sobowale alias Toyin Tomato called ‘Grace Root’. I was auditioned and picked as one of the dancers to take part in dance drama commissioned by the Federal Government to Mr. Gbanga Sonuga called ‘Salt’ to commemorate the world decade in 1990.”
Meanwhile, Funmilayo encourages parents of children showing interest in arts and crafts to support such young ones who are potential stars. Stating further on her career in the world of arts, Funmilayo said she had featured in the Death and the King’s Horseman in February 1990 directed by Bayo Oduneye and a play sponsored by the then NIB bank staged at the National Theatre which also featured Mrs. Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Dede Mabiaku and others.
“I was also a member of the Kola Ogunkoya Afro Gbedu band and was a dancer at his performance at the Benson and Hedges Golden Tones in 1996,” she explained.
The dancer however enjoins fashion enthusiasts to patronize made in Nigeria arts and crafts works which is capable of earning the nation the much desired foreign exchange and also capable of lifting the nation’s economy at a time the Federal Government is considering diversifying the economy from oil and gas.
