User:Remlartpoems/Poetry potter

Kowry Kreations Media was disturbed by the immorality rapidly ravaging average African children through series of Western oriented programmes being shown on our Local Television Stations and Continental Satellite Stations. Hence, relegating the African oral literature (orature) – poetry, folktale, folk-dance, folklore; and several educative cum entertaining African cultural activities, to the background.

We sincerely believed that if this sensitive cultural elimination syndrome is handled nonchalantly, sooner than later our cultural capital in all ramifications will be erased and deleted from both historical and mythological archives of humanity. This is the foundation brick of the organization.

Founded in 2005 by a young and artistic mind, Aderemi Adegbite, the organisation commenced operation fully in 2006 with her first project tagged: Poetry Potter. This unique platform was created for poets, storytellers, folksingers, folk-dancers, artists, art promoters, cultural workers and arts journalists, to display their creative ingenuity, free of charge.

Today, Poetry Potter is a monthly event and has won quite the hearts of arts and literary enthusiasts on the Mainland of Lagos State, in Nigeria. The platform is wholly youth-centred and does not alienate adults who are regarded as the reservoir of wisdom from which the younger generation must drink.

History

This unique platform was created for poets, storytellers, folksingers, folk-dancers, artists, art promoters, cultural workers and arts journalists, to display their creative ingenuity, free of charge every month end at the Rotunda Hall, National Library, Lagos, Nigeria.

POETRY POTTER

1st POETRY/SPOKEN WORD RED CARPET in Nigeria, if not in AFRICA

This in an initiative taken from the entrepreneur perspective of the Creative Industry, it attempts to spur the business of poetry/spoken-word in Nigeria and Africa, and as well make the genre as lucrative (business wise) as its sister genre, music. We hope introducing some social elements into the promotion of poetry will push it a bit forward from its current point. And we promise to do this consistently with integrity.

In staying put to the orgnisation's core focus, which is “adding values to arts, and literature in Nigeria and Africa at large," we decided to embark on a three months shows of poetry starting with Red-Carpet interview and picture of the audience because we believe that poetry/spoken-word is in everything called entertainment. And the business aspect of this genre in the Nigerian and African oral literature (orature) is essential for its promotion and income generation too.

Because of the fact that poets and the lovers of spoken-word are generally seen as literati/elites, therefore poetry/spoken-word is not really selling in Nigeria and for that reason, as promotion of arts: Poetry/Spoken-word, Folktale, Folklore, Folksongs, Rap, Dance, and Drama, is a basic factor in our organisational objective.

This we were able to achieve between August and October 2009 with the collaboration of two companies: HEV/Snap Pictures and Capricorn Tents&More, both are Event Management and Entertainment Companies.

YOUTH FORUM

In October 2009, Poetry Potter, as a moving/literary arts (poetry/spoken word) platform was chosen to be part of the maiden edition of the would-be yearly festival, sponsored by GTBank Plc; Produced and Directed Ben Tomoloju.

At the GTBank Poetry Festival, Kowry Kreations Media, created the platform to discuss the theme: "Poetry - its genesis and future in the Nigeria literary arts scene," during the POETRY POTTER Youth Forum segment.

The renowned poet, Odia Ofeimun, took the youth, who were the major in participants, through the genesis of poetry; root of poetry in Nigeria and Africa, while Sage Has.son, the Nigerian spoken-word exponent tackled the present phase of poetry which is "Hip-Poetry." This new genre of poetry is what today dominates 80% of the Nigerian Music industry.

During the Interview Segment, Odia Ofeimun submitted that the only way forward for poetry and spoken words artistes was to start documenting their creative works in books and provide more platforms for further discussion. The Poet, who wrote the “Poet Lied,” argued that New Media documentation (CD, Tape, mp3 format etc) of thoughts in lines and stanzas would make no poet out of anybody that is in the business of poetry and spoken word entertainment. [] []

Guest Artistes

Since inception, a section of the project - Guest Artistes of the Month - which is meant for mentoring creative minded youths, has hosted prominent personalities both young and old. These personalities include:

Segun Adefila    (Theatre Director and Choreographer of the Crown Troupe of Africa)

Steve James	 (Theatre Director and Choreographer of Ivory Ambassador Dance Company)

Jude Orhorha	 (A renowned theatre and film actor)

Folu Agoi        (Former Chairman of ANA, Lagos and author of many books)

Ayodele Arigbabu (The Publisher of DADA Books, also a writer, journalist and author)

Toni Kan	 (Author, journalist and essayist)

Chief Yemi-Adeyemi(An actor popularly known as “Pa Suara”)

Odia Ofeimun	 (A renowned Poet, author of many books)

Dr. Ahmed Yerima (The Former Director of National Troupe of Nigeria and a Playwright)

Tolu Ogunlesi	 (Writer, journalist and essayist, author of many books)

Dayo Liadi	 (Dancer, Dance Instructor; Choreographer of Ijodee Dance Company)

Mufu Onifade	 (The originator of Araism, a new theory of painting)

Kaine Agary      (The winner of NLNG Prize for Literature 2008 with "Yellow Yellow")

Jude Dibia	 (An award winning author, also an aviation expert)

Wole Oguntokun	 (Playwright and Theatre Director, the Producer of “Theatre @ Terra”)

Enefiok Udo-Obon (An athlete medalist / writer)

Denrele Edun 	 (Soundcity TV Presenter)

Mirian Travis 	 (Librarian, Arts/Literary enthusiast. African-American)

Lesley Carter 	 (A renowned African-American dancer and Choreographer)

Tosun Buknor 	 (Writer/Journalist/Radio/TV Presenter)

Dayo Liadi 	 (A renowned dancer)

Chris Ihidero 	 (Writer/Editor/ Film Director)

Sage Has.son	 (A spoken word exponent)

Yinka Davis      (A renowned musician of high repute)

Red Strat 	 (The organizers of The Future Awards – Chude, Adebola and Emilia)

Terry DaRapman	 (A renowned rap artiste)

Lilian Amah	 (An actress and film Producer)

El Nukoya	 (An award winning author of Nine Lives)

Plus One 	 (A new and promising music group)

Felyne		 (A Nigerian-American female rap artiste)

Wizkid 		 (A new hip-hop singer in the Nigerian music scene)

O.C Ukeje   	  (The winner of Amstel Maltal Box Office 2)

Also, Taiye Olaniyi, FRC, the Assistant Public Relations Officer of NIPOST, Bose Afolayan and Rasheed Otun, both lecturers in the English and Creative Arts departments from the University of Lagos respectively, have presented papers in our Quarterly Workshops/Paper/Drama presentation.

Coordinators

Producer

As the Curator, also, Aderemi has been the Producer of this project since inception. He has worked as Culture Projects Manager over a decade; he has served in various capacities, which rub off on his experience. The Nigerian-Ghanaian recently concluded certificates in Business Managements and Media & Communications from Pan-African University, project of the British Council (Creative Enterprise). He has worked as a freelance consultant, project coordinator, project manager, and production director for organisations such as African Artist’s Foundation, Children’s Arts Development Initiative (CHAIN), Crown Troupe of Africa, and Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), Culture Advocates Caucus (CAC), Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA, Lagos), Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and Renaissance Theatre Company.

To his credit, he has produced and coordinated several arts and literary events which include Poetry Potter, Lagos Poetry Festival, WordSlam, African Art and Craft Expo 2009, National Festival of Arts and Culture 2009, GTBank Poetry Festival, Fashion Revolution and Fashion Revolution Reloaded. He has taken part in stage drama like “Beyond the Sunset,” “Oya,” and “Saint Dominic” alongside actors which include Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Kelvin Ushi, Jude Orhorha among others.

He was a member of the delegates invited to Berlin-Germany in 2009 by the Goethe-Institut for the Visiting Programme – an art exchange programme. Aderemi is a past General Publicity Secretary, Association of Nigeria Authors, Lagos Chapter (ANA Lagos). A member of Canadian Federation of Poets, Association of Nigerian Authors, Pen-circle of the University of Lagos, Association of Young Journalist and writers, PEN Nigeria and an Alumnus of School of Media and Communication & Pan-African University. His creative works recently appeared online in literary magazines- Poeticdiversity, Blackbiro, Forwardpress, Anchorbooks, Poetrynow, Blottermagazine and Oneghanaonevoice. Aderemi Adegbite is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kowry Kreations Media and the Producer of all its projects.

Project/Programme Director

Oluwaseun Olanrewaju Ajayi is a young and highly-driven individual who discovered his deep interest in the arts at the tail end of 2005. This discovery leads to his enrollment at the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos Akoka, where he is now a final year student of Theatre Arts.

In 2007 he emerged as the second runner-up of the third edition of Amstel Malta Box Office Reality TV show (AMBO 3), a reality show that seeks to discover young acting talents in Nigeria. Seun has also been involved in several productions, including: THE MAZE a TV drama series, as produced by RAJCOM Limited and DEAR MOTHER a TV drama, as produced by Apreel Studios. His stage drama appearances include ALAFIN KARAN, WOMEN OF OWU, OLOFIN AJAYE, ADE IRE, and DEATH AND THE KING’S HORSEMAN.

He has also been the host of more than twelve editions of POETRY POTTER; a monthly event, organized by KOWRY KREATIONS MEDIA.

Seun is also the CEO of 0331 Entertainment, an events management and publishing company,. Seun is an actor, model, events manager and voice- over artiste.

Seun Ajayi currently serves as the Director of Projects/Programmes, Kowry Kreations Media and the Anchorperson of all its projects.

Image and Branding

Oluwasegun Enahoro Olawoagbo, a young talented individual in the arts, who major in graphic arts. He is a final year student of the University of Lagos, Akoka.

In 2009, he did his Internship with DDB, a world class advertising agency, and he handled major accounts such as Fidelity Bank, Oceanic Bank, May & Bakers - Mimme Noodles adverts. The CEO of NU3iX Concept has done a couple of freelance jobs for other companies like Starcomms, 0331 Entertainment, Image & Heritage and so on. He is also in charge of all the designs of Kowry Kreations Media.

As a versatile individual, he has not only immense himself into the graphical arts but has also taken part in the theatre productions.

Segun stage managed FASHION REVOLUTION 2 (FR2) and past editions of Poetry Potter, the monthly event of the organisation.

Segun Olawoagbo is presently the Director of Image and Branding Kowry Kreations Media.