He stood tall like the big masquerade that he is among hundreds of students and participants at the historic festival. Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka was the cynosure, as well as the moving spirit of the just concluded Ife International Festival of Arts, which held April 8-12 at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

And as the festival made its gallant return to the cultural landscape of the university since May 2005, Soyinka too returned to the campus where he taught for many years, and registered his robust presence at the festival to the admiration of all.

In fact, he ended up being the soul of the cultural fiesta for which he had long played significant role, having supported the university’s mission of transforming cultural heritage from generation to generation through festivals, exhibitions and conferences.

For this year’s edition, Soyinka, like his forebears such as Professors Michael Crowder and Ulli Beier, became the symbolic giant on whose shoulders the festival hung, hence he gave direction for cultural revival in his illuminating keynote address entitled Culture Subversion in the name of Name-Dropping. The paper was in line with the theme of the festival; Masks, Masquerades and Marionettes and the presentation held at the OAU Conference Centre with a huge number of students, notable art personalities, journalists, as well as representatives of the Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation in attendance.

Expectedly, Soyinka who highlighted the roles and functions of masks and masquerades in society equally berated some religious leaders for their apathy towards cultural objects and symbols. He warned against religious intolerance, which thrives on the popular name-dropping syndrome, and which usually leads to clashes and violence.

Soyinka’s address was trailed by other papers from culture activists and scholars such as Professor Agbo Folarin, Professor Biodun Adediran, Professor Wole Ogundele, Dr Segun Oyewo, Helen Joubert, among others. The colloquium, which focused on diverse subjects on African masks, poetry and masquerade tradition was equally supported by film shows, exhibition of masks and marionettes at both the Institute for Cultural Studies and the Department of Fine Arts.

Following the scintillating performance of the masked musician, Lagbaja on Tuesday, a rich, yet creatively packaged musical concert by the Department of Music, boosted the festival at the Oduduwa Hall. The concert, which lasted about four hours, featured a three-part show in folk and contemporary music.

The first part entertained guests with such numbers as Nkosi Sekeleli by Eno Seontanga, Onougbu (Igbo) by Yemi Olaniyan, Son Ubok Wat Inyang (Efik), Fun mi N’ibeji (Yoruba) by Ayo Bankole, Rere Lo pe (Yoruba solo) and Alherishiya Fidace (Hausa) by Yemi Olaniyan. The second part featured a medley of local and western percussions by an inspiring group; K.Stick & Co, which was followed by Music Department’s diverse tunes in the third part.

After the musical performances, participants at the festival were also treated to unique masquerade shows by the various troupes. Among those groups whose shows were graced by the Nobel laureate were Egunguns from Imesi- Ile, Osun State; Akwa Ibom troupe which presented the virgin masquerades in Idem Idoh and Ikaridem as well as Sokoto State which thrilled with maidens and warriors. Perhaps the duo of Nassarawa and Oyo states dazed guests to exhilarating moments with their rich repertoires of masquerade displays. While Nassarawa stormed Ife with a 120-man contingent, Oyo entertained with real masquerades and magical fireworks. Other groups came from Ondo and Osun states as well as India.

On the success of the festival, Professor Funmilayo Togonu-Bickesteth, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) who spoke for the Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Faborode hinted that the 2008 edition would serve as an impetus for subsequent ones. She added that the festival was in celebration of the unique location of Ile-Ife as the source of Yoruba race as well as a celebration of culture as an integral part of development both on campus and outside it.

Her words: “Everything good is challenging and we hope that the success of this year’s festival will influence others to buy into the vision as it provides ample space for academic discussions on our culture…we also thank Omatek Computers, Ecobank, Chief John Odeyemi and especially Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State for his moral and financial support.”

The festival director and Chief Executive of Institute of African Studies, Dr Wale Adeniran also disclosed how the festival had been on the planning stage for many months and how Professor Wole Soyinka’s support eventually saw the organisers through.

While commending the Vice Chancellor for his vision as propelled by his predecessor, Adeniran also said: “The university’s endowment with the vision to saddle Professor Soyinka with the burden of co-ordinating this year’s festival gave it a life of its own and made it truly international…we are greatly honoured by his selfless, exemplary and continuing role in the promotion of Africa’s cultural heritage as reflected in the caliber of participation in this festival at Ile-Ife cultural capital of Africa.”