The Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, has dedicated its entire 2021 programme season to celebrating popular actress, social activist and culture advocate, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, as she clocks 80 today.
Described as a major force behind the group, Aunty TAL, as she is fondly called is its matron, board member and mentor.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its programme officer, Samuel Osaze, CORA said all through the year, several programmes would be held to celebrate various strands of her blessed life.
According to the group, some events will also be staged in partnership with other organisations to which she subscribed.
The statement reads in part: “It is thus with pleasure that the CORA Working Committee (CWC) has dedicated the entire 2021 programme season to celebrating the illustrious life and career of the enigmatic matriarch of the Nigeria stage and screen. All through the year, several programmes would be held to celebrate various strands of her blessed life. Some events will also be staged in partnership with other organisations to which she subscribed.
“The climax of the CORA 2021 season would be the 7-day Lagos Book & Art & Festival, LABAF, which is entirely dedicated to Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. With the working theme, A FORK IN THE ROAD… LABAF 2021, will be a week-long comprehensive open-air carnivalesque ‘feast of Life and Ideas’ featuring a mix-grill of artistic and cultural events including: exhibitions of books and arts, live reading sessions; conversations around books; seminars on visual, performing and allied arts; displays of paintings, sculptures, mixed media, installations and crafts; children and youths art workshops; live music, poetry, drama and dance presentations among others.
“All the programme items will have event or section celebrating Anty Ajai-Lycett.”
CORA added that “But for the restrictions dictated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and especially the strict guidelines by the Lagos State government, the year-long programme would have commenced today, February 3, with a mentorship event that had been exclusively designed to spotlight the very essence of Anty TAL: Mentoring the Future. The event has now been rescheduled to when the raging pandemic has simmered and the city has reopened.”
However, the group said its CWC had recently concluded an interview documentary on the matriarch – TAIWO AJAI-YCETT… Matriarch of the ACT – which would be unveiled in the next few weeks.
An excerpt from the documentary is expected to be screened on all CORA communication platforms from today throughout the rest of the month.
Segun Fatuase with Agency reports