The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in his quest to boost Arts, culture and tourism in order to protect cultural heritage and the history of the people of Lagos State has mounted different iconic statues at various strategic locations in the state.
In his keynote address on Friday May 5, 2017 at the Ikorodu Ferry terminal Ebute-Ipakodo during the commissioning and unveiling of ‘The Drummer’ a giant iconic movement mounted in front of the terminal, Ambode, recalling the importance of a drum and drummer in yoruba culture, said no happy occasion would be complete without music and drumming.
According to him, they combine to give life to every celebration. In is words, “The Drummer, the monument we are unveiling today, depicts the yoruba musical culture, which is an integral part of life to millions of Yorubas in West Africa,” he stated.
Speaking further, the Governor said that the monument seeks to educate everyone including tourist that our culture recognizes and celebrates music all year round. Ambode said that it performs a vital educational role of conveying knowledge about our culture, music and heritage, which also reveals the grandeur of our culture in the past and present and projects into the future.
The Governor who spoke through his representative, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola said that the unveiling of the statue in commemoration of Lagos at 50 had shown the commitment of the state government towards reviving and sustaining the traditional music along with its musical instruments, like the ‘Talking Drum.’
Ambode commended and appreciated Messrs Terra Kulture Arts Studios and Chinedu Ogakwu, the Artist who produced and installed the Iconic monument. To the beneficiaries of the monument, he enjoined them to take ownership of the statue and protect it against being defaced or vandalized. The monument and its commemorative plaque were later unveiled.
While fielding questions from reporters, Mrs. Akinsola revealed that the state government would commission fifteen of such monuments already installed at various strategic locations in the state commemoration of Lagos at 50 celebration.
She said the provision of iconic cultural monuments was in fulfilment of Governor Ambode’s promise to use the creative industry to turn around the economy of Lagos State. And this is by using creative arts, sports and tourism to achieve excellence in the state.
According to her, ‘The Drummer’ statue was very paramount to yoruba cultural heritage and history. She said the statue was placed at the ferry terminal because of the strategic nature of the place as a lot of people pass through Ebute to Igbogbo, Ibeshe, Offin, Baiyeku, Oreta, Ikorodu-round-about and other areas.
The contractor, who is producing about twenty one monuments across the state, Mrs. Bolanle Austin Peters of Terra-Kulture said that Ikorodu people are fun loving and happy people. She also said that the monument at Ebute was to document history of Ikorodu and Yorubas’ way of life. Austin-Peters described Ambode as a visionary leader who is very great and doing incredible things for Lagosians.
Chinedu Ogakwu, the Artist that erected the statue said it took him three months to put them together. He said that the work was quite challenging due to the size of the statue. Chinedu described it as historical and quite attractive.