*** Art in Disguise ***

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Nigerian Artists: Brace up for the Challenges Ahead in this Period of Fuel Subsidy.

No businessman would delibrately invest his money where there are serious economic crises which offer little or no opportunities of getting back his/her returns (gains). Since 1960, Nigerians have fought series of fights to bring the nation to its present glory. For example,between 1967-1970 Nigerian faced a terrible civil war that almost divided the country.Although the war brought a serious set back in many folds to the progress of the nation, we sail over it. This was followed by the era of military juntas when we were brutally ruled for more than three decades, yet Nigerians collectively fought their way to democracy.Asides from that, there have been series of tribal, cultural, and religious wars which we have fought and won or are still fighting.By the grace of God, we will win them all.

In view of that the current fuel subsidy crisis should not be viewed by Nigerians especially practising artists as a delibrate plan by the government to throw citizens into utmost hard conditions; rather it should be considered as a sacrificial fight to better our economy in the near future. The effect of corruption on the nation has earn us underdevelopment for a long period of time. The result of this is unemployment, increase in crime, poverty,and high rate of insecurity among others. We can not ask our leaders questions to answer until we support their plans to better our nation. When they fail, we can now do so in relation to the support we have given them.

Artists in Nigeria have faced alot of problems in their practising career. While some of them resorted to treating their main profession as a sub in order to make ends meet, others have completely abandoned the art profession in the face of undiscribeable economic hardships which even threatens their lives. Ironically, the art practising environment is waxing stronger amidst the terrible practising conditions of Nigerian artists. This is attributed to the fact that many artists have come to terms with the value and role art has played (and is still playing) in the Nigerian society.In a sense, the art that does not sell is probably an embodiment of powerful ideas that can forcifully ignite a positive change and consequently moves the society forward. Hence, the value of art is not solely on how much an artist earns for a living, but somehow lies in the hidden messages which can be meaningfully interpreted for a desired social change.

With the present fuel crisis, artists would definitely fill the weight on their practising career in varoius measures. The decision to quit lies in the weak, while the mind to overcome this present challenge remains the choice of a true artist. With or without fuel subsidy, let the art survive.