….says intiative has helped to ease Covid 19 lockdown depression
From Kehinde Adewole
A lecturer with the Department of Theatre and Media Arts (TMA), of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Mr. Tayo Isijola, has organized an online platform with which he is showcasing the many talents of young Nigerians in the area of creative arts such as singing, acting, miming, rapping among others.
Tagged Concious ‘n Creative Arts Challenge (CCAC) Isijola’s platform is not only launching artistes in this regard to the world via the social media, but also reward them in a keen contest of youthful display of creative talents.
Explaining the inspiration behind the initiative, he said: “More than ever before, the social media has been agog with performing and media arts contents at the instance of the prolonged and seeming unending lockdown that resulted from the global pandemic outbreak. Many arts talented young persons have become internet zealots to appreciate and give expression to creative arts. The need to engage these youthful creative arts talents has inspired the Conscious ‘n Creative Arts Challenge (CCAC). In the month of July, I picked a 6-stanza poem; the epilogue of an unpublished monodrama which I wrote in 2013, titled “Ask The Almighty”, and began planning for CCAC. The plans became motorized as soon as I got the support of a handful of my industry mentors, who keyed into the idea and agreed to be a Judge and benefactor for the CCAC. They consist of established performing and media professionals, brand ambassadors, celebrities of the creative industries and successful entrepreneurs in the likes of Charles Inojie, Julius Agwu, Bimbo Akintola, Hilda Dokuba, and Dr Sam Dede. Then, communication on the CCAC began to heighten on a dedicated website- ccac.com.ng, on face book and on Instagram.”
Isijola further throws light on the project, adding that : “The CCAC is an Instagram video challenge that requires entrants to do a video for the interpretation of 6-stanza poem titled “Ask the Almighty” in the prescribed categories Music, Solo Acting, Audiovisuals and Animation for a duration of not more than 3 three minutes. Submission of entries opened on August 8 and was to close on August 22, but has been extended on the request of prospective entrants till August 29. The challenge shall produce Top 10 entrants, who shall be winners and distinctly rewarded with 3 cash prizes (100k, 50k, 25k), and 7 consolation prizes (10gid data each).
” The CCAC media content is assessable to all fun seekers and lover of arts who are also expected to assess the entries online through their comments. A discrete team of critical assessors shall also make critical comments to entries, which serves to forebode learning. The comments will provide basis for the selection of 20 most apt entries, which will be presented for viewers for voting. The voting, done by viewers, shall produce the Top 10 entries and the panel of judges will adjudicate the entries for scoring, and to determine their specific positions.”
The university who is a seasoned artistic director, gave a hint about the success of the on going contest: ” So, far, 34 entries were turned in, and 29 entries across all the categories have been published for hundreds of viewers are on Instagram (@tayoisijola) and on the face book page- Conscious ‘n Creative Arts Challenge. The communication strategy is exclusively through the digital online mode with the leverage of paid ads. The focus is on providing platforms for creative expressions to young performing and media artistes, while engaging the fun seekers with the artistic communication. Thus, apart from the cash and consolation prizes, to encourage the efforts of all Ten winners, the platform provides the exposure of a rare experience to entrants, and an opportunity for industry experts to discover them.
The CCAC procedure has distinguished itself from the regular on-challenge by insisting on employing useful critical comments of viewers and the assessment of discreet experts for the selection of entries deemed for voting, and resorting to the paid online Election services for the voting. The organizers anticipate a sustainability of the CCAC initiative with a follow-up season to sustain the creative zest that is spurred from this maiden edition,” he said.
