Good morning
HAKEEM OLATUNBOSUN SHITTA,
The Great…
Photographer,
Documentarist,
Sportsman,
Humanist,
Comrade-in-Arts, and more….
You would have been SIXTY today
but for that dark incident of June 5 EIGHTEEN years ago….
We remember you Today and Always….
Your Work and Memory remain EVERGREEN…
(Please visit hakeemshitta,wordpress.com to submit your tribute to the memory of the great HOS. Also check samples of his works at www.hakeemshitta.org).
Read Also:
REMEMBERING HAKEEM SHITTABY TAM FIOFORIRummaging through old papers in anticipation of spring cleaning, I stumbled upon a gem of a collector’s item. Now fairly dog-eared from much use and faded yellow; was my A-5 black and white Arts Illustrated Weekly 1991 Desk Diary published by Hakeem O. Shitta. On the cover is a photograph by Shitta of a scene from Efua Sutherland’s play Edufa during performance at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife. In all there are thirteen black and white photographs by Shitta of various cultural events.Hakeem Shitta did not believe in the usual cynical lamentations about what the government and its various cultural institutions were not doing for creativity and the Nigerian artist. Rather, he was an initiator and motivator with a vision that encompassed the wide spectrum of creative endeavour in Nigeria; and a drive to document for posterity and easy access all the people who were contributing in their own way; however small and unheralded, to building and sustaining contemporary culture in Nigeria. He was unique in that he used his enormous talent as a brilliant photographer, graphic artist; and later publisher, not to massage and push his ego and, ‘sell’ himself; but to make sure that all other creative people including students were recognised; by ensuring that their bio data and creative track record were compiled and updated at his own expense and time!“Can you imagine that a visitor can come into Nigeria and will want to trace an artist? Where can he go to get such information” he once asked me? In a few months time he was back at my place early in the morning as was his usual practice; smiling and obviously happy with himself. From his trademark black canvas bag he always strung across his shoulder, he dug out his camera and an A-5 dummy; a Directory of the names, addresses, and creative designation of nearly 1000 Nigerian actors, actresses, photographers, artists and filmmakers across the country. “What do you think?” he smugly asked.Less than a month later he was back; this time in the late evening; dressed in his usual sandals, kembe shorts and matching adire top. He dug into his bag and presented me a final printed copy of the Artists’ Directory, free! “Hakeem, aren’t you afraid to walk around so late with your camera” I innocently asked? “Anybody who wants to take my camera must be prepared to die first”, he replied matter-of-fact. He was obliquely alluding to the fact that behind his sunny mild-mannered disposition; he was a disciplined karate black belt who did not flaunt his power but was confident he could defend himself if the need arose.The next time we met he had come to present me with a complimentary copy of his new weekly Arts Illustrated newspaper; asking me to contribute articles and photographs. Again, the emphasis was on the positive contributions we could all make to keep creativity alive and growing in Nigeria. Arts Illustrated had previews and reviews on art events; a ‘what’s on’ column; interviews, analyses, as well as a slot for birthdays of artists. I once asked him how he could keep publishing and making his weekly rounds to personally deliver to his network of friends, artists, cultural centres and very few paying subscribers. The cover price of Arts Illustrated was a definite give-way! His answer was to change the topic.Hakeem Shitta always broached the idea of new projects he was working on and, projects that needed to be documented. Theatre was his first love. He made sure he covered the annual Festival of Theatre Arts Students. He was a workaholic and a ‘walkerholic’ as well. When the mood took him he would walk from Amuwo-Odofin to Surulere and on to Yaba; to visit me, Jide Adeniyi-Jones and Bayo Oduneye. Working with Hakeem to document a series of plays directed by Oduneye he introduced me to the Ajegunle-based theatre movement; and gave me a better appreciation of a robust ‘underground’ theatre culture away from the glamour of the National Theatre, Iganmu.Hakeem Shitta was also a publishing patron of the plastic artists as well as ANA-Association of Nigerian Authors; documenting and projecting their exhibitions, seminars and conferences. I ran into him in the lobby of the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, and he announced that he was publishing a Diary of Nigerian Artists; digging into his big black bag and bringing out the dummy. The Diary, with photographs of prominent Nigerian writers, painters, actors, actresses, filmmakers, dancers, choreographers, musicians and designers strategically positioned to correspond to their birthdays; also had ample space for daily jottings. There was historical information as well; on anniversaries and a calendar of cultural events.My treasured 1991 Desk Diary is a reminder of Hakeem Shitta’s industry. Computer literacy and data collection, photography, graphics and publishing consumed every moment of his life. Not surprisingly, when the Photographers Association of Nigeria-PAN was being formed in April 1995 he was a very active and useful foundation member. He characteristically contributed evocative works to PAN’s 1995 and 1996 National Creativity Exhibitions.A pioneer and rare breed fired by an ambition to harness information technology as a catalyst to document the virile contemporary culture scene in Nigeria in the eighties and nineties; Hakeem Shitta remains an icon of a culture activist. His vast collection of theatre performance photographs, Directory of Artists, Arts Illustrated weekly newspaper, Diary of Artists and vast Culture database are priceless contributions to Nigerian culture and history. Many times I wonder where Hakeem Shitta’s great body of work is stored and, hope they will be well preserved and made available to generations of Nigerian and non-Nigerian researchers.TAM FIOFORI tam fiofori c. june 3 2009.
(Veteran photographer, Journalist and Culture Activist).
Towards HoS’ 60th Post Humous Birthday….
The Last Click
(For Hakeem Olatunbosun Shitta who did not hear it…)
And now a brief detour to nightmareland
where familiar freaks dialogue with unfamiliar feet,
Too far gone to hear the soliloquy of tyre-soled sandals
35mm beard the key to every closed door
click-clicking…click-clicking…
Deadeye!
Jealous guardian of our treasury of freedom
The tortured corridors of the National Theatre
still whisper the name etched into the tables at abe-igi
Hakeem…
Hakeem…
The Poet called him “The Click”
Click-clicking…Click-clicking…
Paga! Sharpshooter,
The black and white greying in my broken album
My tie-dyed knickers remind me of you
Eager finger freeze-framed by memory spasming
in the cruel clutch of rebellious visions,
click-clicking…click-clicking…
View-finder!
The indigo quarter of my wardrobe remind me of you
The streets, the Mama-Puts, the timeless corners
The unconstrained giggle of water at the Marina
My bulging bookshelves remind me of you
click-clicking…click-clicking…
The Click clocked 42,
And the Earth set him free!
Hakeem Olatunbosun Shitta!
And his voice rises from the dye baths…
“Well, at least I’m not the shittest!”
Hakeem of the ever-ready retort
Tailor, sew me a smile
Hakeem of the talkback finger
Painter, paint me a poem
Hakeem of the trigger tongue
Who gave you permission to die?
(Hakeem Shitta was nicknamed “the Click” for his photographic dexterity by the poet Wale Obadeyi.)
© Sola Osofisan, Writer, and Moderator of NigeriansinAmerica.
Features of a Photograstar
(Remembering Hakeem Shitta)
By Mufu Onifade
Tall, athletic, energy-full, bearded and agile
He cuddles a clicking profession so fragile
A calling, his shoulder is laden and burdened
But calm, he struts our road so emboldened
The wizard he clutches is click and magical
And catches our fond moments so empirical
Royal, steady and regal, his gaits like a lion’s
Not hard, his heart, strong like a piece of iron
His mien hovers and exudes peace like a dove
Critical, but never on the circle of fist and glove
In our tough gathering he is wise like a tortoise
Yet bears our burden with the strength of a horse
Truly, every terrain he bestrides like a peacock
In vivid turbulence he hardly crows like a cock
Modesty and humility drape him like a donkey
But in truth and in reality he is never a monkey
Fit like a fiddle and happy like birds in the sky
Gone, I wish the elephant could fly in the sky
— Mufu Onifade, an Asst. Director at the National Gallery of Art, Abuja.
REMEMBERING THE ‘BOY’
(By Oyin Onime) (then Oyin Bada)
For a while now, I have been trying to capture the life and times of my very good and dear friend The Boy!
The Boy and his clothes, no tailor can make HIS cloth, his Salubata caught my Fancy and fancies of quite a number of the “FAROFA DANCERS” but I became the The Girl.
So the journey began, into a life. Changing process that still remains with me. The Boy sees where others couldn’t see, his imagination is beyond comprehension, before you could say Hey! He is an enigma.
Few people comprehend the complexity that is HOS.
Jack of all trade yet master of all, from the and dye to tailoring, from Red Belt to black Belt in JUDOKA, he loves to write, a very good “COOK.”
Behind that Hard exterior is a very soft man who couldn’t bear to see his AJA when a hit and run car killed him. I had to bury AJA at the back of his bedroom window, a task he told me much later in life he was grateful for.
A good man by all means, and a ladies man *smiles* yes he is.
Because The Boy knows how to treat a woman right.
He calls me The Girl and He was The Boy.
Continue to rest in peace Hakeem O Shitta. Shitta shit!
(Mrs Oyin Onime is also a photographer and businesswoman)
A MAN OF VISION
Hakeem Shitta was self sacrificing and a man of vision. I am particularly enthralled by his devotion to publishing photographs in his newsletters on events in the arts around Lagos. This he did singularly by committing resources, skills, talents and time in order to keep the arts in people’s memory. He was never deterred by challenges and ill-health. May his soul continue to rest in peace! Thanks to those who have thought it wise to remember this great art giant, on whose shoulders this present generation of arts photographers stands.
Josephine Igberaese (Director of Drama, National Troupe of Nigeria)
Basil Chiji Okafor Hakeem Shitta lived his life with the ease of a hobby and I was certainly one of his admirers because, here was a man who totally understood the fact that all of life and living is, but a mere matrix. I remember his dazzling smile, boisterous and friendly disposition; I remember his child-like enthusiasm and his humility, despite being so immensely gifted! It is still hard to refer to Hakeem in the past tense because his hearty laughter still echoes in the ears, that ‘aliveness’ he so personified. And each time, carries with it, the cadence of the phrase, “bombo claat”, the traditional way we both greeted each other. The man does live, after all, doesn’t he?
