Lola Shoneyin
Lovers of fine art and African culture are in for good times, as the recently launched Café One, a fusion of gourmet coffee, workspace and events destination announced a series of arts and lifestyle events tagged, ‘Culture at Café One’. The weekly event holds on Sundays.
The debut event was headlined by multi-talented alto vocalist, music producer and songwriter, Joyce Olong, followed by award winning journalist and performance poet, Wana Udobang, popularly known as Wana Wana.
Widely known for her work as an On-Air-Personality, Wana Wana put together a riveting performance from her sophomore poetry album, In Memory of Forgetting, which included the thought provoking Catfish, Showgirl and This Is Not A Feminist Poem and others.
Olong, 22, who is also good with the keyboard, treated guests to a live performance of tracks from her debut elpee, Merci Beauté including, Stay another day, Sister and Shekels,, which she admitted was inspired by the ongoing violence in her state of origin; Benue, between the indigenous farmers and Fulani herdsmen.
Upon request by guests, she also sang covers by foreign artistes who have influenced her style of music such as, Bob Marley, John Legend and Asa.
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Other artistes who have showcased at the Culture at Café One Series are mixed media artist and winner of the 2016 Samsung Mobile #TechMeetsArt competition, Haneefah Adams, spoken word artist and award winning winning advertising executive, Ndukwe Onuoha and multi-disciplinary painter cum sculptor, Jekein Lato-Unah.
The events has been attended by both corporate and arts industry heavy weights like US-based visual artist, writer and photographer, Victor Ehikhamenor, critically acclaimed poet and author of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, Lola Shoneyin; Nigerian-German singer and social activist, Ade Bantu, and spoken word poet, Sage.
“The turnout from these Culture At Café One series confirm that contrary to popular belief, Nigerians are interested in African arts and culture. I have attended from the first event and have seen the weekly increase in attendance. As a bank, we will continue to support anything that adds value to people and I can confidently say that Culture at Café One is here to stay,” said Yemi Odubiyi, Executive Director Corporate and investment banking, Sterling Bank.
Café One is the first-of-its-kind, work, leisure and events destination designed to support the growing freelance and remote working culture in a comfortable and inspiring environment. The venue is equipped with state-of-the-art mobile and digital devices, free Wi-Fi, work stations and an in-house coffee bar provided by leading gourmet coffee brand, My Coffee Lagos to enable guests eat, work and relax in the same space.
Additionally, guests can also access an array of savings products, credit facilities and investment solutions provided by Nigeria’s leading commercial bank, Sterling Bank Plc.
Source: G Entertainment
