Abraham Lincoln says “A nation that doesn’t honour its heroes will no longer endure”.
The Ogun State Government led by Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, takes this statement to heart by going beyond rolling out the drums to celebrate the Folk Arts Grand Master, Pa Jimi Solanke who clocks 80 in July this year.
The State Government through its Ministry of Culture and Tourism is sponsoring and partnering with the Evergreen Musical Company Limited to compile the complete musical works of Jimi Solanke as well as package a127-page picturesque odyssey of the folks arts impresario.
The works are to be unveiled at a Grand Ball in honour of the illustrious son of the state who turned out to become the celebrated king of the theatre
Pa Jimi Solanke in the past seven decades has contributed much to the growth of the Nigerian creative arts industry, particularly children entertainment on various television channels.
According to the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Mrs Adijat Adeleye Oladapo, Jimi Solanke is one of Ogun State Musical treasures that had overtime become an artistic phenomenon with cutting edge knowledge in everything art.
She affirmed that the state government considered it a normal duty to celebrate its heroes, “particularly those that have impacted the lives of many generations”.
Pa Solanke, a native of Ipara, Remo straddled the entire creative space making ingenuity his trademark.
He is an accomplished veteran of varied exposure and diverse experiences that has made outstanding contributions to the creative arts community to effortlessly become a global phenomenon.
Come October 22, the landmark June 12 Cultural Center, Abeokuta, recently upgraded to a world class facility by Governor Abiodun, will welcome crème de la creme of the society to celebrate the legacies of the legend in a series of lined up activities.
Uncle Jimi as he is fondly called just opened his Ibudo Asa Center in Ipara as a resource facility to train, coach and mentor practising and aspiring artistes, particularly school children, to upscale their crafts and capacities in the fine skills and details of performing arts.
*AjikeOkin*
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