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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Bayelsa-born artist, Tonbara Angalapele Samson, from Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, has decried what he described as lack of government patronage, minimal knowledge of arts, absence of museums, galleries and funding as some of the impediments militating against the growth of the arts in the state, while calling for a reverse of the trend to enable artists maximize the benefits inherent in their craft.
Samson, while speaking to journalists in Yenagoa ahead of an exhibition coming up from April 25 to 29 2023 in Yenagoa, said he is a graduate of Banking and Finance in 2012, but veered into Art, and had practiced for over 16 years in Lagos before relocating to Bayelsa State.
“As humans there are serious issues we are not telling ourselves, and there are facts lying underneath the carpet, especially those of us from the minority, we need to tell our stories visually to the world,” he said.
Samson urge the Bayelsa State government to inculcate the Arts, such as Music, into the curriculum of secondary schools and pay adequate attention to artists and Arts, just as its sponsorship of musical programs. Noting that the future of the Arts has bountiful prospects in the state, he called on the state government to also provide conducive environment for the Arts, while imploring art lovers in the state to patronize art works, so as to enable artists to remain afloat in their chosen career.
Making a comparison between Lagos and Bayelsa in terms of appreciation of the Arts, he said though he has no regret relocating home, but there is no basis in the comparison, because “in Lagos there is a huge market for the Arts to thrive, as many people troop into Lagos early to showcase their talents, where there are Art enthusiasts, Art collectors, museums, galleries where people patronize Art works, aside corporate sponsorship.
“But lamentably in Bayelsa State there are no art galleries, museums, no capital to source for materials, getting the right collectors, absence of sponsorship, as persons have no an agenda to assist or promote the artists.
“All of these demoralize us, hence there some of us that have crashed out of the profession for other means of livelihood,” he said.
Samson stressed that he has “no regret relocating home, because with patience and perseverance, Bayelsa State will soon compare favourably with Lagos in the Art world.”
He also disclosed that the importance of exhibitions cannot be over emphasized, as they remained avenues through which the artist gets recognition, gets appreciated, patronized as he urged relevant government agencies, art lovers and collectors to keep a date with his first solo forthcoming exhibition.
Samson said he has held several group exhibitions that had distinguished him over the years, and also spoke of mentors that had assisted him to progress. He further noted that he has not relented in giving back to the society, and achieves this by way of mentorship to secondary school students and undergraduates who throng his studio for studies and lectures.
