The program began with the IFUMSA tradition of not starting at the slotted time, but instead, by 4:50 pm. After observing the usual protocol, a minute silence was observed for all the victims of gender-based violence.
Performances began in earnest with Olaitan Komolafe and Tobi Falokun performing The Lion King’s can you feel the love tonight. Several other musical performances wowed the crowd like Inioluwa’s rendition of Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), Tomiwa’s Bibanke, Lekute gang’s rap, MJ’s A Million dreams, Otuzo, among others.
Several spoken word artists delivered awe-inspiring performances. Of these, we had Victor, Ife Bada, Marshall pencils, amongst others. College of Health Sciences Band was also called to the stage for their performance. Their instrumentalists, Tolu, Demilade, among others, did a wonderful job supporting the vocalists all evening. The performances continued with Tolu Oduntan going on stage to perform Memories and Titanic on the keyboard.
There were even magic tricks. Ibu, the magician, was called on stage to razzle-dazzle the crowd with his magic tricks. The awed crowd would only have been more dazzled if he had made Nigeria, or UAR, disappear.
The dramatic art department was also not left out as they delivered a beautiful play on Gender-Based Violence. Kay and crew gave a stunning dance ember.
Bush, Timmy, Saraki and other members of Agbero FC provided entertainment for the crowd, giving a rousing dirge and background music to the Dramatic Arts play while hyping up their classmates and friends with all the gusto of paid praise singers.
Articine provided a little more than entertainment, reminding us that there’s more to art as Fola David came on stage to talk about art and social injustice after his impressive citation was read by Feyi Bada. Feyi Bada also read the citation for Frederick Omoniyi, who then gave a presentation on art as a tool to fight social injustice, much of which we have in Nigeria.
The crowd lit their torches (aka phone flashlights) in honour of lives lost to GBV, a reminder of the theme of the entire health week.
In what was fast becoming a tradition, some artists did not get to present their work because of certain time constraints.
The evening ended with an art exhibition where several beautiful paintings were displayed.
All in all, Articine was once again a wonderful experience for all those who were in attendance. But all good things must come to an end or take a break (well, to be quite fair, so must all bad things.) But Articine ended as it had begun. Magically.
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