Ara @ 25: Celebrating the Talking Drummer and the Future of Indigenous Arts

Otunba Biodun Ajiboye of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation joined music lovers at the Alliance Française de Lagos to mark Ara’s 25th year on stage. Under the theme “The Future of Drumming: Policy, Preservation and Prosperity,” the event highlighted the talking drum’s role in communication, diplomacy and social cohesion. Delivering a paper on “National Policy and Preservation of Indigenous Arts,” Ajiboye urged a four-point plan: cultural education in schools, legal protection, endowment funds and the digitization of heritage. He called on government, private sector and communities to work together to elevate indigenous arts from the periphery to the centre of national development. The celebration featured performances by Ara and was attended by dignitaries including the Lagos State Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture and the President of PMAN.

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