Span Awards – A celebration of the Arts and the Grand Closing to a Colorful Week

Date 2013-11-15

Category Gist & Gossip

It’s been a colorful week for SPAN Festival which k!cked off 8 days ago at Oceanview, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The festival had an impressive opening on Friday, November 8, with ‘Battery Dance Company’, a prestigious international dance group from New York, putting up a spectacular show ‘AUTOBIOGRAPHICA’. The event also showcased a presentation from the Nigerian students who had been trained by the dance company during the week. It was a captivating and inspiring evening with a mixed audience of the corporate community, art lovers, celebrities, and the expatriate community.

Following the grand opening, there were numerous events all week including ‘Gospel & Comedy Night’ on Sunday, The African Jazz Night, Taruwa Night, I.D,O Dance Battle, and 2 amazing dance theatre productions ‘Love is…’ show, and ‘Wishes & Horses’.

Needless to say, there was something for everyone; lovers of art, theatre, fashion, dance, spoken word, comedy and music.

Today, Friday, November 15, 2013, the festival comes to a grand close with the SPAN Awards, a glamorous night of fine dining and exquisite entertainment, honoring individuals and Organisations that have made an impact in the arts.
The arts community can easily be described as one of the most under-celebrated communities, and SPAN AWARDS aims to recognise and celebrate individuals and corporate bodies that have made transformational impact and commendable investment in the development of the arts in Nigeria. A10man jury of reputable professionals from the creative industry, including Nollywood veteran, Joke Silva, Jahman Anikulapo and Ugoma Adegoke of The Lifehouse, came together to deliberate on the awards to be given out at this inaugural event, and these awards will be given to 13 recipients including individuals, organizations and a lifetime achievement award.

“All the jury members and I were delighted to be part of the process of choosing winners in numerous categories for outstanding achievements and transformational investment in the creative industry in Nigeria,” said Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, Head of the Jury for the SPAN Awards for Excellence. “It is amazing to realize how many silent heroes we have in the industry, and I commend SPAN for having initiated this important award for the continued and strategic development of the performing arts in Nigeria.”

Audu Maikori of Chocolate City says “It was indeed a great honor to be asked to be one of the judges at this year’s Span Awards. The panel of judges consisted of very distinguished and erudite professionals in the creative arts sector, so you can imagine how robust and lively the deliberations over nominees and categories were!  Even though we didn’t all agree, one thing we were agreed on, was to make our most honest input and ensure that true diligence, creativity and excellence in the performing arts is duly recognized and rewarded”

SPAN Awards is an annual event and this is the launch edition. The event k!cks off with cocktails and redcarpet at 6pm, Oceanview, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, lagos.

SPAN Awards Nominees
1.    Music for Performance Award:
Individual: Aiyetoro, Mr. Ben Ogbeiwi, Ayo Bankole,
Corporate: Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), Nigerian Breweries & Etisalat

2.    Fine Arts Award
Individual: Nike Okundaye, Bisi Silva, Demas Nwoko
Corporate: Arthouse Contemporary, The Wheatbaker, Guaranty Trust Bank

3.    Fashion Award
Individual: Ituen Bassey, Amaka Osakwe (aka Maki Oh!), Ade Bakare
Corporate: Lagos Fashion & Design Week, British Council, Arise

4.    Film Award
Individual: Tunde Kelani, Femi Odugbemi, Adebayo Salami
Corporate: Ultima, African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Goethe Institute

5.    Dance Award
Individual: Adedayo Liadi [Ijodee], Kaffy, Segun Adefila [Crowne Troupe]
Corporate: National Theatre Troupe, Maltina Dance All/NBL, Goethe Institute

6.    Dramatic Arts Award:
Individual: Teju Karim [Z-Mirage], Chuck Mike, Patr!ck-Jude Oteh (Jos Repertory Theatre)
Corporate:  British Council, Bogobiri House , Terra Kulture,

7. Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts: Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya

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