Guardian

FROM his past projects, Moses Aboigbodin Oghagbon shared the beauty of Northern Nigeria in a show titled Argungu Series 1, held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Inspired by his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) period project tagged Tour Nigeria of 2004, the content of Argungu Series 1 traverse the famous yearly cultural event, Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival in Kebbi State of which the town is renowned.

Having been so familiar with the town even after his service days, Oghagbon is compelled to tell the story of the Argungu, which he argued, most people do not know outside the fishing festival. He explained, “The exhibition talks more about the people, rural scenes and womanhood before, during and after the Argungu International Fishing Festival”.

Some of his captures on canvas, which include activities that are related to the festival, there are quite a number of other shots as well. For example, in a work titled After Performance, the artist’s rendition of participants heading home, brings the beauty out of a harsh, hazy weather. Dissolving the skyline in the horizon into the creamy-like desert landscape that appears to be swallowing the ‘fishermen’, Oghagbon brings to the fore the hidden tourism potentials of Argungu that are not known outside the famous festival.

The artist traced the history of Argungu Festival to 1934 “as a goodwill gesture and celebration of peace between the people of Sokoto and Argungu”, and argued that, “it is the largest festival of its type in Nigeria”.

However, his focus in this show, he stressed “is to change the perception of people; Argungu is not all about men in water alone”.

And having bottled his love for the northern landscape and people for almost a decade, Oghagbon chooses to celebrate nature and creativity with the traditional institution of Argungu. At the opening of Argungu Series 1, the Emir, Alhaji Samaila Muhammadu Mera was  represented by Alhaji Abubakar Dan-Mallam (District Head Bui) and the state government’s representative, Mr. Abel Akinosi de, Chief Consultant, Argungu Fishing Festival.

The artist confessed: “I found the north most fascinating; the landscape, people, always appeal to me”.

And if words are not enough to express his love for the people and their rich nature, pictures would do most tellingly, so suggests paintings such as ‘The Family and Ammata (maiden)’. He also depicts single parenting in ‘The Family’ – a mother and three kids  – noting that possibly as a result of loss of a spouse, a mother is left to cater for her children, the artist also links such unfortunate situation to abandoned children. Most almajiris, he argued, are from single parents or orphans.

In Ammata comes what he described as “gorgeously dressed young ladies who come from Yado to Argungu for water. The Argungu Series, the artist disclosed, is an ongoing show, which he hoped to take to Abuja, perhaps as Argungu Series II.

However, on a broader scale, Oghagbon has quite a vast work from his Tour Nigeria project that may be a bigger project in the future. “I have toured some places across Nigeria, documenting nature in paintings”.

Argungu was carved out of old Sokoto State when Kebbi State was created in August 1991 with its capital at Birnin Kebbi, an ancient town dating back to the 14th century.

Oghagbon’s debut solo show, Scapes From Nigeria was held at Nike Art Gallery Lagos in 2011. Some of his past group and joint shows include Our Time at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos; From Eko With Love series, Ember Creek, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in 2012 and at International Art Expo, National Commissions For Museums and Monuments, Onikan, Lagos.