The Ogun State Government led by Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, takes this statement to heart by going beyond rolling out the drums to celebrate the Folk Arts Grand Master, Pa Jimi Solanke, who clocks 80 in July this year.
The State Government, through its Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is sponsoring and partnering with Evergreen Musical Company Limited to compile Jimi Solanke’s complete musical works and package a 127-page picturesque odyssey of the folk arts impresario.
The works will be unveiled at a Grand Ball in honour of the illustrious son of the state, who became the celebrated king of the theatre.
Over the past seven decades, Pa Jimi Solanke has contributed much to the growth of the Nigerian creative arts industry, particularly children’s entertainment on various television channels.
According to the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Adijat Adeleye Oladapo, Jimi Solanke is one of Ogun State’s Musical treasures, which has become an artistic phenomenon with cutting-edge knowledge in everything art.
She affirmed that the state government considered it a normal duty to celebrate its heroes, “particularly those that have impacted the lives of many generations”.
Pa Solanke, a native of Ipara, Remo, straddled the entire creative space, making ingenuity his trademark.
He is an accomplished veteran of varied exposure and experiences who has made outstanding contributions to the creative arts community and effortlessly become a global phenomenon.
Come October 22, the landmark June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, recently upgraded to a world-class facility by Governor Abiodun, will welcome crème de la crème of the society to celebrate the legacies of the legend in a series of lined-up activities.
Uncle Jimi, as he is fondly called, just opened his Ibudo Asa Center in Ipara as a resource facility to train, coach, and mentor practising and aspiring artists, particularly schoolchildren, to upscale their crafts and capacities in the fine skills and details of performing arts.
