Obasanjo, Soyinka hails female drummer, Ara on birthday

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described Africa’s foremost
female drummer and one of Nigeria’s greatest entertainment exports,
 Aralola
Olamuyiwa
 popularly
known as Ara as a pride to the African youth.

In his congratulatory message to Ara ahead of her birthday
celebration, former
 Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said:
“while I wish you a very happy birthday, I also want to commend you for all you
have been able to achieve at such a young age. You have done very well for
yourself; you have succeeded in placing our culture on the map of the world.
The talking drum used to be associated with dirty old men but with your
smartness, talent and doggedness, you have added glamour and value to the act
of playing the talking drum. I urge our youths to take a cue from you and
promote our culture because that is all we have and who we are”.

Scheduled for the prestigious Oriental Hotel, Lagos, this Friday,
and tagged ‘an evening with Ara’ the multi – dimensional event is billed to
feature an evening of movie premiere, album preview, a special birthday dinner
and intellectual discuss.
Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka also commended the ace drummer
for her contributions to the arts industry. “A happy birthday to our very
talented and gifted artist. I remember you started very young, quite young then
when I heard of her. You are a model to be emulated by young people, absolutely
no height to which you cannot reach if you are committed; congratulations”,
Soyinka said.
The event according to Ara, is going to be an evening of multi –
dimensional activities. “Actually, I have had a whole lot of accumulated
activities that have been pending due to my national and international
engagements but I have decided to use this Friday, being my birthday to fraternize,
hobnob and cross pollinate ideas with stakeholders of the Ara Brand amidst
various activities”.
 
The pretty mother of one added that Dr Joe Odei
Odumakin, Barrister Mohammed Fawehinmi and other eminent Nigerians have been
confirmed as guest speakers on the topic: ‘The Nigerian Youth; Problem and
Solution’ at the discuss section of the event.
Ara further disclosed that besides her special birthday dinner,
the evening will also be spiced with an exclusive screening of her much touted
movie; ‘Osunfunke’. “The movie ‘Osunfunke’ is an extension of my theatrical
talent; another medium I have chosen to express myself as an entertainer with a
passionate commitment to the promotion of our socio-cultural heritage”, she
said.
  

Ara who has just signed a new management deal with one of Nigeria’s top
artist
 management outfit, Akinwale Oluwaleimu’s Event
and Entertainment Consult, stated that guests will also be afforded the
privilege of listening to some tracks from her much anticipated debut
 album due for release soonest while a brief but intellectual  discuss on the album will
also be held. This is quite essential as opinions of the respected panel of
discussants will go a long way in adding greater value to what we have been
able to put in place. I believe the
final production of the
album will be better off after this listening exercise”, she explained.