CORA Celebrates Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Matriarch of the Stage, at 80

The Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, on Wednesday, felicitated with its matron, board member and mentor, Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, who clokced 80 today, February 3, 2021.

In a statement issued by Samuel Osaze, its Programme Officer, on behalf of the Programme Directorate of the prime culture advocacy group, CORA described Ajai-Lycett as “a vital force behind the dreams and passion that drive CORA.”

“Actress, social activist and culture advocate, Anty TAL (as she is fondly called) means more than just a board member to the CORA,” Osaze continued in the release. “She is a vital force behind the dreams and passion that drive CORA and its various activities.

“Like all the other eminent members of the Board, she is ever ready to listen and help to think through programme ideas, offering much-needed advices and critiques as desired.

“We indeed cannot quantify her contribution and support to the progress of the organisation this past three decades,” stated the programme directorate of the organization.

“It is thus with pleasure that the CORA Working Committee (CWC) has dedicated the entire 2021 programme season to celebrating the illustrious life and career of the enigmatic matriarch of the Nigeria stage and screen. All through the year, several programmes would be held to celebrate various strands of her blessed life. Some events will also be staged in partnership with other organisations to which she subscribed.

“The climax of the CORA 2021 season would be the 7-day Lagos Book & Art & Festival, LABAF, which is entirely dedicated to Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. With the working theme, A FORK IN THE ROAD… LABAF 2021, will be a week-long comprehensive open-air carnivalesque ‘feast of Life and Ideas’ featuring a mix-grill of artistic and cultural events  including: exhibitions of books and arts,  live reading sessions; conversations around books; seminars on visual, performing and allied arts; displays of paintings, sculptures, mixed media, installations and crafts; children and youths art workshops; live music, poetry, drama and dance presentations among others.

“All the programme items will have event or section celebrating Anty Ajai-Lycett.”

“But for the restrictions dictated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and especially the strict guidelines by the Lagos state government,  the year-long programme would have commenced today, February 3, with a mentorship event that had been exclusively designed to spotlight the very essence of Anty TAL: Mentoring the Future. The event has now been rescheduled to when the raging pandemic has simmered and the City has reopened.”

However, the CWC has recently concluded an interview documentary on the matriarch – TAIWO AJAI-YCETT… Matriarch of the ACT  — which would be unveiled in the next few weeks. An excerpt from the documentary is, however, expected to be screened on all CORA communication platforms from today throughout the rest of the month.

GRACEFUL DANCE STEPS OF AN ICON

Watch a grateful Taiwo Ajai-Lycett dance gracefully to the rhythmic sound provided by CORA during the celebration at her residence this morning: