Following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 11th Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange, (WSICE) themed ‘I AM because YOU ARE’ will be holding digitally this year.
Held annually since 2010 as part of activities marking the birthday of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, WSICE is an initiative of Professor Segun Ojewuyi of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, US, and CEO of Zmirage Multimedia Company, Alhaji Teju Kareem.
This year’s edition, happening online from July 12 to 14, will feature the usual essay competition involving students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions, a cultural advocacy session; lectures, and symposium on humanity as well as poetry and theatrical performances.
The Advocacy session, according to the organisers, will run for two days and focus on ‘Pandemic: Pursuit of individual Happiness and our common humanity’.
Executive Director of the Chinese Studies Institute at San Diego State University, Lilly Cheng, will deliver the main conference paper on the central theme ‘I AM because YOU ARE’ on July 12. She would be supported by Dr Li Michael, an educator specialising in the teaching of the Abacus.
Other speakers at the first session, who would be responding to Prof. Cheng’s presentation include Trinidad and Tobago’s Shabaka Thompson who has extensive experience in carnival, event management and production; Brazilian curator, writer, singer and shaman, Keyna Eilson, and French journalist, Lucile Huguet.
Theatre and culture scholar, Professor Ojewuyi, will deliver the lead paper entitled ‘Reimagining Our World After Covid-19’ on the second advocacy day. This will be followed by five contributing papers to be presented by eminent culture researchers and scholars including Roman catholic priest and professor in the Department of Africana Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Joseph Brown;
Spanish teacher and educational researcher, Cristian R. Aquino-Sterling and Nigerian, Dr Ngozi Nwaneri.
The others are Zimbabwean writer, theatre director, filmmaker and art administrator, Dave Guzha and Ugandan journalist, filmmaker, author and publisher, Nathan Kiwere.
Submission of entries for the essay competition for both junior and senior categories are ongoing and will close on June 26.
A winner and a runner-up will emerge from each of the five linguistic zones– English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese. A global winner will also appear in the two categories.
The winners from each category and linguistic zones will be announced on July 14 during a scheduled Meet & Greet session with Professor Soyinka in the same virtual/digital space.
Commenting on the theme, Executive Producer, Kareem said it is drawn from UBUNTU. This Southern African philosophy epitomises the principle of shared values that ensures the sustenance and survival of the human family.
He said, “The theme is inspired by observed factors and motives behind the responses of peoples and governments across the world to the challenges pushed forward by the rage of the pandemic. In particular, the obvious interdependence of our collective humanity has been brought to the fore in the way people and States have risen to support others experiencing the dire effects of the pandemic.”