'DELA' Interview: Remembering Tam Fiofori
'DELA' Interview: Remembering Tam Fiofori - Filmmaker Visionary Historian Critic This interview was conducted in June 2021 for the biographical documentary DELA: The Making of El Anatsui, directed by Oyiza Adaba.
By Oyiza Adaba
UNCLE TAM
1942-2024
Filmmaker Visionary Historian Critic
This interview was conducted in June 2021 for the biographical documentary DELA: The Making of El Anatsui, directed by Oyiza Adaba
The legendary Tam Fiofori, during his interview for ‘DELA’.
“I’ll be a bit rude and say that the Nigerian Elite is yet to be civilized in terms of the arts. We must be quite blunt. Look at our political leaders, our so called, big rich men. Go to their houses. How many artworks Do you see? How many books do you see?”
Rest In Peace
From all of us
Africa-Related & DELA! Team
“... we don’t have beauty in our society, and it manifests in the way we behave, because it’s become a dog-eat-dog society, a rat race where the drive is to acquire money and wealth.”
Follow the Film
“We must be a bit careful about The Western world defining and grading our creative people in all genres, from music to literature to the arts. EL ANATSUI is one of Africa’s greatest artists, that’s the way I’ll describe him. In terms of contemporary art. He is very outstanding. He’s a huge figure, and he’s a great credit to art from Africa.”
share this story
Full Video: "DELA" North American Premiere
Video Highlights of the biographical documentary that carefully captures the life of legendary artist El Anatsui, tracing the artistic endeavors that led to his rise in popularity in the global art world. It made an inspiring debut on Mother's Day, May 12th, 2024 at the prestigious Lincoln Centre in New York.
"DELA: The Making of El Anatsui", is an “in-depth” biographical documentary directed by Oyiza Adaba. It made its North American premiere at the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF31) on May 12th, 2024 at the prestigious Lincoln Centre. “DELA” is currently showing at global film festival before going into distribution. Follow the film’s progress here
DELA Director Oyiza Adaba, in front of Lincoln Center, New York. Photo: Galina Ivankovich/Africa-Related
SHARE THIS STORY
Highlights Prof. El Anatsui Receives 2024 Doctor of Fine Arts From BARD COLLEGE
Highlights of BARD COLLEGE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOURTH COMMENCEMENT
Bard College President Leon Botstein and the Bard College Board of Trustees honored Bard’s exceptional award recipients with Honorary Degrees including Prof. El Anatsui who was the recipient of the 2024 Doctor of Fine Arts
Ghanaian Sculptor, Prof. El Anatsui receiving the 2024 Doctor of Fine Arts at Bard College
Oyiza Adaba, New York
BARD COLLEGE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOURTH COMMENCEMENT
Bard College held its 164th commencement on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Bard President Leon Botstein conferred 395 undergraduate degrees on the Class of 2024 and 229 graduate degrees. Bard also conferred 40 associate degrees from its microcolleges and Honorary Degrees to exceptional award recipients like Prof. El Anatsui, who was the received the 2024 Doctor of Fine Arts
The Ghanaian sculptor, who is known for his ground-breaking redefinition of sculptural installations that hang in the world’s most prestigeous museums, was in good company. Other recipients include Hollywood actress Rachael Weisz, David C. Banks chancellor of New York City Public Schools, Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress and Imad Abu Kishek president of Al-Quds University (AQU).
Earth Scientist Naomi Oreskes delivered the 2024 Commencement Address, in which she addressed the difficulties of today’s world, and challenged young minds to finding a middle ground in resolving conflicts.
“It's an instinct for many of us to want to resolve contradictions. To conclude that Heidegger must be either a great thinker or a fascist—because how could he be both? To say that Locke, as a racist, cannot be an inspiration to us today. To insist that Schrodinger’s cat must be either alive or dead.”
“The world needs both speaking and listening. If no one spoke, there would be nothing to listen to. But if no one listens, then there isn’t much point in speaking. ”
Located in upstate New York town of Annandale-on-Hudson, Bard College is a liberal art institution that was founded as St. Stephen’s College in 1860. It was also home to the late Nobel Laureate Prof. Chinua Achebe from 1990 to 2009. The Nigerian author of the globally acclaimed novel “Things Fall Apart”, was the Charles P. Stevenson Jr. Professor of Languages and Literature at Bard College.
The ceremony was accompanied by a Luncheon at the President’s residence, a tour of Achebe House, barbecue and fireworks..
Photos for President’s Luncheon, Commencement Ceremony and Tour of achebe house
SHARE THIS STORY
DELA: Makes North American Debut At 31st New York African Festival
The biographical documentary that carefully captures the life of legendary artist El Anatsui, tracing the artistic endeavors that led to his rise in popularity in the global art world, made an inspiring debut on Mother's Day, May 12th, 2024 at the prestigious Lincoln Centre in New York.
Moderator Ben Dotsei Malor and DELA Director Oyiza Adaba during the Q&A
Ihunmehai Isaac, New York
Photos: John Oko Nyaku, Africa Photo Communication
It was an eventful and beautiful Mother's Day on May 12th, 2024 at the prestigious Lincoln Centre, with guests trooping in with tickets in hand, to see the “in-depth” biographical documentary directed by Oyiza Adaba - "DELA: The Making of El Anatsui".
The story carefully and deliberately captures the life of legendary artist El Anatsui, tracing the artistic endeavors that led to his rise in popularity in the global art world.
“The film gave more essence to what we normally know of El...”
The screening witnessed an attentive audience engaging in the film, through moments of emotional connections that brought laughter, tears, and silence to the Frances Beale Theater at the prestigious Lincoln Center.
The screening was followed by a resounding applause and a Q&A session, moderated by Ben Dotsei Malor, former BBC Africa anchor and Chief Editor of United Nations News for Dailies.
Malor praised Oyiza Adaba's vision and called for the film to be shown in academic institutions across the world. He welcomed questions from the audience that expanded on the film's 10-year journey, the use of language, art appreciation and much more.
The first-time director explained her motivation to build on the work of previous documentations of the subject, to tell a more personal story. She expressed gratitude to the artist for his generous support, as well as the sponsors and crew who made it possible.
DELA Director Oyiza Adaba with El Anatsui’s Family members and Ben Malor (UN)
Notable guests present include the Anatsui and Ametewee Families, Tamsen Greene of Jack Shainman Gallery NY, the film's director of photography Jason Hill, Jazz musician Randy Muller, percussionist Ricky “Dirty Red” Gordon, Tyrone Birkett of New Freedom Sounds, and Words By MOE who contributed to the films soundtrack.
“As an African-American New Yorker with limited travel to Africa, it was wonderful to see the artist’s setting, in his culture...”
DELA Crew: Director Oyiza Adaba with Ghana Director of Photography Jason Hill
Guests were treated to a reception where they got to interact further with members of the production team.
Mahen Bonetti, the Executive Director and brainchild behind the New York African Film Festival, described DELA as “a masterpiece story that needed telling”. The long-running festival, which showcased over 50 films from 24 countries ends at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on June 1, 2024.
“DELA” is currently showing at global film festival before going into distribution. Follow the film’s progress here
SHARE THIS STORY
Photo Highlights DELA: North American Premiere at NYAFF31
Photo Highlights
DELA: North American Premiere at NYAFF31
photos by John Oko Nyaku (Africa Photo Communications)
Photo Highlights
DELA: North American Premiere at NYAFF31
May 12, 2024
SHARE THIS STORY
PHOTOS: The Global African Women’s Day 2024
A special Pan-African gala took place at historic Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem on March 16, 2024 during the annual two-week UN women’s conference, Commission on the Status of Women. The purpose of the gala and award ceremony was to celebrate Global African Women’s Day with African women and women of African descent from around the world, spanning; Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean.
By Oyiza Adaba, New York
A special Pan-African gala took place at historic Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem on March 16, 2024 during the annual two-week UN women’s conference, Commission on the Status of Women. The purpose of the gala and award ceremony was to celebrate Global African Women’s Day with African women and women of African descent from around the world, spanning; Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean.
SHARE THIS STORY
Africa-Related is a media content production house
EL ANATSUI at TATE MODERN Until April 15
If you are in or close to London, love art and yet to see El Anatsui’s “Behind The Red Moon”, showing at Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall; the exhibition ends on April 15, 2024
By Oyiza Adaba, London
If you are in or close to London, love art and yet to see El Anatsui’s “Behind The Red Moon”, showing at Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall; the exhibition ends on April 15, 2024
SHARE THIS STORY
Africa-Related is a media content production house
EL ANATSUI Marks His Undeniable Legacy At 80
Family Patriarch, Global Icon, Sculptor Extraordinaire, son of Ghana and a most Remarkable Human Being, Emeritus Prof. El Anatsui, marked eighty years of his lifetime on earth on Sunday, 4th February 2024 at Kwame Nkrumah Museum Accra, Ghana.
By oyiza adaba
Africa-related, accra ghana
EL@80 Logo
EL ANATSUI LEGACY 80
An Exclusive Evening of
Discourse Dinner Music
February 4, 2024
Family Patriarch, Global Icon, Sculptor Extraordinaire, son of Ghana and a most Remarkable Human Being, Emeritus Prof. El Anatsui, marked eighty years of his lifetime on earth on Sunday, 4th February 2024 at Kwame Nkrumah Museum Accra, Ghana.
El Anatsui’s Legacy is all about what he stands for, and the milestone was celebrated in a two-part series of events that included an interactive discourse with an engaging panel titled, “Exploring Nigeria/Ghana Relations and What Unites More Than Divides Us As A People”. Having, stood at this same crossroads, El Anatsui has remained a formidable bridge between these two counties for eight decades.
Following this, friends, colleagues and family from near and wide attended the invitation-only exclusive dinner and live music performance, that featured a mouth-watering dinner, gift presentations of many kinds, and performances by select artists including Ghana’s female Jazz ensemble The Lipstik Queens, Tema Senior High School Choir and Anyako Cultural Troupe, and Afrobeat Sensation Dede Mabiaku & Kalafika Band.
The evening’s highlight was when the celebrant was conferred upon, the title of Torgbui Kekeli I of Anyako Woeto (‘beacon of light’), by the paramount chief Torgbui Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII. This makes it Anatsui’s second traditional title since his 2017 conferment as the Ikedire of Nsukka ('power which is effective').
Other activities included a book unveiling titled “The World Celebrates El Anatsui @80” by a collective of esteemed academics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); with guided tours to Ghana’s educational and tourism landmarks such as Elmina Castle, the Kwame Nkrumah Museum, and University of Ghana.
El Anatsui is a contemporary artist from Ghana who singlehandedly redefined the meaning of sculptor and created a global art movement, from his four-decade stay in Nsukka, Nigeria. His works have graced prestigious art spaces worldwide, like the ongoing Hyundai Commission at Tate Modern. Learn more about a most remarkable human being from his upcoming biographical documentary DELA: The Making of El Anatsui.
El@80 Video Highlights
Photos by Africa-Related
Share this story
GHANAIAN SCULPTOR EL ANATSUI HONORED AT TIME100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE GALA IN NEW YORK
Time100 is a yearly event that selects and brings together prominent, history-making, global figures. Adoring fans lined the streets leading up to the Jazz at Lincoln Center, where Time Magazine was hosting a gala in honor of Time100 Most Influential People.
By Oyiza Adaba, New York
April 28, 2023
“Trust has never been more important, and it speaks to both our legacy and our future”
Adoring fans lined the streets leading up to the Jazz at Lincoln Center, where Time Magazine was hosting a gala in honor of Time100 Most Influential People.
Notable names were included in this year’s list of categories, which were: Artists, Icons, Pioneers, Leaders, Titans and Innovators. .Actress Jessica Collidge hosted and joked, "Think of how many followers you could get", while calling for further collaboration among honorees. American rapper and “pioneer” honoree, Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, aka Doja Cat, thrilled the 300 plus guests with her performance.
Among the prominent names at the event were Salma Hayek Pinault, Michael B. Jordan, Keegan-Michael Key, Austin Butler and Angela Bassett. Veteran Director Steven Spielberg received the Impact Award, and credited Time Magazine's longevity - since the first issue on March 3, 1923 - to keeping up with current issues. The plaque was presented to him by two former child stars from his films, Drew Barrymore and Ke Huy Quan
Africa was well represented on the list with Ghanaian sculptor, El Anatsui - one of the most respected, international contemporary artists - leading the way. Other game changers from the continent were Wangira Mathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and activist, VP/Regional Director World Resources Institute; Dimie Ogoina, a Nigerian infectious disease, physician-scientist at Niger Delta University and President of the Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society; Nigerian politician and President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the Tanzanian biodiversity leader and Cameroonian soccer player, Kylian Mbappé.
In an interview with El Anatsui, an Emeritus Professor of Sculpture, he fondly recalled the early years of his career, when he was questioned about what he could possibly do in art. He described this year’s recognition from Time magazine as "quite significant, indicating that I have been able to make an impact and do something with my art”.
Jazz at Lincoln Center is a prestigious upscale venue in New York City that has hosted Jazz and Blues greats, such as Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Ella Fitzgerald, Wayne Shorter, BB King, Charles Mingus, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughn.
Time100 is a yearly event that selects and brings together prominent, history-making, global figures. The final list of these influential individuals is exclusively chosen by Time’s editors, with nominations coming from the Time 100 alumni and the magazine's international writing staff. The ceremony has been held annually since 2004.
Photo Highlights: Photos: Africa-Related/elanatsui.art
See complete list: Time100 Most Influential People 2023
ARTISTS
• Michael B. Jordan
• Drew Barrymore
• Ali Wong
• Austin Butler
• Aubrey Plaza
• Rian Johnson
• Salma Hayek Pinault
• Zoe Saldaña
• Judy Blume
• Colin Farrell
• Lea Michele
• Simone Leigh
• Wolfgang Tillmans
• Suzan-Lori Parks
• Neil Gaiman
• Shervin Hajipour
• El Anatsui
• Colleen Hoover
• Steve Lacy
ICONS
• Jennifer Coolidge
• Ke Huy Quan
• Sara Mardini and Yusra Mardini
• Shah Rukh Khan
• Pedro Pascal
• Brittney Griner
• King Charles
• Salman Rushdie
• RowVaughn Wells
• Tracie D. Hall
• Peng Lifa
• Shannon Watts
• Haluk Levent
• Imara Jones
• Yvon Chouinard
PIONEERS
• Doja Cat
• Mikaela Shiffrin
• Bella Hadid
• Sam Altman
• Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi
• Thom Browne
• S.S. Rajamouli
• MrBeast
• Elizabeth Maruma Mrema
• Britney Schmidt and Peter Davis
• Sam Rivera
• Robin Zeng
• Edward Reynolds
• Margaret Mitchell
LEADERS
• Olena Zelenska
• Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
• Hakeem Jeffries
• Evan Gershkovich
• Janet Yellen
• Sherry Rehman
• Mitch McConnell
• Anthony Albanese
• Margrethe Vestager
• Joe Biden
• Samuel Alito
• Gustavo Petro
• Gina Raimondo
• Oleksandra Matviichuk
• Fumio Kishida
• Cindy McCain
• María Herrera Magdaleno
• Olaf Scholz
• Bola Ahmed Tinubu
• Min Aung Hlaing
TITANS
• Angela Bassett
• Laurene Powell Jobs
• Lionel Messi
• Padma Lakshmi
• Johan Rockstrom
• Beyoncé
• Patrick Mahomes II
• Elon Musk
• Gina Prince-Bythewood
• Karen Lynch
• Shou Zi Chew
• Ozlem Tureci and Ugur Sahin
• Deborah Lipstadt
INNOVATORS
• Bob Iger
• Sarah Kate Ellis
• Kylian Mbappé
• Natasha Lyonne
• Monica Simpson
• Nathan Fielder
• Wanjira Mathai
• Hidetaka Miyazaki
• Jerrod Carmichael
• Catherine Coleman Flowers
• Sean Sherman
• Iga Swiatek
• Kate Orff
• Dimie Ogoina
• Andrea Kritcher
Share this story
MENTORSHIP YIELDS! El Anatsui Leads New Class Of Rolex Mentors
Every two years since 2002, Rolex - the Swiss luxury watchmaker has paired artists and protégés in an exclusive programme called The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.
By Oyiza Adaba | Africa-Related New York
MENTORSHIP
an enriching dialogue between artists of different generations, cultures and disciplines - ROLEX
Photo: El Anatsui & Bronwyn Katz at his Tema, Ghana Studio. By Tomas Bertelsen/Rolex
Every two years since 2002, Rolex - the Swiss luxury watchmaker has paired artists and protégés in an exclusive programme called The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.
The programme seeks out gifted young artists from all over the world and brings them together with artistic masters for a six-week period, to build a one-to-one mentoring relationship where the protégé is granted access to a master at work, or sometimes collaborate on a work.
"The programme has evolved into an enriching dialogue between artists of different generations, cultures and disciplines"
- ROLEX
Past pairings in dance, film, literature, music, theatre, visual arts, architecture and an open category covering interdisciplinary pursuits, have brought together the likes of filmmaker Spike Lee with Kyle Bell, and Architect David Adjaye with Mariam Kamara. Read their stories below.
The new 2022 class, announced on September 9th at The Brooklyn Academy of Music NY, includes renowned Ghanaian sculptor and visual artist El Anatsui, who has had mentorship at the core of his over 6-decade career, guiding Bronwyn Katz - a South African sculptor and visual artist. Anatsui is joined by other notable names like the American jazz singer Dianne Reeves, Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke, British writer Bernardine Evaristo and the French architect Anne Lacaton.
supporting individual excellence
PHOTO: ROLEX
Rolex’s vision to revitalize mentorship in the arts and support individual excellence, reflects not only in their selection of both Master and Protégés, but in also the past and future yields of this programme.
Have you given any thought to mentorship lately? The notion of imparting and sponging knowledge is powerful in of itself. Giver or receiver, it can be a life-changing experience.
Past Mentor and Protégé Parings
Film: Spike Lee & Kyle Bell - Rolex Mentor and Protégé Relating to the experience of Native Americans in his country, Spike Lee chose to mentor Kyle Bell...
Architecture: David Adjaye & Mariam Kamara A visit to Mariam Kamara’s native Niger was the turning point in the relationship between her and...
Visual Arts: Artists in wonderland Year after year, Anish Kapoor, one of the world’s most famous living artists, astonishes the international...
Open Category: Lin-Manuel Miranda & Agustina San Martín Lin-Manuel Miranda and his protégée Agustina San Martín met while he was making his film directorial debut...
Music: Zakir Hussain & Marcus Gilmore “I see him as a bit of a sage. He’s like a kind of Yoda, he really is,” says Marcus Gilmore talking of his ...
Dance: Crystal Pite & Khoudia Touré “If I had to find one word to sum up the last two years, it would be ‘transformation’,” says Khoudia ...
Share this story
FINALLY! EL ANATSUI OPENS THE CONCIERGERIE IN PARIS
The pandemic had delayed Anatsui's first solo exhibition in France, and a welcomed breath of fresh air greeted the art world today, as galleries and museums worldwide slowly begin reopening.
A welcomed breath of fresh air greeted the art world today, as galleries and museums worldwide slowly begin reopening.
PARIS, France
Words: Oyiza Adaba
Photos: Eric Dereumaux
Exhibition: May 19, 2021
Exhibition: May 20 - November 24, 2021
The pandemic delayed Anatsui's first solo exhibition in France, and now the doors the former medieval royal palace which became a prison during the Revolution, have opened to the public.
The poetic installation by the globally-acclaimed sculptor echoes the history of the location and the passing of time. By calling on the five elements: water, wind, wood, metal and stone, Anatsui fills the walls and fireplaces with six new sculptures that reflect the theme.
The exhibition is part of the Africa 2020 Season and is opened through November 24, 2021.
El Anatsui The Film Produced by Africa-Related Inc COMING SOON
