Controversy forces the Oyo State Government to postpone the annual Samodun Festival, Olufemi Atoyebi, writes
The 2014 edition of the Samodun Fiesta, festival of art and culture in Oyo State, did not hold as scheduled last weekend. The state Ministry of Culture and Tourism moved the festival to February 14 and 15.
But beyond the rescheduling, there is a controversy surrounding the origin of the fiesta and ownership of its copyright. In the first edition held in January 2013, Franchise and Enterprise Concerns Limited was involved in its organisation. Some of the activities exhibited at the fiesta were a walk around Ibadan, with the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Oreke Oyo (beauty pageant) and stars (Nollywood) on parade.
At the end of the fiesta, FECL released a magazine showcasing pictures of the event. It looked like a successful marriage between FECL and the ministry. Not many people knew that there were issues that would later cause disaffection and eventual divorce.
The problem started when the second edition was being planned by the ministry – without the input of its former consultant, which is claiming to be its rightful owner. The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state, Adetutu Akhigbe-Adeyemi, told our correspondent that the ministry reserved the power to choose who would work for it.
She said that although FECL was its partner last year, its proposal fell below the standard set for the 2014 edition. The daughter of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, said that the concept belonged to the state and that the company was brought in to assist in the execution of the project.
She said, “The company approached the ministry – when I came in as commissioner – for the hosting of the Oyo festival. But for many reasons, the state was not ready for that. I gave them the idea of what we wanted and the word ‘Samodun’ came up. What they proposed was a beauty pageant and poverty alleviation programme, which were co-opted into the programme. The company promised to generate N80m but they only paid N1.1m. So, the balance of about N78m remains with them. The only mandate they had was to seek sponsors for the 2013 fiesta. We don’t have any agreement with them beyond that edition.”
A letter from the ministry, dated December 1, 2012, stated the areas of cooperation between the two parties.
“This ministry deems it fit to collaborate with the FECL this year because of its belief that the programme will not only complement Oyo State Government’s efforts through the ministry in the promotion of our cultural heritage and tourism but will also showcase our artistry and creative essence. It is however important to state that your company, in collaboration with the ministry, should seek sponsors and sponsorship for the festival and its various events,” the letter read in part.
This however contradicted what the company is holding on to. Its Managing Director, Wale Williams, denied being a mere assistant during the first edition but a concept owner and co-producer. He said the princess called her to design a festival that would bring everyone together, unlike those that are limited to certain towns and places in the state.
Williams said, “I came up with the idea of the festival, which was held between January 24 and 26 in 2013. The festival was a collaboration between our company and the state but we designed the concept. It was meant to replicate a cultural programme hosted in Port Harcourt, which was attended by the commissioner and Governor Abiola Ajimobi. On return, the commissioner called our company and said she would love a project what would look like the programme in Port Harcourt.
“In prosecuting the project, our company spent a lot of money that was not paid back. By trying to host the 2014 festival behind us, the ministry is only trying to steal our intellectual right. We have written the ministry through our lawyer that for them to have the trademark, they should pay N150m.”
Asked why the festival was postponed on the eve of its hosting, the commissioner said it had nothing to do with the threat of litigation or court order from FECL. She said it was rescheduled to give room for further planning and successful hosting.
“The fiesta has not been cancelled. It was only moved forward so that we can plan better and incorporate more activities,” she said.
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