In this interview, Adjekpagbon Mudiaga takes a periscope
of Austria-based Nigerian cultural dancer, Nkechi
Oruko Obuna. She shares her experiences in Austria and why many African
youths are Eurocentric among other issues
You look like a young lady in her early
thirties, but you said you are above 50 years. Could you tell me the secret
behind your youthful look?
I usually feel ashamed about myself whenever I
am asked this particular question. Personally, I feel I am old. My young
outlook may be because I live and think positively most times. My life motto is
“just be as happy as you can always.”
How long have you been in the promotion of
African cultural dance? When and where did you start dancing?
Ha
ha ha, I had a crazy Dad whom my siblings and I was always singing and dancing
with. Dancing is part of my family culture.
I
cannot exactly say when I started promoting African cultural dances. But I started paying more attention to my
culture and tradition about 25years when I migrated to Austria. In summary about
25years ago I started a self evaluation in terms of the major roles my culture
and tradition play in my life.
What led to your travelling to Austria and
why did you choose Austria as your base to promote African cultural dances?
Marriage
brought me to Austria.
It
was not a choice to promote African culture in Austria. It was a question of
self identification. Austria is a cultural country. I am indebted to the Austrian
governing system that allows all inhabitants the freedom of expression.
This
free existence exposes everyone to free acquisition of knowledge from each
other through pollination of cultural ideas among other things. The fact that
they love their culture make them also
seek to know about other cultures which helps them to identify people who can
offer them further cultural knowledge; hence, I was identified.
Apart from Nigerians, are there other
Africans supporting your dance ideology in Austria?
I
am sorry to say that my cultural ideology is not accepted by many Nigerians in
Austria because they think it is devilish. But few years ago, some Nigerians living
here (Austria) started having a different opinion about it when they understood
that a Nigerian entertainment company employed me to do a cultural project with
my concept of cultural dance.
How are you surviving with just performing only
African cultural dances in Austria?
Apart
from dancing, I do a normal cleaning work to earn a steady income, health
insurance and pay tax. I also have a registered African organisation known as Eleje
Music and Art which could be contacted at www eleje-am.com.
African
dance performances are just part of what I do generally. In conjunction with my
team, we also engage in educative African projects such as hand crafts,
preparation of different types of African foods, and creating music with
traditional Instruments, dancing, and so on and so forth. We work with other
world cultures to improve integration in the country. I paint and design cotton
clothes including costumes. I am an activist that is strongly in support of
protecting the interest of foreigners in Austria.
The Austrians have their own culture too. Are
they embracing your introduction of African dance into their society?
Austria
is very rich with culture practices. They love and practice their culture while
identifying with the cultures of other nations. They embrace other cultures
including African culture.
What is your opinion about Austrian culture
compared to other European countries like United Kingdom and France, the two
major former colonial masters of Africa whose cultures rubs on Africans a lot?
Are Austrians as cold or introvert like the average white
British person towards Africans?
Different
nationalities need to resuscitate, identify and value their respective cultures,
not only that of the major colonial masters. Unfortunately, many Africans have
abandoned our rich cultural practices by embracing various unknown European
cultures.
Ha
ha ha, one laughable aspect is that the average European culture is as cold as
winter. Europeans are very conservative.
Some are also very ignorant about Africa. Dark brown Africans are as warmly and
friendly as sun shines daily, in contrast to whites who are usually cold like
winter; perhaps as a result of their natural habitat. But I admire their
tendency of being patient in doing things orderly. Our major differences arise
from our different cultural backgrounds. Our differences notwithstanding, we
must learn to live together despite our differences.
Have you been invited by any Austrian institution
any time to perform African dances during a ceremony?
In
Austrian school scheme, each school must do a project with other cultures
yearly. I visit different schools often to educate and perform with them.
You came to Nigeria during the 2016 yuletide
season and you travelled to different parts of the country, performing African
cultural dances. Was it meant to reawaken Nigerians interest in cultural dances
or what?
The Natty
Entertainment is an outfit based in Lagos that employed me to work with then
with my cultural concept. This concept includes - dance theater and production
of documentary films about our olden days life values and art works.
The
project is aimed at helping to reawaken the young generation’s knowledge about
the useful and valuable aspects our olden day’s forgotten cultural practices. It is objectively meant to enhance self identification
to improve the self confidence and pride of our youth in African culture.
It requires a lot of funds to embark on
travelling to different geopolitical areas of the country. Did you finance your
journey to all the places you visited or an individual or corporate
organisation sponsored you?
My
employers paid about 90 per cent of the total bill. I hope that they will
succeed in getting sponsors from companies for my subsequent visits to Nigeria and
other projects in the pipeline because transportation is very expensive.
The
fact that it is an educational cum cultural project, we need the real facts by
visiting every culture we are working with for us to be able to defend it. We
visited Ebonyi, Enugu, Ogun Lagos, Nasarawa states and Abuja, to learn about
their lifestyles and existing olden day’s cultures.
Have you been invited by any Nigerian
institution like the department of creative arts to teach their students the commendable
drama dances you perform?
No
Nigerian institution has invited me yet. I have not been expecting any
invitation because I am not known in Nigeria as an artiste, until I make myself
available often to Nigerians.
Which creative arts department have you introduced
your style of cultural dances to in Nigeria tertiary institutions?
I
am yet to do so. My employer should be able to decide if it is necessary to do
so. I don’t think I may have time to collaborate with any creative department
in Nigeria because I already have more than enough schools in Austria I am
performing with.
The average Nigerian youth is very
Eurocentric about foreign music and dance. In what ways do you think the youth
can be enlightened to embrace African cultural music and dances in this jet
age?
It
is not only the Nigerian youths that are Eurocentric, the adults too are. We,
the parents, are failing in our duties to raise our children culturally not
only about cultural dances but living habits too.
To
educate our children about African cultural dances, we should start from our
respective homes to schools. Never forget that our dances are simple body stories.
We should start from reviving the act of telling folktales to our children at
home, just like our own parents did with us in the old good times.
Do you have videos of your performances that
can be broadcasted on television from time to time to promote the commendable
cultural dances you are engaged in?
I
have videos but a company, government or philanthropic individuals heed to
sponsor its broadcasts.
How is your family, especially your husband
supporting you in your chosen career of cultural dances?
I
have been a divorcee for over a decade. I think he felt I am just too loud for
him. My children are fine and giving the best support any mother like me could
need. However, an artiste life is somehow lonesome as you need time to meditate
and create new styles for your audience but it is also enjoyable. This self
identification is based on individual differences and preferences.
Your children are never seen dancing with you,
though you seem to be popular on social media. How many children do you have
and which of them is also embracing your cultural dances profession?
I
have four children. My two girls dance with me. It is their choice to live as dancers.
I don’t think I am popular on social media. I only catch fun with my facebook
friends.
How do you spend your leisure?
My
use my leisure to practice art works such as painting, designing clothes, and
making beads. My relaxation is what I refer to as my ‘Tanking-energy-time.’ It
is my ‘lazy time’ when I need to be alone.
