by ‘Ifreke Inyang

Last week on Rubbin’ Minds, we discussed the upcoming LEAP Africa Youth Leadership Awards and Same Page, a play that will be showing later this month.  Shade Ladipo, who presented the episode alone, started the show with a run down of the events and people who made the news over the past week.  “It is easy to note that the Nollywood stars who were given National Honours are the same ones who were on that Vote Goodluck Jonathan campaign,” she deadpanned.

Asuquo Asuquo, the Programme Co-ordinator of the Youth Department for LEAP Africa and Tolu Sangosanya, an awardee, joined Shade for the first chat.  Tolu Sangosanya is being rewarded for the impact she has made with the children of the Dustbin Estate. “The most important thing is that I don’t die without leaving a positive legacy,” she explained. ‘We are raising the kids from the Dustbin Estate to become seven-star performers.”

What does it take to be a seven-star performer? “To be a seven-star performer, your physical, spiritual and financial life must all be balanced.”

Asuquo emphasised that the nomination process were rigorous.“This year, we had 141 applications and we had to shortlist to the final five we have now. We will give the awardees cash gifts and some form of leverage from LEAP Africa,” he said.

On the second segment of Rubbin’ Minds, we had actors and the director of ‘Same Page’. Seun Adeleye explained the idea behind the stage play. “Our idea is to re-work the arts, so it becomes what it used to be.” Adding that, “From now onwards, it is going to be quarterly.”

OC Ukeje also expressed his concerns for the arts. “Theatre is not a culture people buy into,” he admitted. “People think that it is elitist.” Lala Akindoju added that “it is hard to find an actor who will commit himself or herself to a stage production for two months.”

‘Same Page’ will be showing this Sunday at the Muson Centre. And the crowd will include three people who have won tickets courtesy YNaija.

See you next week!

Oluwapelumi