By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
African culture will be on the spot light on June 30 as the 6th Annual Fred Yiran African Arts Day, set to light up the Lake George Municipal Complex in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
The event promises an array of traditional performances, including the mesmerizing Nton masquerade and Toh dances, rhythmic drumming sessions, and a showcase of Nigerian dance artistry among others. There will also be a cultural exhibition that will be engage with interactive activity booths.
The 2024 Fred Yiran African Arts Day Libation will also be done. It is an activity done all over the world to awaken the ancestors, thank them, and then make requests. It usually consists of three important parts namely Ijuba (Reverence), Requests, and Prayers.
It is done with water, liquor or wine. Some of material used is poured on the ground to connect with the ancestors, and then a small amount is drunk. It is an important component of any significant community event.
The annual event is aimed at celebrating the legacy of Fred Yiran, artist, musician and teacher. Fred was a great promoter of African art and culture. He was decorated with the title Mfoome (General) by the Paramount King of Nso’, Fon Sehm Mbiŋlo, thus crowning him a warrior in cultural and artistic promotion.
Fred Yiran used all art forms to express his art. He moved freely from painting, carving, sculpting, storytelling and music. However, his first real love was painting, and it has been the backbone of his work throughout the years.
The Yiran African Arts aims at enriching the mind and the community through the diverse beauty of (symbolic) African Arts. The mission is to connect with the community by sharing Fred’s art work. We hope to offer our patrons a way of expanding their knowledge and understanding of African arts and culture.
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