Artistes, Intellectuals Can Check Dictatorship – Soyinka

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru (right), representing the Governor, in a chat with guest lecturer, Prof. Wole Soyinka, during the opening ceremony of CARNIRIV 2012 at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Port Harcourt, on Monday.

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says there is need for artistes and intellectuals to protect cultures in order to discourage dictatorship anywhere in the world.

Soyinka said dictatorship would not succeed in any part of the world if artistes and intellectuals were able to stand against it.

The Nobel laureate, who spoke on Monday at a colloquium marking the beginning of this year’s Port Harcourt Carnival, described artistes and intellectuals as custodians of the people’s culture.

He stated that any culture that was exposed to the abuse of politics could breed dictatorship, adding that examples of dictatorships globally had shown the existence of a relationship between culture and politics.

Soyinka pointed out that dictatorship would begin the moment the politician managed to subdue culture so as to achieve his narrow end.

he Noble laureate, who made reference to this year’s CARNIRIV theme, ‘Reminiscing the Past, Consolidating the Future’, added that dictatorships had revealed their insatiable love for power.

e said, “Are there any lessons from all these? Before the advent of Sani Abacha, many Nigerians were fond of saying, ‘no, it can never happen in Nigeria’.

“It just shows that one can never be too careful, one can never be too watchful because sooner or later, what begins as a small power issue becomes a grand, immovable, supreme entity through the collaboration of artistes and intellectuals.

“It is they who create the spectacles that glorify the individual rather than enhance the condition of the commune.”

Earlier, the Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Nabbs Imegwu, explained that the current administration in the state was working to diversify the state’s economy.

Imegwu pointed out that the target was to expand the state’s sources of income from oil and gas to other areas, including the culture and tourism industry.