India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. G. Balasubramanian, has expressed his willingness to collaborate with Nigeria’s performing arts sector, particularly the theater sector.
He made the remarks at a film screening event organized by the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF) in partnership with the Indian High Commission in Abuja.
Two films were screened at the event: Indian short film Logan Josh and Kaka, which won the KADIFF 2024 Best Indigenous Language Feature Film Award.
Mr. Balasubramanian emphasized the need for enhanced film cooperation between India and Nigeria, noting that the ministries of culture of both countries have launched cultural exchange programs covering various aspects of the creative industry.
So far, the exchange has primarily involved the Nigerian dance troupes of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy and the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), which have performed in India. However, the Indian performers are yet to retaliate.
The High Commissioner expressed interest in partnering with the National Association of Nigerian Theater Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) to foster theatrical cooperation between the two countries.
He said, “There is a cultural exchange program between the two countries’ ministries of culture that covers all these aspects, and we hope that it will facilitate the introduction to each other’s theater culture.”
Balasubramanian emphasized the strength of Indian theater, which boasts over 22 languages, each with a rich theatrical tradition. He pointed out that performing arts such as theatre, dance and classical music have a huge following in India.
In Nigeria, the theater scene has been slowly making a comeback since the mid-2000s after a decline from the late 80s to the early 2000s. Despite facing consistent exclusion from government support, the performing arts sector, alongside literary and visual arts, is resiliently creating opportunities and fostering community cohesion and development.
“As the High Commissioner of India in Abuja, I can assure you that we are keen to open the door to cooperation. We look forward to meeting with NANTAP and exploring how this partnership can materialize. I’m looking forward to it,” he urged.
