- Trustees;
Onikeku Qudus (Artistic Director) is a graduate of The National Higher School of Circus arts. France, as a Dancer and Acrobat, with a French government scholarship, his Yoruba tradition plays a peculiar role in his art, during his days of formation at the Gongbeat arts. Lagos, he was also an artiste-in-residence with the Lagos states council of arts and culture in 2001. For more than a decade Qudus has been present in the choreographic scene of Lagos, he is part of the new generation creators springing up from Africa. Known in Europe, in the USA and the Caribbean for his solo pieces, writings and research projects. He toured Nigeria, Madagascar, Croatia, Germany, and the Great Britain with Alajotas dance company (Ibadan) between 2001 and 2003 with the creation ONIDUNDUN and ILE. re-creation of a duo piece titled AGA OBA with Awoulathe Alougbin (Benin) for a tour in Belgium in 2004, participation in the works of Heddy Maalem (France) particularly in Black Spring and The rite of spring that toured extensively in Africa, Europe and the United States of America between 2004 and 2008.
His first attempt in Choreography was with "Lost face" that toured Nigeria, Benin republic, France and Dominican republic between 2004 and 2006. "Lost face" was part of a DVD collection filmed by Donald Amadji and Pascal Agnangnan for ORTB and Gilles-Ivan Frankignoul for SOPAT. He equally Participated in a video-dance project "Roforofo fight" produced by Grègoire du Pontavice, a fusion between his dance and the music of Fela Kuti, entered for a Fela-Competition where it was awarded the first price. Qudus also directed and produced a documentary film titled "do we need cola cola to dance" following an African tour of a public space experimental project. this project gained recognition from the French government, where it was named the Laureate of the Envie d'agir program, Defi jeune 2007, and in the Youth in Action initiative program in 2008, powered by the European commission. This project was equally awarded a grant by the Prince claus funds in Netherlands. This film has been screened in Lagos, Massachusetts, kinshasa, and Chicago. Qudus has been a laureate of several awards since 2000, where the most recent being the Dancer of the Year for the just concluded FUTURE AWARDS 2009.
Stephanie Esparza (Projects Manager) had her Masters Degree in Cultural Management and Communication, from the University of Sciences Po Paris, and a degree in Political Sciences and Latin American Studies. She has organised many cultural and social projects in different countries, participated in the organisation of the Second ‘Livres d’Afrique” Literature Salon (UNESCO, Paris); the “Attitude” International Dance Competition in Mexico, different Arts Exhibitions in Brazil and France. She was recently the Director of Corporate Affairs and Partnerships of “Franco-Mozambican Cultural Centre” in Maputo.
Hajarat Alli (Communications) is a final year student of the University of Lagos. Nigeria studying French language, she worked as a marketer for Renaissance Networks, a broadcasting company and also co-managed and taught at L'Atelier, an art center for children in Lagos. She did a course in theatre administration and administration of the Performing Arts in 2007 and 2008 at the National Center for Circus Arts in France. Hajarat has been an active member of Yk Projects and administratively involved in all past projects of the organization.
Matthew Ogunnola (Media Affairs) is a renowned radio and tv personality in Lagos, he studied mass communication at the Ogun state polytechnic, after his ordinary national diploma (OND) program he proceded to work for various tv and radio stations both state and private owned. He was the director of photography for the Yk Project's most recent project, “do we need cola cola to dance” and he presently heads the production unit for Nigezee, a music and lifestyle station that show on cable and terrestial stations.
Ohimai G Amaize (Public Relations) is a budding media cum brand strategist who expresses passionate belief in the use of the media as a tool for social reconstruction. He has articulated this at various local, national and international fora through published articles. Ohimai has received several awards in recognition of his dynamic efforts. He has handled the Popular Culture Programme of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and actively contributed to the development of crime prevention strategies at the new Strategy and Re-orientation Unit (SARU) of the Commission.
Eseohe Arhebamen (North American Co-ordinator) is a poet, dancer/choreographer, visual artist, musician and performance artist. Born in Nigeria, raised in Detroit and currently residing in New York, Eseohe’s artworks reflect a diversity of cultures and the semiotic interrelations of media. Eseohe’s study of poetry, African Theater and Butoh have led to movement works in which she "becomes language". Eseohe has won several awards for her artworks including an Inside-Out Literary Arts residency funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Eseohe Arhebamen graduated from the University of Michigan in Creative Writing and Literature and studied Studio Art at Hunter College, New York. She has performed or shown work internationally, collaborated with numerous artists and taught Writing and Visual Arts for the past 8 years in lower-income communities. Eseohe was also recently Business Manager of the National Black Programming Consortium.
Eseohe Arhebamen (North American Co-ordinator) is a poet, dancer/choreographer, visual artist, musician and performance artist. Born in Nigeria, raised in Detroit and currently residing in New York, Eseohe’s artworks reflect a diversity of cultures and the semiotic interrelations of media. Eseohe’s study of poetry, African Theater and Butoh have led to movement works in which she "becomes language". Eseohe has won several awards for her artworks including an Inside-Out Literary Arts residency funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Eseohe Arhebamen graduated from the University of Michigan in Creative Writing and Literature and studied Studio Art at Hunter College, New York. She has performed or shown work internationally, collaborated with numerous artists and taught Writing and Visual Arts for the past 8 years in lower-income communities. Eseohe was also recently Business Manager of the National Black Programming Consortium.
- Moderators;
Dominque Malaquais
Cultural Historian
Funmi Adewole
Dance Researcher
Bisi Silva
Art Critic
- Referees;
Director General
National Theatre. Lagos
Peter Badejo OBE (UK)
Artistic Director
Badejo Arts
Sophie Renaud (France)
Director
Exchange and artistic cooperation
CULTURESFRANCE
