Duro Oni: A Man of Many Shades
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Date
2022
Authors
Azumurana, S.O.
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Abstract
‘Duro Oni is not a scholar who is disconnected from the social realities of his society. As an astute administrator and cultural activist, his commitment to the quality of his aesthetic output and his vision of the development of human power and institutions are pointers to his commitment to the development of his society’ .
TO begin with, I will like to state first and foremost that I am here on a professional level. I am here to review a book. Second, today’s event is a complex one and does not fit just into a single categorization. It is as much a birthday celebration as it is a valedictory ceremony. And from the Derridean Deconstructionist perspective, there is a sense in which it can be argued that the privileged item in the binary opposition is the valedictory component. We are here today not so much because it is the 70th Birthday celebration of Duro Oni, but more because of Duro Oni’s 46 years meritorious service to the University of Lagos, to Nigeria, and to humanity in general.
It is against this background that I begin my review of the book – Duro Oni: Art, Design and Life – 70th Birthday Commemorative Studies and Tributes.
There is no equivocation that Duro Oni has distinguished himself as a leading light in academics, administration, and light design aesthetics and theory. In fact, given Duro Oni’s vast experience in light design and aesthetics, and his contribution to same in both theory and practice, it is neither an exaggeration nor is it out of place to conclude that Duro Oni is one of the greatest aesthetic luminaries to have walked the turf of the earth, especially from the standpoint of theatre practice in Nigeria. No wonder, at seventy, his influence, impacts, and footprints loom larger than life.
But of what use is success without a successor? Duro Oni has successfully reproduced himself countless times as there are countless persons who are already trailing his footsteps. This accounts for the profusion of accolades, tributes, and praise, and the eagerness with which people are ready to reverentially cast themselves at Duro Oni’s feet. Duro Oni: Art, Design and Life – 70th Birthday Commemorative Studies and Tributes is a testament to the deep sense of appreciation that creative arts aficionados, literary critics, students, and peers reserve for the contribution of Duro Oni to the field of lighting and design specifically, and to theatre practice in Nigeria generally.
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Book Review by Dr. Azumurana, S.O.
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Citation
Azumurana, S. O. (2022). Duro Oni: A Man of Many Shades. (Duro Oni: Art, Design and Life – 70th Birthday Commemorative Studies and Tributes; ed. Sunday Enessi Ododo and Osita C. Ezenwanebe; pub. National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos, Nigeria in conjunction with Alpha Crownes Publishing Ltd, Rochester, United Kingdom; 2022) Review by Dr. Solomon Omatsola Azumurana, 6p.