The seventeenth edition of Life In My City Art Festival, (LIMCAF) was held in Enugu at the weekend.
The scope of this years’ festival was expanded with the introducing new prizes, such as the special awards for young female artists and selected physically challenged persons.
Addressing participants at the festival, Chairman of the occasion, Rtd. Admiral Alison Madueke, (former Chief of Naval Staff and former Military Governor of old Anambra and old Imo States) thanked the MTN Foundation and the FORD Foundation for their support towards the realization of the festival.
According to Madueke, “In 17 years, LIMCAF has carved a dominant niche and charted a unique path of growth from the grassroots for the development of contemporary art and the empowerment of the youth of Nigeria through art.” Madueke said.
Admiral Madueke noted that LIMCAF now happens in an expanded catchment area of 13 cities located in all six geopolitical zones of the country, including Abuja, Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Benin, Ondo, Zaria, Owerri, Awka, Port Harcourt, Uyo, and Jalingo.
“It’s going to be an exciting period, an opportunity to view and appreciate art from the Top 100 young artists in Nigeria”. Madueke noted.
While speaking, the representative of MTN Foundation, one of the sponsors of the of the art festival, Dennis Okoro said Life In My City Art Festival, (LIMCAF) has received entries for the annual competition from across the country, out of which the Top 100 Best Works featured in the Grand Finale Exhibitions.
“At least 25 young Nigerians from across the country will win prizes, including the overall prize of ₦1 million
“The Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF), now in its 17th year as Nigeria’s biggest and longest-running youth art extravaganza with total available prizes now amounting to more than ₦6 million, is in its Grand Finale Week of exhibitions, lectures, workshops, an art and crafts fair, and other exciting events in Enugu
“And, in the past 17 years of LIMCAF competitions and awards, the festival can now boast of an A-list of partners and supporting institutions, including the MTN Foundation and Ford Foundation.” Okoro said.
The overall winner was Ijiko Kelvin Mathew from Benue state. A self-taught fine artist who has adopted pyrography as a style. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Religion and Philosophy from the Benue state university and currently practices art in Lagos.
He won the highest award of one million naira with one of his artwork named, “Decayed Decades”- Pyrography (Fire and Razor Blades)
The LIMCAF 2023 Award Night which took place at the International Conference Centre, Institute of Management and Technology, (IMT) Independence Layout, Enugu, had distinguished guests in attendance including His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, (Obi of Onitsha), Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, (Chairman, Enugu state Council of Traditional Rulers), Dr. John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Media Group, and a renowned poet, Dike Chukwumerije amongst others.
A minute silence was also observed for the founding patron of LIMCAF, Elder Kalu U Kalu who passed on during the week.
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