The award-winning female drummer, Tosin Olakanye popularly known as Ayanbinrin, has described the 2020 edition of Mother-Drum Healing Arts Festival huge success, as a huge success.
Ayanbinrin, a talking drum player from Nigeria, who is one of the only women playing the talking drum on the international scene, said her programme, MODHAC 2020, kicked off with what she tagged: the “Art In Healing,” a virtual exhibition, showcasing amazing works of 40 visual and performing artists from across the globe.
The festival, which was streamed live on social media platforms, on its second day, December 5, 2020 featured prominent speakers at the Virtual Mother-Drum Healing Arts International Arts Conference, with side attractions such as musical performances from notable individuals in the arts and the healthcare sector.
According to Ayanbinrin, the event was designed for artists, healthcare professionals, arts administrators and anyone seeking education related to arts, health and healing sectors, most especially as its relates to the enhancement of mental wellness.
Ayanbinrin, who is also to the president and founder of the Mother-Drum Healing Arts Foundation, speaking on the programme said: “We had in attendance Gary Malkin, a multiple Emmy Award-Winning composer and public speaker, who inspires the world to embrace music as a catalyst for greater emotional intelligence and global healing.
“Jill Sonke featured as another keynote speaker at the event. Jill is the director of the University of Florida Centre for Arts in Medicine and Assistant Director of UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine.
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“Also in attendance was Kunle Adewale, a development practitioner and the founder of Tender Arts Nigeria. Mary Rockwood Lane, the Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Florida was also at MODHAC 2020, sharing about healing with the Arts, Reclaiming The Artist Within.
“Lizzie Allan also took us through the journey of how comedy could be used as a tool to smash shame and stigma around Mental Health Challenges and Addiction. Dj Baboo, Jojo Body Beats, and The Hope Ambassadors also performed at MODHAC 2020.”
The organisers said the Mother-Drum Healing Arts Festival was concluded with yhe Healing Arts, Healing Hearts Virtual Workshop, “a platform where artistic creativities were taught to help participants develop their creative thinking which will in turn help them to better express thought and feelings that we may not be able to say with words, as well as to encourage the exploration of new art.
Talented art facilitators like Otunba Mufu Onifade, Olatunbosun Seun (Xpressionale), Femi Adagunodo and Ayanbinrin an exciting female talking drummer, who virtually taught the Art Educational Revolution in Painting, Textile Designing and Photography and the Rudiment of the Talking Drum.
According to the organisers, the event had 85 participants from different walks of life.
“The lineup of the three-day diverse and exciting annual festival, provided the general populace with the resources they may need to elevate their crafts in order to positively affect their environment, embrace the joy of connecting with the arts and also to spread a message of hope to individuals and families affected by addiction and mental health related conditions through various artistic media,” the organisers said.
Ayanbinrin speaking further on event said, the Mother Drum Healing Arts Foundation would be unveiling its 2021 Year-Round Event in due course as they welcome partnership and collaborative effort from individuals and organisations “In order for us to achieve our mission and strategic objectives of promoting wellness through the arts and improving the quality of life of persons struggling with addiction and a wide range of emotional and behavioral health challenges.
