There is no denying that we need to praise and be grateful for what we do have. Many people who were unfortunate enough to be born in an underprivileged area often grow up suffering worse than those who weren't. But this doesn't mean everyone should feel sorry for them. All aspects of their life might not necessarily be better, but it does seem that there is something missing from these individuals' lives that can help them cope with such circumstances better than the rest of us: art. Art allows individuals suffering from such circumstances to express themselves and imagines a brighter future for themselves, while still having a sense of nostalgia about how much things used to be before they were forced into this life. And this is exactly what Shebada GhettOut Play, a musical play produced by The Sounds of Shebada, Africa's first social enterprise for fostering grassroots art in underprivileged communities, strives to achieve. The project was born out of the desire to create an artistic platform for young people living in underprivileged communities to nurture their latent potential. It is spearheaded by Bola Olumese, Emeka Ayodeji aka Kayodelee and Ikechukwu Kalu, who are determined to break the stereotype that talented individuals are only born with high privilege. Kalu says they started the initiative to show that talent is not limited by one's environment, race, status or ethnic origin. What they want is to create a platform where underprivileged people can showcase their talent. "We believe that having the opportunity to be part of something like this will make them feel appreciated and boost their self-esteem," he states. Alex Orogie, the music director of Sounds of Shebada, agrees with Kalu but adds that art plays a pivotal role in socio-economic development whenever it is embraced and encouraged by society at large. It helps in creating employment opportunities while at the same time providing great entertainment value for its viewers. "We hope that we will be able to provide a better way of life and a brighter future for these young people." Creating a platform where underprivileged youth can showcase their talents is just the beginning, says Orogie. "The opportunity shebada ghettout play provides them with is to see what they are capable of doing. We have seen that once they are given the opportunity, they are not afraid to put themselves out there". The Sounds of Shebada launched its Shebada GhettOut Play in November 2014 at St Jude's Church in Ikare-Ekwueme area of Lagos. The event was graced by a crowd of young people from Ikare Surulere, Surulere, Agidingbi and other local communities. Many were proud of the opportunity given to them by the Shebada Ghettout Play initiative. "This is an amazing experience for any young man or woman to be part of," said Odion, 20. "It will not only boost my self-esteem and confidence but will also give me a chance to be proud of myself." Okolo Chukwudi added that he has been aspiring to be a gospel artiste since his primary school days, but due to financial constraints and societal pressure, he had almost given up on his dream. 8eeb4e9f32 15
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