Acclaimed performance poet, Akeem Lasisi, flaunts another big fish in one of his latest poetry videos as popular actor and producer, Yome Fash-Lanso, is the protagonist of the work titled ‘Show me your Smile’ – Mo ri e Lookan. (Watch video below.)
Lasisi has not only brought out the entertainment potential of poetry in his various albums and videos, he has also continually bridged the gap between the genre and other branches of arts and life. Among such are music, history, culture and film.
While he, for instance, featured actress Bukola Awoyemi (Arugba) in ‘Elleleture’, star actress Kabirah Kafidipe is the heroine in ‘Ekun Iyawo’, the Yoruba bride’s poetry. Interestingly, Kabirah is back in ‘Show me Your Smile’, as she is Fash-Lanso’s lover who has to labour hard to keep his romantic exuberance in him at bay.
‘Show me your Smile’ is further unique among Lasisi’s works because, unlike in most others where the collaborating artistes are there to receive poetry, it stars Kabirah as the poet, wooing her man with soft verses. Afro singer, Edaoto, is Lasisi’s usual lead singer but the work produced by multi-talented Tunde Obajeun is also different in this regrds. On mic is Aisha Kafidipe, Kabirah’s sister with whom she runs their Kaffy productions.
They have produced some four films – including Oga, Iwalewa and Malaika.
Speaking on the making of the video, Lasisi, who has been in the poetry business for some 25 years and is a two-time winner of the Association of Nigerian Authors-Cadbury Poetry Prize, notes that it was shot at the Elegushi Beach, Lagos.
According to him, ‘Show me your Smile’ is not his latest video because it has been in his bank for some time.
“We have shot some other works after producing it,” he adds. “I have particularly produced a series of poetic tributes coming in the series, ‘African Citation’. But I am happy that ‘Show me your Smile’ is eventually seeing the light of the day.”
Lasisi, author of IREMOJE: Ritual Poetry for Ken Saro-Wiwa, Wonderland, Night of my Flight and Child of May – all poetry – as well as a couple of other publications in other genres, expresses profound gratitude to Fash-Lanso, Kabirah, Aisha and others who made the video happen.
Among them are actress Bimpe and a budding artiste, AShine.
Watch SHOW ME YOUR SMILE:
