Last Saturday, two of our team members, Ayomide Olude and Seyi Agboola joined Novva Communications for the audio drama listening event of ‘Does the sky fall on everyone?’ written by Pyemwa Deshi. This drama is part of the Climate Change and Other Small Talk podcast series and this episode tells the story of a confrontation between an environmental activist and a local community leader responsible for cutting down a 500-year-old tree.
At SustyVibes, we care a lot about the connection between climate change and mental health. We are dedicated to understanding and validating these emotions through our project The Eco Anxiety in Africa Project. One of our focus areas is also artvocacy and we believe in the power of art to advocate for climate action, so we were super excited to be part of this event, where both worlds came together.
In the audio drama, two interesting themes stood out. First, there was a question of who to blame for environmental damage. The lead actor Namphet mentioned ‘Earth is damaged already. And not by us. By the same oyibos who sent you on this…Mission. They created the problem.’ Referring to the high emissions by developed nations, he also pointed his finger at the villagers who needed the money from cutting the tree for sustenance.
Another interesting moment was when the olive tree made Namphet taste the sky which was falling everywhere, he tasted the sky from his community, and as it hosted the olive tree it tasted ‘like olives and sunshine and green’. Additionally, he ventured to taste the sky in the Arctic, and it had the distinct flavor of ice. However, some skies left a bitter taste of industrial fumes and pollution. In response, he argued that he shouldn’t be held responsible for these various tastes, but the olive tree wisely replied, ‘The same sky holds us all.’
This audio drama reminded me that nature holds valuable lessons for us about taking care of our environment. The olive tree’s wisdom in the story shows that we can learn from nature itself. It also made me realize that when it comes to environmental problems, playing the blame game doesn’t help. In the end, we all face the consequences of our actions, so it’s crucial that we work together to make things better.
The session then transitioned into a fireside chat with Dr. Oluwatoyin Adejonwo a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, and Mr Godfrey Adejumo, the corporate affairs and sustainability lead at Unilever Nigeria. They both emphasized that while Lagos state had established numerous policies and legislation regarding environmental protection and climate change, the major challenge lay in their effective implementation.
Interestingly, someone raised the question of whether photo-ops were beneficial. Mr. Godfrey shared that photos can be visually appealing and aid in securing partnerships. However, he stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy that involves larger companies with resources and smaller ones with expertise, working together to effect positive change.
As the event drew to a close, Adaoha Njemanze, Principal Consultant, NOVVA Media expressed her gratitude to the speakers and attendees for their participation. She encouraged everyone to network and explore potential collaborations.
To listen to or to learn more about this podcast, check here.
Written by Seyi Agboola