In my first few years after graduating I worked, as a dance artist, 

choreographer, and teacher on an exciting education project called Tales of Power with the Manchester Arts Education Initiative (MAEI). It was a combined (performance-based) arts project centred around the dramatic telling of a Nigerian version of Macbeth.

 

MAEI was a collaborative endeavour, formed of artists and educators that delivered Inset (training for teachers in dance, art and drama) and created annual performance programmes that centred around a central story, theme or historical event and incorporated dance, art, music and drama. The children would perform at venues across Manchester including, the Library Theatre, Contact Theatre and the Victoria Baths.

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Tales of Power was created in 2002 when Manchester hosted the Commonwealth Games. MAEI benefited from extra funding that year and were able to pair with a Commonwealth country - Nigeria.  Artists from Nigeria (musician drummer, praise singer and dancer etc)  came over and worked alongside the project, going into schools, performing and enhancing the whole programme and educational experience. I got to know these artists and worked with them. 

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It was the Nigerian artists, on this project, that gave me the name AdeShewa and explained its meaning to be 'one who inhabits beauty'. I was told Shewa is the actual name and Ade a common prefix to names in Nigeria. I use the name, primarily because it was given to me and I was touched but also because I think it embodies the message that:

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 We all hold beauty inside and can live a beautiful life.

 

Shewa, pronounced Shay Wa.  

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