What started out as a forum where arts lovers could come strip down, relax and express their
talent with no pretence; evolved into a regular show that is celebrating its hundredth episode
come August 30, 2011. TARUWA started out on August 21st 2007 as a platform for young
budding poets, spoken word artistes, actors, comedians, instrumentalists, and singers etc to
express themselves and slowly evolved into an avenue for groundbreaking, fresh and
promising talent. The show’s progress led the team to launching a quarterly publication -
“TARUWA – The Magazine”.

In its bid to encourage up and coming talent, Taruwa fused performances from the “known”
and the “unknown; slowly making it the place showcase talent as well as network with fast
rising and already established talents. TARUWA also provided a platform of engagement and
unwinding for journalists, publishers, producers and other special service providers who are
forces to reckon with in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Artistes like Mode9, Djinee, Snatcha of Rooftop MCs, Wale Dizzy, Obiwon, Spoken word artiste Sage, Idols West Africa’s
Omawumi, Eric and Jodie make up the list of Taruwa’s diverse talent breed; Rapper Jude MI
Abage first performed “safe” at Taruwa – a song he had written a night before the event.
Celebrity figures who can easily be identified as Taruwa regulars include alternate soul artiste
Bez Idakula, Top 90.9 radio personality Tosyn Bucknor, Amstel Malta Box office winner and
actor OC ukeje, renowned stage act Lala Akindoju, and producer Cobhams Asuquo.

Attributing a lot to the success of the show, Lydia Idakula Sobogun, CEO of Gbagyichild and
convener of the event states “Taruwa is one of the only events where you can just come up and express
yourself. When we started, you could just walk up to the organiser or host and put your name on the list
to perform no matter who you are… There are some of those kinds of events now; some inspired by
Taruwa, some not. But I’m glad for them, because there are so many talented people out there and not
enough stages for them.”

Taruwa has easily evolved into a breeding hub for new talent discovery; holding at the Bogobiri
House every last Tuesday of the month and converging a positive and art endearing audience,
Taruwa’s Hundreth anniversary goes a long way to show the increased need for special
purpose art and culture promotion avenues to be created and harnessed in Nigeria. Taruwa can
also boast of launching out new age career artistes such singer Bez Idakula, writer/ poet Chiedu
Ifeozo, and singer Gboyega Dada etc; amidst a whole lot of names.

Speaking on the future of Taruwa as well as other projects, Lydia Idakula Sobogun stated there
are a lot of projects in the pipelines which would be unveiled soon; “We’ve been recording and
compiling Taruwa into what would be an unplugged TV program and currently in talks with several TV
houses. We’ll be going on air soon by God’s grace. Taruwa’s parent company Gbagyichild Entertainment
is also looking into other projects. We’ve just concluded a photography exhibition in Abuja which was
very successful, and we’re also working on the next issue of the Taruwa Magazine which is due out in
October.”

This event will feature amazing performances from alternative soul artiste Bez, Rockband
Threadstone, Inyanya, poetry from Sage Hasson, Jeffrey Plumbline, a surprise duet by
Ibiyemi and Lydia; Isebiama, Tolu from MTN Project Fame, Ese Peters. It will be strictly
amazing performances as usual; the host for the evening will be Snatcha of the Rooftop MCs.

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