Commissioner: The David Oluwale Memorial Association
Memorial Garden, Water Lane, Leeds
January 2013
A creative campaign that marked the appalling treatment and early death in suspicious circumstances of Nigerian-born, Leeds-based man David Oluwale in 1959. Acting as Producer and Director, MAAP developed a visceral new immersive theatre work which was performed on 23 January 2013 in the snow with commissioned artists including Rommi Smith (poet), Khadijah Ibrahiim (poet), Leeds Young Authors, Leeds Baggage Handlers, Corrine Silva (film maker) and Oluseyi Ogunjobi (storyteller/musician).
The outdoors site with its river side position on the banks of the Aire, standing doorway, garden spaces, and gable end wall all played their parts as key components of the staging of the event, complimented by technology for large-scale projection and audio works. Food and drink formed part of the ritualised aspects of the performance and was provided by the Nigerian Community Association.
MAAP began a negotiation with Asda under a temporary licence to develop an Oluwale Memorial Garden to activate the debate on the support of marginalised people in Leeds and how we should meet issues of social justice on our streets.
With thanks to Lumen
