Music and environmental advocacy came together last Sunday as GML Creatives hosted a sustainability-themed concert, For the Beauty of the Earth, in Ibadan. The event combined music, visual art, and storytelling to highlight the urgency of climate action.
According to data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the World Bank, Nigeria loses billions annually to climate-related impacts such as flooding, desertification, heatwaves, and food insecurity. In 2022, more than millions of Nigerians were displaced by floods, while Lake Chad has shrunk significantly, devastating agriculture and livelihoods.
Responding to these challenges, the event featured live performances, art created from recycled materials, and a keynote sustainability talk.
"We wanted to remind people about our role in making the Earth beautiful and the power of our actions in driving sustainability, through entertainment and education," said Rosemary Adeoti, administrative director of GML Creatives.
A major highlight of the evening was a full-house rendition of Michael Jackson's Heal the World, which drew strong reactions from the audience. The programme also showcased an exhibition from the Waste Museum, with pieces made entirely from repurposed materials.
Delivering the keynote, Adejumoke Olowookere, environmentalist and founder of the Waste Museum, spoke on the importance of plants in carbon capture and the need to adopt the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
She also shared her experience building the museum. "This is one of the most unique sustainability programs I've ever witnessed," she said. "To see young creatives integrating environmental advocacy with art and performance is simply brilliant. I still wonder how this idea was birthed."