The Femi Osofisan that I know

Celebrant, Prof Femi Osofisan; text author and poet, Ben Tomolu; and filmmaker, Tunde Kelani during 80th birthday of Osofisan...in Lagos, recently.

By Ben Tomoloju

IN 1973, as an 18-year-old Lower Sixth Arts student of Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti, I was privileged to play the lead role, Sanda, in Femi Osofisan's A RESTLESS RUN OF LOCUSTS. The second lead performer was a Class Four student, Miss Toyin Egunjobi (now Mrs. Eriye) who played Iyabo. The play was selected, produced and directed for the school's Drama Society by our Literature graduate teacher, Niyi Osundare and his colleague, Ebenezer Ojo.

In Lagos, two galleries, 20 artists converge for 'Here & Now'

'Tailored To Her Root' (acrylic & fabric on canvas, 18x24inches, dated 2025) by Austin George Dorgu.

By Ola Alowoloke 

AS 20 contemporary artists explore the stories shaping Africa's present and future, two art galleries collaborate for better understanding  of the environment.

Metaphor of sight through lens of Akran

'Eyes Combo' (digital painting, 40x30cm, dated 2021)) by Mede Akran.

By Tajudeen Sowole 

THE symbolism of sight and vision comes with the thematic context of creativity in artist, Mede Akran’s work of inspirational photography. 

Ezema's 'Condition Make Crayfish Bend' highlights identity, womanhood

'Alignment' (ceramics, acrylic, monofilament, fishing line, metal, 150x90x45cm, dated 2026) by Ngozi-Omeje Ezema

By Ola Alowoloke 

WITH a theme built on Nigerian mother tongue usage of English language, artist, Ngozi-Omeje Ezema exposes woman as a victimized member of the larger society.

The artist's solo art exhibition titled  Condition Make Crayfish Bend opens June 6-August 22, 2026, at kó Gallery, 36 Cameron Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. The exhibition, which is Ezema's second solo exhibition at the gallery, addresses issues relating to identity, family, and womanhood. 

Osofisan at 80: Celebrating literary scholar with landmark events

Prof Femi Osofisan.

NIGERIA’s literary and theatrical communities are upbeat this June to honour one of Africa’s venerable culture personality, Professor Femi Osofisan, as he celebrates his 80th birthday. 

Ajuyah's digital strokes over conservative Lagos

A section of Jessica Ajuyah's The Shape of Memory solo art exhibition at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

By Tajudeen Sowole 

The Lagos art environment has something to chew, perhaps digest too, in the emerging digital textures on the art appreciation landscape of the city. 

Arguably the art hub of West Africa, Lagos, which prides itself in art galleries of mostly three to four decades or more old hardly display works outside the traditional art textures. Going through quite a number of exhibitions across the Lagos central art districts in first quarter of 2026 exposes a shift. 

Signature's SWANS-3 converges 15 female artists

'Silence of Becoming' (ballpen on watercolour paper,  29.7x42cm, dated 2025) by Onesa Oruoghor.

IN its third edition, a yearly art exhibition SWANS converges Victoria Somawine, Tayo Ayelowo, Precious Longest Samuel, Naomi Oyeniyi, Adeola Ablesworth Obafun, Hyacinth Goddess, Patience Adekunle, Christianah Odunayo, Onesa Oruoghor, Lucia Eberechukwu, Omoyiwola Oluwatimilehin, Urana Oyinyechukwu, Olwayemisi Abejide, Adesakin Mary Damilola and Sandra Igwe Chiamaka.

How Omole's 'Stories Woven in Symbols' celebrated adinkra, cowries

'Friendship' (acrylic on canvas, 3024x3111, dated 2026) by Faith Omole

By Ola Alowoloke 

IN her art of representing visual language that becomes a vessel for memory, culture, and identity, artist Faith Omole constructs figurative compositions layered with symbolic elements. 

Line, light through digital brushings of Oseh

 

'The Shattered Genesis' (digital imaging) by Iramofu Oseh. Pic: c/o the artist

By Tajudeen Sowole

THE windows in medium of artistic expressions, over the ages, keep expanding basic traditional formats, even in 21st century digital era. Such resilience of the art-making process further finds validation in Iramofu Oseh's artwork in which he experiments with the two fundamental windows of line and light.

Sharjah Biennial 17 announces 100 participants...features Saro-Wiwa

Sharjah Biennial 17 curators Paula Nascimento (left) and Angela Harutyunyan. Image courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation. Photo: Danko Stjepanovic

SHARJAH Art Foundation, UAE, has  announced the title, curatorial framework and participant list for the 17th edition of Sharjah Biennial. Bringing together 109 participants, the Biennial will take place from 21 January to 13 June 2027 across multiple sites in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Imini's debuts, 'Red Crown' explores love, identity, pressure

'What To Do III' (oil on canvas, 49 x 33 inch, dated 2025) by Wilson Mini.

By Ola Alowoloke 

CONTEMPORARY artist, Wilson Imini makes debut solo art exhibition, brings together a striking collection of paintings. His works explore themes many young Nigerians can relate to such as love, emotional growth, family expectations, and the pressure to succeed.

Scarville as 6th UOVO Prize recipient

Keisha Scarville. PIC: Ana Dias.

AS the sixth annual UOVO Prize recipient, Keisha Scarville is awarded a $25,000 cash prize, a public mural at UOVO Brooklyn, and a public installation on the Brooklyn Museum’s Iris Cantor Plaza. 

TAAG converges 9 artists for Int'l Women's Day with 'Art to Heart'

'In My Thoughts series II (oil on canvas, 48x36, dated 2022) by Naomi Oyeniyi

By Ola Alowoloke 

NINE female artists celebrate womanhood as they converge to mark International Women’s Day 2026 with diverse creativity, across gender themes and dynamics of 21st century.