Soyinka at 90...reflection on Maya Angelou, superlatives of Nobel Prize

Prof Wole Soyinka speaking at Africa Centre, UK, during one of the Soyinka@90 events.

WHEN Prof Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka was given the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, American author, Maya Angelou (1928-2014), had predicted the event a year ahead. In 1985, Angelou nominated Soyinka to win an international literary prize of which she was pained that her expectation was not met after a German picked the award.

Separating Yorùbá religious tradition from Ìṣẹ̀ṣe (2)

'Arugba' religious scene associated with 'Ìṣẹ̀ṣe', during a yearly festival, Osun Osogbo, in Osun State, Southwest, Nigeria.

•historically, there was no  homogenous Yoruba religious belief 

•facts have uncovered widespread Yoruba atheists of ancient eras

By Ayojinmi Adeolu, Biodun Olojede-Akiola, Idayat Obaduwa-Babajide, Matthew Ola Adejinmi, and Bunmi Olokiki

FIRST part, published on August 21, 2023, of the same research work titled 'Separating Yorùbá religious tradition from Ìṣẹ̀ṣe', has established the difference between the two subjects. We established, with facts, that Ìṣẹ̀ṣe as a religious belief is different from the tradition and culture of the Yoruba. 

Fiofori, Ibrahim, Orara...leaving strong legacies of visual culture

Book cover of Tam Fiofori's celebration of the 1979 Benin monarch coronation.

HAMID Ibrahim, Tam Fiofori, and Zinno Orara threw the community of visual arts in mourning within few months. Most disturbing was June 25, 2024 when Fiofori and Orara reportedly died on the same day. Ibrahim died on March 31, 2024.

How Prince William, Musawa others celebrated Olagoke's British honour

Lanre Olagoke MBE with his wife, Simone, displaying his award inside Windsor castle, shortly after the ceremony led by Prince William.

THE Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) award to Nigerian-British artist, Lanre Olagoke started at Windsor Castle, U.K. Conferring the MBE on Olagoke, representative of the British monarchy, Prince William described Olagoke's activism in art as long service to humanity.

Monochromes of feminity with Sholola's 'Be Here Now'

'Grounding I' (black tea, ink, charcoal, pastel and acrylic on canvas, 24 x 38in dated 2023) by Laju Sholola.

RENDERED in black tea, ink, charcoal, pastel and acrylic, the figurative expressions of Laju Sholola brings freshness onto the Lagos art space. Sholola's works, devoid of stereotypes loud colours, capture the tender, candid emotions of feminity.

For Soyinka at 90, ‘Ebrohimie Road, A Museum of Memory’ premieres in Lagos, Ibadan, other cities

Prof Wole Soyinka, captured in an archival picture on Ebrohimie Road.

AS part of Prof Wole Soyinka at 90 celebration, a documentary titled Ebrohimie Road: a Museum of Memory, based on the little building on the University of Ibadan (UI) campus, where the poet, playwright, memoirist, essayist and polemicist, once lived will be premiered. While he was a teacher at the UI, Nigeria's premier tertiary institution, Soyinka loved in the building.

Six artists' 'Matters of Essence II' explores materiality, tangibility

'Waist Deep (The Living Water), conte crayon, spray paint, acrylic and oil on canvas; 34 x 24 inches, dated 2024, by Christopher Samuel Idowu.

MIMI Adu-Serwaah, Sika Amakye, Elfreda Dali, Nwakuso Edozien, Christopher Samuel Idowu and Omolade Ogundimu are showing in a group art exhibition titled Matters of Essence II, which opens on June 15, 2024 at kó Gallery, Ikoyi Lagos.

Adeyemo's 'Breath of Novelty' for batik art

'Celebration' (Screen printing on brocade, 127 x 457 cm, dated 2023) by Hakeem B. Adeyemo. PIC: C/o the artist.

WITH his solo art exhibition titled Breath of Novelty, shown from to May 8-15, 2024, at the Department of Industrial Design,School of Art, Design and Printing.Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Hakeem Adeyemo has added another texture to batik art. 

How artists recorded big sales at AMIAF's 'Sculptors Odyssey'

Guests, including Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya, viewing a section of AMIAF 2024 edition.

AFTER three days of large scale exhibition at the just concluded third edition of ArtMiabo International Art Festival AMIAF, the results of sales showed that most of the exhibited artists had great patronage. Also, from the high number of guests that visited the masterly display of exhibits, AMIAF 2024 opened a new chapter in large scale art exhibition as the biggest art event in every Q1 of Nigerian art economy.

Six Swans of female artists display beauty, grace in paintings

'Hidden' (acrylic on canvas, W69 x H77cm, dated 2023) by Baliki Audu.

Useh Akpoghene Caroline, Amaghiro Chiamaka Lilian, Balikisu Audu, Eberechukwu Lucia Okoro, Elizabeth Chioma Ekpetorson and Faith Michael are female artists sharing one thing in common in the beauty and grace of swan bird.

Ofo Ezioye Na Amawbia - A Symbol of Justice, Truth & Peace

'Aka ji Ofo' (cement on concrete, 7ft, dated 2018) by Dr. Ikenna Aghanya. PIC: c/o of the artist.

By Dr. Chibike Nwuba IPAM, NIMM, IOE

ABOUT AMAWBIA TOWN

The town Amawbia, which is also known as Ugbo-Ogiliga, is situated along the Enugu-Onitsha road and it’s in Awka South Local Government of Anambra State. It is about 35 km from Onitsha town in Anambra State, Nigeria. The progenitor of Amawbia is, according to common oral tradition, Awofia, one of the sons of Nri Ifikwuanim, the first son of Eri (900AD). Eri migrated from the present site of Aguleri, in Anambra East Local Government Area, to Nri, in Anaocha Local Government of Anambra State.

Muraina Akeem's 'Metalphysics Alliance' celebrates 30 years of studio practice

'Oloja gbooro' (Custodian), 51" x 64", door hinges, steel wire grails, padlocks and keys, dated 2022, by Muraina Akeem.

'Next of Kin Series 6' opens with 'Renewed Hope', continental expansion

From left, Obehi Ojeaga, General Manager NMT; Chief Olorogun Jeff Ajueshi, Founder Thought Pyramid; Ovie Omatsola, exhibition director at Thought Pyramid; and Ikemefula Chikwendu, Assistant General Manager NMT during the Press briefing...in Lagos. 

THE Thought Pyramid Art Centre has announced the grand opening of the sixth edition of its Next of Kin Art Competition and Exhibition. Themed Renewed Hope, with a rider The Continental Season," the 6th edition marks a departure from tradition by extending its scope beyond Nigeria.