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| J. Randle Centre for Yorùbá Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos. |
IT'S doubtful if any people's name origin has generated so much interest as that of theYorùbá. In this publication, searching for the people's ancestry also leads to the sources of their name origin.
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| 'Whispers of Grace' (photography) by Joyce Aranuwa. |
THE line between visual contents of artistic works and whatever the artist intends to express, is, naturally blurred to generate collective cohesion.
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| Curatorial team: Mrs Morayo Grillo Antonio (left), Kehinde Sanwo, and Dr Kunle Adeyemi during the press Preview for Linage of the Masters, in Lagos. Pic by BENJAMIN OLADAPO. |
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| 'When Children Still Run' (photography) by Samuel Avurakoghene Atabeh |
AN old, rusty bungalow, located along unpaved road with children in playing mood, sharing the same space with a lone goat, all add up to childhood innocence and memory.
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| 'Infinite Becoming' (photography) by Babatunde Atolagbe. |
FOR whatever reason, it’s taken for granted that every piece of art should speak for the subject to generate strong appreciation of the artist’s efforts. That expectation, sometimes, becomes either a challenge, hurdle, or strength for the artist as two of the works of photographer, Babatunde Atolagbe expose the complexity of handling age-specific subjects.
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| 'Untitled Chair' (mixed media furniture, 88 x 40 x 50 cm, dated 2024) by Stef |
WHOEVER wishes to engage in critical study of the relatively close link between surreal and conceptual contents has something to chew in the works of artist, Oluwasemilore Stephen Ogunsanya, who chooses to be simply known as ‘Stef’.
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| Pan-African Nuptials & Alaga Showcase at National Theatre of Ghana, Accra. Pic: c/o Producer. |
ACROSS diverse cultures of the world, marriages between families, sometimes involve ceremonies that expose deep customs of the people. In Africa, specifically, Nigeria, weddings are like festivals as explored in two different ethnic groups by cultural event producer, Farida Atanda.
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| 'I Have A Dream's (stringart, 20x26 inches, dated 2024) by Omotoyosi Ogunlende. |
OUTSIDE the walls of juried exhibitions, sometimes the public appraisal, perception and appreciation don’t always align with the organised and formal verdict of a panel. From one side of the complexity, some artists do get favourable critical appraisal.
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| 'Veiled Fracture' (photography) by Makidamaker |
ACROSS three generations of Nigerian photographers, iconic individuals such as JA Green (1973-1905), and postcolonial 1960s-1990s/2000s such as Peter Obe, JD Okhai Ojeikere, Tam Fiofori and 21st century masters like Kelechi Amadi-Obi, George Osodi, among others have boosted the mastery of the lens art.
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| Celebrant, Prof Femi Osofisan (left); text author and poet, Ben Tomoluju; and filmmaker, Tunde Kelani during 80th birthday of Osofisan...in Lagos, recently. |
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.
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| 'Tailored To Her Root' (acrylic & fabric on canvas, 18x24inches, dated 2025) by Austin George Dorgu. |
AS 20 contemporary artists explore the stories shaping Africa's present and future, two art galleries collaborate for better understanding of the environment.
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| 'Eyes Combo' (digital painting, 40x30cm, dated 2021)) by Mede Akran. |
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| 'Alignment' (ceramics, acrylic, monofilament, fishing line, metal, 150x90x45cm, dated 2026) by Ngozi-Omeje Ezema |
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.
