Proposed loaning of looted-Benin bronzes to Nigeria may dump five-year-old restitution plans

Carved ivory mask-shaped pendant, inlaid with iron and bronze depicting Idia, mother of Oba Esigie who ruled in the sixteenth century. Pic: British Museum.

Exhibitions on loans, of controversial cultural objects, particularly of looted-Benin bronzes, are not new. Some foreign museum holders of Benin artefacts had in the past years, for example, collaborated with Nigerian government and showed such artefacts on tour exhibitions in Europe and the U.S.

However, a new twist has surfaced in the past few weeks. This time, the bronzes have been proposed as temporary and permanent loan exhibitions for Nigerian space, specifically, Benin, Edo State. Whoever authored the idea of loaning looted-Benin bronzes to Nigeria appeared to have added a more contentious, perhaps complex,  approach to the recurring restitution and repatriation issues. For decades, Federal Government and the Benin Royal family have led agitations for return of looted-Benin cultural works of art, some of which include the iconic 'Iyoba' (queen mother) masks, among others.


Apart from lack of information on the modalities of working out the international relations aspects, which include trusts and understanding, the proposed loan exhibition appears to have created a fresh start in restitution efforts, leaving the gains of the past vulnerable to the trash can. Recall that the Nigerian Federal Governmennt had, about five years ago, hosted international conference on restitution with European museum managers and directors in

Dazzling beauty in Ananaba's 'Long-Drawn Shadows' captures ugly trajectory of Nigeria

'Waiting Till Infinity-I' (acrylic on canvas, 40 x 60 inches, 2018), by Ibe Ananaba.

From Nigeria's recurring nationhood challenges, every citizen has so much to highlight. Artist, Ibe Ananaba does too, but with contrasting beauty and glamour on canvas.

Visual culture, specifically, fine art, as a medium for activism or radical narrative contents, most times, gets the message caged or lost in aesthetics. For Ananaba, an artist whose work emits enormous beauty in contemporary fashion and life styles, the task of making economic activism statement with painting on canvas without losing his signature is like bringing the beauty and the beast together for dinner.

After being flooded daily with Nigeria's troubles via the mass media as well as through some conceptual art expressions, occasionally,

Young@Art Children summer creative workshop focuses 'Plastic Emergency Art'

The ongoing Young@Art Summer Workshop at Omolayo Gallery, City Mall, Onikan, Lagos.

The 14th summer edition of Omolayo Gallery's Young At Art Children Creative Workshop has taken off at the 2nd floor of the Lagos City Mall Onikan, Lagos. 

Ending in September when the children go back to school, the project was initiated in 2002 by Biodun Omolayo to fill what the founder described as the gaps left by conventional schools, (both primary and tertiary) in making sure that Visual Art becomes a subject that everyone is takes part in, irrespective of a child's future

George's palettes escape through Fragments of Thoughts

From Wande George's 'Family Tie series, 'Brotherhood' (2015 36 x 36 inch)

Elongated figures in subtle application of cubism and quite some geometric rendition with mosaic texture paintings are artist, Wande George's interpretation of a nation seeking joy despite being held hostage by oddity. The paintings come on display as the artist's solo art exhibition titled
Fragments of Thoughts, showing from Saturday, July  28 - August 7, 2018 at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

About six years into his post-advertising agency career, George returns to the exhibition circuit again after a last solo titled Naked Truth, shown at the same gallery in 2014.

Between the challenges of creating new works and sustaining an enduring signature, some artists are always stranded on the identity corridor of creativity. For, George, the diversity and eclectic emission in Fragments of Thoughts, not withstanding, his palettes have maintained a progression of

Fresh breath for Benin-adire, other cultural contents in Iyase-Odozi's tour art show

Prince Iyase-Odozi

When GreenHouse Art Empowerment Centre and its founder, Princess Iyase-Odozi opens a tour art event before the end of the year, preservation of Benin cultural value comes into focus. Featuring, Tie & Dye (adire) Workshops, exhibitions and presentation of an Educational Art Journal with the theme: Benin Iconography/Semiotics - Uhunmwen whe Ehinmwen
(Master of the Circled Cross) in Benin Kingdom,
the take off, according to Iyase-Odozi will be unveiled in Lagos and continue during the 2018 edition of the yearly Igue Festival in Benin.

Cliff Ogiugo: 1941-2018

Cliff Ogiugo.

I met Cliff Ogiugo at the Daily Times in 1974 when I assumed duty as Art Editor of what was then undoubtedly the most authoritative daily in Nigeria. I immediately bonded with him and the inimitable Josy Ajiboye who, with the late Yomi Wilson, constituted the core of the Editorial Art Studio. A fast talker with a polished stutter who peppered his conversations with brisk, brittle chuckles, À-Cliff- è, as Josy and I used to heckle him, carried his face mirthfully, especially on those occasions that we broke into spontaneous fabulation episodes in the office. Little Joe, his iconic strips in the Sunday Times, had by then become this trail-blazing weekly, a compelling read for the newspaper’s subscribers. Long before I met him in person, I had known Cliff Ogiugo. But meeting him in person added something special to the enigmatic awesomeness of his comic strips. He was a self-assured master draftsman and versatile illustrator with deft brush lines and creative chutzpah to match. Ogiugo was there at the top echelon of the few public practitioners of the trade at that time, including Chuks Anyanwu, Oke Hortons, and

BREAKING: Ancient Chinese 'curse' wins 58th Venice Biennale's loose theme

Ralph Rugoff, the artistic director of the 2019 Venice Biennale,  (left), with president, Paolo Baratta. Pic: courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia.

The 58th Venice Biennale holding May 11 to November 24, 2019 with preview scheduled for May 8, 9 and 10 now has a loose theme.

According to a press statemenr received from the organisers few hours ago, the President of La Biennale di Venezia, Paolo Baratta, and the curator of the 58th International Art Exhibition, Ralph Rugoff, today, launched the Biennale Arte 2019. "The 58th International Art Exhibition will be titled May You Live in Interesting Times, after an ancient Chinese curse referring to periods of uncertainty, crisis and turmoil; "interesting times", exactly as the ones we live in today," the statement reads.

TKMG's Lagos Art Auction 2018 brings innovative exposure

Etching titled Dance To Enchanting Songs (85 x 60 in, dated 2017) by Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya, estimated for N13m - N13.3m.

In its ninth edition, TKMG Aucton continues to focus on West Africa's leading artists of modern and contemporary periods. The ninth TKMG auction also has new concept in exposing works of emerging artists.

Art Dubai 2019 adds new section to boost Africa, other regions' space

One of the booths at Contemporary section of Art Dubai 2018.

As Art Dubai, in UAE continues its 2019 Call for galleries entries, a new space has been announced into the yearly art fair. The new gallery section known as 'Bawwaba' (gateway in Arabic), offers art and artists from Africa as well as contents that focus on the continent an expansive expression.

President Macron's 11-year-old portrait artist, Olamilekan, gets Gov Ambode's support for education

Young artist, 11-year-old Waris Olamilekan Kareem (centre) and his Parents, Mr Mutiu and Mrs Zainab Kareem during a visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd from right) at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, July 12, 2018.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday, promised to support the education of an 11-year-old hyperrealist artist, Kareem Waris Olamilekan. The young artist was uncovered when he rendered what has been described as live drawing portrait of French President, Emmanuel Macron "in just two hours" during the latter's visit to the new Afrika Shrine in Lagos.

A report posted on  Lagos State website few hours ago stated that Ambode, who hosted the artist, his parents, teachers and instructor, promised to give him educational support, as well as help nurture his talent. Olamilekan's instructor, Adeniyi Adewole Wasiu, who runs Ayowole Academy of Arts, where he trains young artists, will also benefit from the governor's support, it was reported.

Shonibare's studio, gallery project takes off in Lagos

Design by Elsie Owusu for Yinka Shonibare's Lekki, Lagos house with gallery and studio.

Nigerian-British artist, Yinka Shonibare's much-awaited art facility project in Lagos takes off in September this year.

MKO Abiola, Fawehinmi statues swell 'failed' Lagos public space art, despite Arts and Culture advisory board

Newly installed MKO Abiola statue at Ketu-Ojota, Lagos.

From ancient to modern and contemporary periods, art of Nigerian descents have been well revered, even by the western world. But quite worrisome that in the 21st century, recent public space sculptures -- of Lagos State precisely -- keep raising basic and elementary questions in artistic creation.

Latest of such public space art currently generating competence-debate are the newly unveiled MKO Abiola and Gani Fawehinmi statues mounted at Ojota-Ketu axis, a Lagos suburb. In commemoration of the 25th year of the annulled June 12 Presidential  elections of 1993, Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode had unveiled the statues to honour the winner, late Abiola and activist, Fawehinmi.

In Lagos, Macron announces France's 'African Cultural Season 2020'

President of France, Emmanuel Macron, being presented his portrait by young artist, 11-year-old Kareem Olamilekan with Akinwunmi Ambode (middle) admirring the drawing.

The President of France Emmanuel Macron's visit to New Afrika Shrine, Lagos brought alive one of the legacies of late afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Macron also used his visit to announce African Cultural Season 2020 holding in France.