Culture

Nigeria Leads Cultural Identity Revival through Art, Heritage

Published

1 year ago

July 18, 2025

Nigeria intensifies efforts toward cultural identity revival with investments in art, heritage, and African-led storytelling, led by the Museum of West African Art

Nigeria is spearheading a cultural identity revival, investing in heritage, art, and local storytelling to reclaim its post-colonial narrative and historical memory.

Also read: Nigeria, EU Launch €20m Cultural Partnership to Boost Economy

In a recent podcast episode of Dreaming in Color by The Bridgespan Group, cultural strategist Ore Disu, founding director of the Institute of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), spoke about the central role that art and material culture play in the continent’s renaissance.

“Art and material culture offer a way to erase colonial boundaries and place histories in relation to one another,” Disu explained. “A single bead shows us how trade and innovation thrived across West Africa long before European demarcation.”

Disu emphasised that Nigeria’s cultural identity revival isn’t limited to the return of looted artefacts. Rather, it involves rebuilding the wider ecosystem—through infrastructure, funding, education, and local platforms—that breathes life into cultural expression.

The Museum of West African Art, based in Benin City, is at the centre of this effort. Though located in Nigeria, the museum is designed as a pan-West African institution. It trains young curators, sustains traditional practices, and bridges global audiences with regional narratives.

“The goal is not just to preserve objects but to revive the ecosystems that give them meaning,” said Disu. “It’s about honouring legacy over loss and encouraging African-led storytelling.”

This movement aligns with a wider continental effort to reclaim identity and challenge historical misrepresentation in global cultural spaces. MOWAA’s holistic approach ensures that culture is not static, but alive—connecting past, present, and future generations.

Also read: Nigerian Tourism Partnership Boosted by Emotional Ethiopian Airlines Expansion

Nigeria’s focus on sustainable cultural infrastructure, youth training, and community dialogue is solidifying its leadership in Africa’s broader cultural identity revival.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”