Events

Abuja International Afrojazz Festival Breaks Global Ground in France

Published

1 year ago

August 3, 2025

Abuja International Afrojazz Festival expands global influence at Jazz à Vienne, forming key West African alliances and securing new international collaborations

Abuja International Afrojazz Festival has taken a bold leap onto the global jazz scene, earning international recognition after a landmark showcase at the prestigious Jazz à Vienne festival in France.

Also read: Musawa Inaugurates 2025 AFRIMA Organising Committee in Abuja

Representing Nigeria and West Africa, festival co-director Tosin Salako was part of an elite global delegation, thanks to support from the Institut Français du Nigeria and its Paris headquarters.

His inclusion in this top-tier forum, alongside just three other African delegates, signaled a growing acknowledgment of Nigeria’s voice in global jazz circles.

Salako also spoke on a major panel spotlighting African jazz, where he passionately emphasized Nigeria’s deep but underexposed jazz talent and called for increased visibility, infrastructure, and global collaboration.

A key outcome of this international presence was the formation of a new regional alliance between the Abuja International Afrojazz Festival, Couleurs Jazz Festival in Benin, and Togoville Jazz Festival in Togo.

The pact aims to pool resources, enable artist tours, and create stronger Afro-jazz circuits across West Africa.

The Abuja team also held high-level meetings with French industry stakeholders, resulting in confirmed participation of a Paris-based Senegalese act at the 2025 Abuja edition.

Additional talks with the Luxembourg Art Council and European Jazz Network opened doors for residencies and future collaborations.

Set to return from November 20–22, 2025, the Abuja International Afrojazz Festival is now poised for its most ambitious edition yet—featuring international performers, genre-defining showcases, and bold new partnerships.

Also read: gfjkjAU MSME forum Abuja set to advance African business growth

With deep roots in African rhythm and a rising global profile, Abuja International Afrojazz Festival is reshaping Nigeria’s role on the world jazz stage.

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Events

Rechael Okonkwo’s Carnival Brings Free Healthcare to 5,000 Residents

Published

5 days ago

September 2, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Rechael Okonkwo’s carnival provided free healthcare to over 5,000 Nsukka residents, alongside support for widows and children (more…)

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.”