Culture

Governor Sanwo-Olu inaugurates Yoruba heritage museum at J Randle centre, advocates cultural legacy for future generations

Published

2 years ago

October 30, 2024

Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulates Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke

Governor Sanwo-Olu opens the J Randle Centre’s Yoruba Heritage Museum, highlighting Lagos’ role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, officially opened the museum at the J Randle Centre for Yoruba Heritage and Culture in Onikan, Lagos, marking a significant step in preserving and celebrating Yoruba history and identity.

During the inauguration yesterday, he highlighted the importance of cultural heritage for future generations and named Mr Qudus Onikeku as the Centre’s director.

Also read: Governor Sanwo-Olu opens yoruba heritage museum at J Randle Centre

Situated in the heart of Lagos, the museum showcases a wealth of Yoruba historical, artistic, and cultural artifacts, embodying the core mission of the J Randle Centre, commissioned last year.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in an interactive session with creative industry stakeholders, underscored Lagos’ pivotal role as a hub for tourism, music, film, and art in Africa.

He assured stakeholders of an enabling environment for creativity, reinforcing Lagos as a key destination for arts and culture across the continent and beyond.

Sanwo-Olu stressed the urgent need to reclaim and preserve Yoruba heritage, emphasising, “We need to bring back that inheritance… so we can now leave a rich cultural heritage for the next generation.

This museum will now be a historic site that will talk about our history and culture.” He urged international museums holding Yoruba artifacts to return them, supporting efforts to enrich the legacy of Yoruba heritage by uniting the past, present, and future at the Centre.

Addressing the importance of language in cultural preservation, Sanwo-Olu expressed concern over declining use of the local dialect in schools, highlighting that the rejection of indigenous languages disconnects younger generations from their heritage. He noted that the J Randle Centre aims to bridge this gap by creating a culturally immersive space.

Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to promoting and preserving Yoruba heritage.

She described the J Randle Centre as a beacon of knowledge that celebrates the Yoruba ancestors’ profound contributions and enduring cultural legacy.

With its carefully curated exhibits, the museum fosters a deep sense of connection and pride among all visitors, strengthening ties to Yoruba history and identity.

The museum’s opening represents a major cultural milestone, further establishing Lagos as a centre of art and cultural preservation, open to the world while deeply rooted in Yoruba heritage.

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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.”