Culture

MMI launches documentary fellowship to promote yoruba identity

Published

2 years ago

February 18, 2025

Yoruba Documentary Fellowship for Students

The Media Mentoring Initiative (MMI) has launched a three-month Documentary Fellowship for Students to preserve and promote Yoruba identity through film

The Media Mentoring Initiative (MMI) has officially launched its Documentary Fellowship for Students (DFS), a three-month immersive program aimed at promoting Yoruba identity through documentary filmmaking.

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The fellowship, which began in January, is designed for **final-year students from public universities** who are passionate about Yoruba culture, history, and storytelling.

The program seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of Yoruba philosophies, governance, and way of life, while addressing the growing concerns of cultural and linguistic preservation in Nigeria.

Ten student fellows were selected from a competitive pool of applicants after submitting pitch documentary ideas covering themes such as Yoruba fashion, festivals, cuisine, and traditional names.

“I was struck by how articulate the students were and how deeply concerned they were about issues like the state of Yoruba names, the loathing of Oriki, and the alienation of youth from their roots,” said Anikeade Funke Treasure, the Fellowship Convener, during the welcome ceremony on 24 January.

Veteran Yoruba filmmaker and Mainframe Productions CEO, Tunde Kelani, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the importance of preserving Yoruba heritage in the face of globalisation and modern influences.

“The Yoruba people are known worldwide for their rich culture, profound history, and timeless traditions. However, many aspects of this heritage risk being forgotten or misunderstood,” Kelani warned.

The Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism provided the seed funding for the program, while the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS) at Lagos State University (LASU)** is hosting the initiative.

About the Media Mentoring Initiative

Powered by **Illuminate Nigeria Development Network**, the **Media Mentoring Initiative (MMI)** is committed to educating and nurturing young documentary filmmakers while promoting Yoruba culture, documentary ethics, and traditional governance systems.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”