Culture

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Cautions Against Cultural Erosion

Published

12 months ago

September 17, 2025

Ohanaeze Ndigbo cautions against cultural erosion ahead of 2025 Ahiajoku Lecture, urging action to preserve Igbo language and traditions

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, issued the warning when the planning committee for the festival visited him in Enugu at the weekend.

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He stressed that the lecture theme, “The Future of Igbo Economy Amidst the Challenges of Insecurity: A Call for Paradigm Shift”, was both timely and symbolic.

Mbata, who pledged to attend in person, described the festival as an intellectual and cultural platform for Ndigbo to reflect on identity, survival, and progress.

“Ahiajoku remains an avenue for deep conversations among Ndigbo on culture, language, and survival. UNESCO has reported that the Igbo language is endangered, and urgent measures are needed to avert cultural erosion,” he said.

He revealed that his administration had established professorial endowment chairs in universities to advance research on Igbo history, traditions, and language.

He also praised Governor Hope Uzodimma for reviving the Ahiajoku Lecture Series after years of neglect, describing the governor as a cultural torchbearer.

Earlier, the Director General of the Ahiajoku Centre and committee secretary, Hon Nze Ray Emeana, traced the origins of the festival to 1979 under the late Governor Sam Mbakwe.

He highlighted the role of eminent intellectuals such as Professors Chinua Achebe, Ben Nwabueze, and Laz Ekwueme in elevating the Ahiajoku platform into Africa’s foremost cultural festival of ideas.

Emeana noted that this year’s edition marks both the 45th anniversary and the 25th lecture in the series.

He emphasised that insecurity and economic downturn remain the twin challenges confronting Ndigbo, making the chosen theme urgent and relevant.

The 2025 planning committee is chaired by former Ohanaeze President General Chief Gary Igariwey, with seasoned banker Sir Stanley Amuchie serving as deputy.

Also read: Igbo celebrate cultural fest, coronate Eze Ohazurume Ibeju Lekki

With the apex Igbo leadership fully on board, organisers say the festival will carry the moral weight of the Igbo nation and inspire the diaspora to reconnect with their heritage.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

1 week 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.”