Culture

Okiki Films Builds Cultural Sanctuary for Nollywood Productions

Published

5 months ago

March 27, 2026

Okiki Films village Ibadan is unveiled by Chief Sunday Esan to promote African culture, heritage, and authentic storytelling through a dedicated film production hub

Chief Sunday Esan, CEO of Okiki Films and Records International, has unveiled a new film village in Ibadan designed to promote African culture, heritage, and indigenous storytelling within Nigeria’s growing film industry.

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The Okiki Films Village, located on a seven-acre site at Idi Ori, Onidundu in Akinyele Local Government Area, features traditional mud houses and culturally inspired structures that provide an authentic environment for film production.

The facility is intended to serve as a dedicated hub for filmmakers working on epic and culturally themed projects.

According to Chief Esan, the initiative represents a commitment to preserving and showcasing African traditions while creating a creative space where stories rooted in history, mythology, and community life can be brought to life on screen.

The film village is structured to reflect various aspects of African identity, with architectural elements and symbolic designs that evoke ancestral heritage.

It is positioned not only as a filming location but also as a cultural landmark aimed at sustaining and projecting indigenous narratives.

Chief Esan described the unveiling as the beginning of a new phase for African cinema, emphasising the importance of authenticity in storytelling and the need for spaces that support culturally relevant productions.

He noted that the environment is designed to accommodate filmmakers seeking settings that align with traditional themes, allowing for more immersive and visually accurate representations of African stories.

With its establishment, the Okiki Films Village is expected to contribute to the development of Nollywood by providing a specialized production space that blends creativity with cultural preservation, while also attracting filmmakers interested in producing content that reflects Africa’s rich heritage.

Also read: Ulefunta Festival Showcases Akure’s Rich Cultural Heritage

The project underscores a broader movement within the Nigerian film industry toward investing in infrastructure that supports original storytelling, cultural documentation, and the global promotion of African narratives.

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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.”