Culture

Omoge Asa 2025: Cultural pageant returns to celebrate yoruba heritage

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2025

Omoge Asa 2025 returns to Lead City University, celebrating Yoruba culture and empowering young women through art, creativity, and innovation

The much-anticipated second edition of the Omoge Asa Cultural Beauty Pageant and Entrepreneurial Event is set to take place on **April 10, 2025**, at **Lead City University**, Ibadan.

Also read: Miss Africa pageant returns: 19 contestants to showcase African excellence

This unique event, spearheaded by **Professor Anjola Robbin** under the Faculty of Arts in collaboration with **Academy Suites**, aims to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage, norms, and values of the Yoruba people.

Building on the success of its first edition, Omoge Asa promises to raise the bar with a broader scope and more exciting opportunities.

The cultural fiesta will bring together participants from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across southwestern Nigeria.

According to Professor Robbin, the pageant goes beyond beauty; it’s a **platform for young African women** to showcase their talents and celebrate African culture.

“Omoge Asa is not just a cultural beauty pageant; it is a movement designed to empower young women and project the future we envision, especially as many aspects of our culture are fast eroding,” she said.

The event will feature diverse cultural expressions like **traditional dance, spoken word performances, and the showcase of African attire**.

Contestants will also benefit from entrepreneurial training in **Adire and Batik production, Aso Oke weaving, bead making, fashion design, shoe making**, and other African crafts, thanks to the **Center for Entrepreneurial Innovations** at Lead City University.

In her remarks, **Dr Esther Aderinto**, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovations, expressed excitement about the partnership.

“This collaboration aims to showcase the entrepreneurial skills of students through cultural arts and provide viable economic opportunities,” she noted.

**Academy Suites**, the event’s main sponsor, will provide prizes and host a **bootcamp for contestants**, ensuring their welfare throughout the event.

The pageant has also garnered support from the **Ministries of Culture and Tourism in Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, and Lagos states**.

The 2025 edition of Omoge Asa will welcome notable dignitaries, including **Chief (Mrs) Tamunomini Olufunke Makinde**, First Lady of Oyo State, and the **Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Southwest Nigeria**.

With opportunities for networking, empowerment, and cultural celebration, **Omoge Asa 2025** invites talented undergraduates from southwestern Nigeria to **showcase their creativity and passion for African culture**.

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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.”