Culture

Ooni of Ife, Tinubu, Oba of Lagos, Other Dignitaries To Grace 5th Annual World Omoluabi Day In Lagos

Published

3 years ago

March 25, 2023

The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II (CFR) will be leading eminent Yoruba descendants including President-elect, Bola Hamed Tinubu, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu alongside other dignitaries to the fifth edition of the Annual World Omoluabi Day Festival scheduled to hold in Lagos, Nigeria.

World Omoluabi Day is organized by the Yoruba Council Worldwide(YCW), a global umbrella body for Yoruba sociocultural groups to celebrate, appreciate and preserve the Yoruba ethos of Omoluabi.

The Global President of the Council, Aare(Barr.) Oladotun Hassan in a statement, noted that this Year’s event, Branded EKOFEST ’23 with the theme: Yoruba Indigenization, will hold at the prestigious National Arts Theatre, Iganmu Lagos on Monday, May 1st, 2023 by 11am.

“This event is a global spectacular event aimed at bringing together all Great sons and daughters of Oduduwa globally.

“We have come a long way to realize the importance of unity, peace and development of the Yoruba nationhood in line with the Omoluabi ethos, prestige, honour, wisdom, hard-work and mutual respect.

“Hence, this year’s edition is specially hosted in Lagos after enjoying four good years of Ile-Ife hosting by our Grand Host and Royal Father, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, Ooni of Ife, Olori Alade gbogbo, whose authority has confirmed to move this epoch making event to the city of Lagos and Center of Excellence with over 2 million expected participants and tourists both within Nigeria and from the Diaspora.”

“EKOFEST 23 is a major milestone in the history of the Yoruba Council Worldwide: Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye umbrella body to all Yoruba indigenous groups globally, with special focus on Indigenization of all Yorubas to believe and hold on to their true noble Omoluabi identity.”, Aare Oladotun stated.

The event which is being sponsored by GOLDBERG with support from the Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism will also feature the presentation of Omoluabi Royal Icon(ORI) Awards to exceptional and deserving Oodua descendants worldwide with over 1000 cultural entertainers and performers expected.

“We shall be working closely with the Lagos State Government under the hosting honour by His Excellency, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State and Omoluabi Eko Pataki Oodua of Yoruba Land and the Lagos State Ministry of Arts, Tourism and Culture.

“We believe this event we herald a new paradigm in the celebration of our culture and traditions, because this is the mother of all festivals , with over 2000 Royal Fathers accros Yoruba Land and 1000 diverse performances ranging from best of performing Arts, cultural festival enthusiasts and Drama display by all the various traditional festivals we have known and experienced in Yoruba Land like Eyo, Egungun, Igunuko, Fanty, Kiladelu, Zangbeto, while performing arts Troup from all the Yoruba speaking states of Nigeria will be witnessed with high energetic innovation and uncommon vision.”, the statement added.

Other dignitaries expected at the event include the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Chief Host; the Oniru of Iruland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II; the Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Alayeluwa Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III among others.

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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.

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.”