Culture

OPC at 30: Yoruba Obas congratulate Gani Adams

Published

2 years ago

September 2, 2024

OPC at 30: Yoruba Obas congratulate Gani Adams

The Yoruba Obas Forum (YOF) has congratulated the National Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress OPC, Iba (Dr) Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland on the 30th anniversary of the Oodua People’s Congress existence as a formidable sociocultural formation.

In a release signed by the National Executive Council of the Yoruba Obas Forum, the monarchs congratulated the resilience, steadfastness and unwavering service to humanity, of the OPC formation and particularly to Aare, Gani Adams, the National Coordinator, who has held sway as the driving force of the formation.

YOF in its statement, extolled the virtue of Aare Gani Adams as a true leader and the Oodua People’s Congress as a formidable sociocultural entity that sees to the security and peaceful co-existence of the Yoruba people with other residents within the Yoruba land.

The monarchs also extended gratitude to Gani Adams’ led OPC for the concerted effort, in the fight against social injustice, insecurity and other local crimes within the neighbourhood.

“As a non-political organisation and a forum for cultural integration, the Yoruba Obas Forum congratulates Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams on this special day, marking a three decades of selfless service to humanity.

“OPC, under Gani Adams has gained prominence through its series of social interventions that include security checks and crime prevention within the neighbourhood, youth empowerment and humanitarian initiatives among others. We wish the formation well, and urge it to maintain collaborative engagement with Yoruba Obas Forum to forge progressive and developmental efforts in Yoruba land,” YOF stated.

Meanwhile, YOF as a non-profit and non-political organization consisting of and open to all traditional rulers from Yoruba-speaking States of Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Kogi and Kwara are duly certified and recognised by their respective State governments.

The forum, as a gathering for custodians of people’s culture and heritage, promotes Yoruba traditions and culture worldwide, fosters unity, peace, progress, and development among the Yoruba Obas and their communities and also identifies, discusses, and proffers solutions to matters affecting Yoruba Obas and Yoruba kingdoms.

With a series of conventions held in recent times, the forum has been able to achieve success in the area of cultural harmony among Indigenous people of Yoruba race both at home and in the diaspora. It has also voiced its demand to the government, seeking a constitutional role for traditional rulers in Nigeria among other things.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

1 month 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.”