Culture

Preparation in top gear for biggest Yoruba cultural week in Lagos

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2024

Preparation in top gear for biggest Yoruba cultural week in Lagos

As part of measures to sustain cultural values across southwest, the Lagos State Government has intensified preparation to organize the largest festival through the Yoruba Week celebration, slated for September 2024.

The festival, according to the government, has been structured to give thorough narration of the Yoruba cultural heritage and inculcate same on the next generation, in order to maintain the socialization.

During the event, the government noted that the Yoruba culture would be narrated through traditional music, dance, art exhibitions, and delectable culinary that would be available at venues earmarked for the celebration in the state.

The Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, disclosed this through a statement made available to newsmen.

Aregbe added that the weeklong event has been designed with a theme: “Embracing the Yoruba Heritage, Unity, and Pride by Preserving Our Past and Inspiring Our Future.”

According to him, this will be the biggest cultural event in the Yoruba calendar in years to come and we thoroughly mean this. We will ensure Nigerians see cultural exhibition that have never seen before.

He noted that the series of events that occurred lately within the region pointed towards an unforgettable 2024 Yoruba week celebration.

“One of them is the emergence of our Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the esteemed Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum. This is an indication that this year’s Yoruba Week is destined to be a majestic celebration of unity and culture”, Aregbe added.

Leveraging on that, the special adviser disclosed that he will be embarking on a series of courtesy visits to various stakeholders, Yoruba leaders, grassroots communities, and the younger generation.

He stressed that the visit aim to foster widespread participation and engagement of all stakeholders in this cultural festivity.

This came barely two months after the Lagos State House of Assembly approved the governor’s request to dedicate the last week of September every year as “Yoruba Week” to celebrate culture.

The lawmakers noted that the approval was to preserve and promote the rich Yoruba cultural heritage.

The decision was conveyed to the Lagos State House of Assembly through a letter from the executive arm, following a resolution passed by the lawmakers on September 19, 2023, calling for the activation of Yoruba cultural heritage and the assignment of a special day as Yoruba Day.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

3 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.”