Culture

The Benin Art Fair: redefining Edo’s artistic and cultural legacy

Published

2 years ago

November 25, 2024

The Benin Art Fair, a 10-day celebration of Edo’s art and culture, reclaims the region’s prominence in the global creative scene this November.

In a bid to rewrite the narrative surrounding Edo State and spotlight its rich artistic and cultural heritage, The Benin Art Fair (TBAF) is set to take centre stage in Benin City from November 29 to December 8.

The 10-day art festival, themed “Homage to the Red City”, promises a vibrant showcase of Edo State’s traditional and contemporary creative brilliance.

Also read: Afropolis Festival 2024: global celebration of arts and culture in Lagos

Held at Abstract Backyard, 33 Aiguobasimwin Crescent, G.R.A., Benin City, TBAF aims to re-establish Edo State as a premier arts and culture destination in Nigeria and Africa.

The event is a dynamic platform celebrating the state’s artistic legacy while fostering innovation among its traditional and avant-garde artists.

Director of The Benin Art Fair, Olorogun Jeff Ajueshi, emphasised the fair’s mission to challenge negative stereotypes associated with Edo State, such as violence, human trafficking, and other social vices.

Instead, TBAF will shine a spotlight on the state’s profound cultural contributions and establish its position on the global arts map.

“We want to rejuvenate Edo’s allure by showcasing its talent in traditional art and the international creative industries. This fair is a restoration process, placing Edo’s artistic and cultural sites in their rightful place on the global tourism map,” said Ajueshi.

The long-term goal of the fair, curated by Mr James Irabor, is to preserve and promote the cultural and artistic identity of Edo State. Ajueshi added that the event would create a lasting legacy, celebrating Edo’s history while encouraging investment in its cultural preservation.

The fair will feature a diverse array of activities, including:

Antiques and cultural showcases highlighting Edo’s traditional art forms.
Contemporary art exhibitions featuring local and international artists.
Live wood sculpting and performance art displays.
Discussions and workshops with renowned artists like Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya and Enotie Ogbebor.
Panel discussions on topics such as art education, cultural preservation, and photography’s role in history.
Benin Art Fair Concert Night, featuring Edo music legends.

This year’s fair is proudly supported by a host of sponsors, including Hyde Energy, Coronation, and the Edo State Government.

The Benin Art Fair aspires to position Edo State as a central player in the international art scene. According to Ajueshi, the event will generate revenue for the state while enhancing its reputation as a cultural hub.

“This festival is not just about celebration; it’s about evolution—transforming Edo into a cornerstone of the Nigerian art subsector and a major contributor to global cultural conversations,” he noted.

As Edo’s art and culture come alive this November, The Benin Art Fair represents a significant step toward reclaiming the state’s rightful place as a beacon of creativity and heritage in Africa and beyond.

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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.”