Culture

Traditional ruler commends Minister’s effort to position Nigeria as world’s cultural capital

Published

3 years ago

November 28, 2023

The traditional ruler of the Otumara community in Lagos Mainland of Lagos State, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, commended the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hajia Hannatu Musawa, for aiming to position Nigeria as the world’s culture, creative and entertainment capital.

Kalejaiye also applauded the Minister on her road map, which, according to him, is targeted at creating jobs and skills training programs for millions of Nigerians and turning the country into global arts, culture and creativity hubs.

Earlier, during the unveiling of the Ministry’s economic plan at the maiden edition of Creative Economy Roundtable held at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, the Minister stated that her objective is to contribute 10 per cent to the Nation’s GDP while also striving to expand sectorial GDP to a remarkable $100 billion by the year 2030.

Reacting to the proposed economic plan, Kalejaiye expressed high hopes in the capacity of the Minister to turn around the Arts, Culture and Creative Economy for the betterment of Nigerians, especially the talented unemployed youths.

He described the Minister’s economic plan as expedient to taking millions of youths out of the unemployment market.

Quoting from statistics by the National Bureau of Statistics, he disclosed that about 53.40 per cent of youths in Nigeria are unemployed.

He said, “We believe in the capacity of the new Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, to reposition the country’s creative economy. We have incredible talents who are eagerly waiting for the creation of an enabling environment for them to showcase their talents and flourish.

However, better days are ahead for the country’s youths as with this road map; the economy is sure to rebound while many of our youths will be productively engaged. I must commend President Bola Tinubu for making the right choice and putting a round peg in a round hole.”

Continuing, the traditional ruler urged the Minister to beam her searchlight on the operations of management and personnel of the National Theatre.

According to him, the parastatal has been engulfed in corruption and intimidation of staff and union leaders by the management.

If this is left unchecked, Kalejaiye said, it will have an adverse effect on the productivity of the workers and the country will lost all historic edifice that are housed in the parastatal.

He added, “The management of the National Theatre has been in the news for obviously the wrong reasons ranging from alleged corruption and intimidation of staff and union leaders using the police.

This is unhealthy for the workforce who now go about their daily activities in fear. There have been allegations of looting of historic artefacts and misappropriation of the funds of the parastatal. There are petitions before the ICPC, DSS and the Honourable Minister against the management of the parastatal written by interest groups and the union.

These and more are what we want the Minister to investigate and bring the culprits to justice.

Once again, I congratulate the new Minister on her well-deserve appointment while looking forward to a probe of the allegation levelled against the management of the parastatal.”

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Culture

OLOJO….Ile Ife’s September Gift To Culture

Published

1 hour ago

October 5, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Halima Adaba,

It was a featubal if the people. It was for the anciebt town of Ile Ife, which the Yoruba race refards as the Source.

Also read: Olojo Festival 2026: Ooni Urges Leaders to Prioritise Citizens

And ut was a festivsl for the King, Arole Oduduwa, Oonirisa, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

And so between September 24 and 28th 2026, the annual featuval dazzjed in all its white glory.

Tge Monarch paid the traditional ancestral homage and offered propitiation as part of the sacred rites of the Olojo Festival.
It was a powerful expression of Yoruba heritage, spirituality, and enduring tradition.

Call it a collection of beautiful moments, faces, colours and cultural expressions.

Every frame tells a story.

Every face carries the energy.

Every moment keeps the heritage alive.

Undoubtedly one of the most sacred cultural celebrations in Ilé-Ifẹ̀. It marked a day associated with creation, thanksgiving, ancestral heritage, and the sacred appearance of the Ooni of Ife wearing the revered Aàrẹ crown.

There were also the devotees of the famed god of thunder – Sàngó who were hardly conspicuous at the festival.

Many other traditional groups came out with candor, showing a powerful expression of Yoruba cultural identity, spiritual devotion, and respect for the ancient traditions of Ilé-Ifẹ̀.

Devotees of Sàngó bekieved the ‘appearance’ of the god of thunder on Seotember 26th could be understood as a symbolic meeting of ancestral heritage, spiritual devotion, and the celebration of creation.

It was a moment when the sounds of drums, chants, and traditional praise poetry brought the history of the Yoruba people to life.

Although Olojo is closely associated with Ogun, the god of iron, and the sacred traditions of Ile-Ife, the presence of Sàngó devotees reflected the rich diversity of Yoruba spiritual heritage.

Also read: Olojo Festival 2026: Ooni Urges Leaders to Prioritise Citizens

As a participant enthused at the festival, “To witness Sàngó Olúkòso emerge on Olojo Festival day is to witness a living expression of history, identity, and ancestral pride.”

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.”