The Republic
This piece titled “the Republic” was done to celebrate the cultural diversity of Nigeria, and also define the essence of unity as the major content that binds a nation. This successfully illustrated the fruits of disagreement as nothing less than destruction. Isn't it obvious in the piece, that eggs are broken and skulls gallivanting the whole place...
Artist: Aje Arthouse
Written Constitution
This piece, titled ‘Written Constitution ‘ is an illustration depicting the value of any nation. A wise man once said, any great individual became great because of the principles they allow govern their lives. This piece attempts to depict the constitution as the major power that makes the nation stand, the pillars that define what is accepted and what isn't; the scripts that punish offenders irrespective of their political position, charisma or intellectual capacities. It is therefore imperative to note that the constitution of a nation is just as important as the nation.
Artist: Aje Arthouse
Fighting Temptations 2
The need to have a society where human rights are not trampled upon, where there are equal rights and justice....The need to have a society where men are raised to respect women's rights....A Nigerian society that resists the temptation to be patriarchal and sexist.
Artist: Muyiwa Akinwolere
Veteran
The Veteran is a memorial to the pioneering efforts of Nigerias Nationalists who fought doggedly albeit intellectually and diplomatically, to secure Nigeria's independence. It also calls to mind the successful exploits of Nigerian soldiers who fought side by side with British soldiers in the first world war. An event that demystified the colonialists as equals with Africans and inspired independence efforts upon their return back home. The sculptor is currently exploring the use of discarded plastics for sculptures and see this as his own effort in environmental sustainability and climate change awareness.
Artist: Njoku Moses O
Soldier Boy
Soldier boy is a piece to appreciate the tenacious efforts of Nigeria's military and paramilitary formations in protecting the territorial integrity of our Country. The sculpture depicts a Soldier who seems tired but not giving up in his readiness to fight for the comfort of the people. The sculptor believes that if every citizen embraces the patriotic spirit of these two groups of people as depicted in the works, then Nigeria will be better and a great future will be guaranteed for those yet unborn.
Artist: Njoku Moses O
Togetherness
A unique community built on stilts along the lagoon and the rest is on land, is a perfect place to find coexistence of love, harmony and peace. Most waterfront communities are largely harbored by people whose main occupation is fish farming. The exchange of goods and services amicably among the indigenous people is a great example of love, unity and understanding.
Artist: Jibrin Judah
We Dey Togeda
One People
One Motherland
One Lingua
Diversified but unbreakeable, a people of great minds, hardworking and resolute. Motivated and loving souls bent on doing things right, a common mind towards the progress of another, like bees they storm to help the fallen comrades...For we are all United together in the race.
Artist: Jibrin Judah
Full Bloom
In our father's garden,
we forgot the many good things.
We forgot that beneath weeds,
flowers lie in wait
longing...always longing to bloom
Artist: Moradeyo Adewusi
We Dey Togeda
One People
One Motherland
One Lingua
Diversified but unbreakeable, a people of great minds, hardworking and resolute. Motivated and loving souls bent on doing things right, a common mind towards the progress of another, like bees they storm to help the fallen comrades...For we are all United together in the race.
Artist: Jibrin Judah
Gidi Bloom
It wasn't so long ago...
we planted good things
we still believed in dreams
Have we given up?
Can the lions roar no longer stir the
earth?
Awaken seeds
to live... to bloom
Artist: Moradeyo Adewusi
Harmattan Rose
Through dust and mist
I see what you are
Petals crushed and bruised
I see what you are
A bloom for all seasons
Hope glimmering through
cracks in heat warped tar
Artist: Moradeyo Adewusi
Full Bloom
In our father's garden,
we forgot the many good things.
We forgot that beneath weeds,
flowers lie in wait
longing...always longing to bloom
Artist: Moradeyo Adewusi
Full Bloom
In our father's garden,
we forgot the many good things.
We forgot that beneath weeds,
flowers lie in wait
longing...always longing to bloom
Artist: Moradeyo Adewusi
Connected
The work is a pictorial composition of a lady holding a socket. The socket which is painted in Green and white colour has a wire plugged to it. The leaves on the wire simultaneously represents people and the freshness received as a result of the connection. The hand holding the socket signifies openness of the country. The woman who is having an Afro hair style in a blue dress represents our nations decorated with an ornament. The beads symbolise the beauty and richness of our cultures. The painting advocates the need to be open to one another, as individuals or as nations which with a high tendency leads to growth, freshness, and development as depicted by the tentacles of the plant expanding to other people around. Our growth cannot be actualized until we are connected with one another. Our beauty or glow cannot surface until we come together as one. The blue cloth in this painting symbolises open spaces, freedom, inspiration, and sensitivity. It also represents depth, trust, loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, faith, and intelligence, that we will build or wear when we are connected together with open mindedness.
Artist: Freda Kesa
Tomorrow's Colour
Colour has always played direct as well as symbolic role in our existence, where it is used in all its abundance and variety, it tends to reflect joy, happiness, and bountifulness, if by any means it's arrangements is co- ordinated in sychrony togetherness follows,This is definitely what we all crave for in this period of our national history. This composition highlight these characteristics, using figures of children and their supposed mother as a compositional medium to push for oneness in our pursuit as a Nation, putting our children into consideration since they will definitely continue our 'Tomorrow's colour' , and not leaving behind our mothers, who will help in actualizing this aim.
Artist: Dudu Emmanuel
Sons of the Soil
Portrayed here are three men overlooking a rooftop landscape that looks probably Southwest Nigeria from the attire and the architecture. The typical Nigerian man is very much attached to his land....His identity, significance and purpose are all tied to his ancestral land.
Artist: Muyiwa Akinwolere
For Those Love Letter Days
For nearly a decade, insecurity, one of our numerous national malaise has been a curious case. But not entirely without our collective anti - dissident struggles and unprecedented defensive efforts. As a people, we have been operating from the premise of a vernacular maxim that says " pikin wen say him mama no go rest, him sef no go sleep. " And this reflects in our relentless unbroken spirit of unity and patriotism to save our beloved country of incursions at the battle lines. My drawing titled "Meesage of hope (love letter from Sambisa). " express it from an emotional angle. It portrays two ladies reading war love messages from their partners in the northeastern battle grounds. The ladies are amused and hopeful with the message that their spouses will come back victorious as well as their country.
Artist: Stanley Dudu
Survivors Tale
We are survivors and we have a lot of stories to share with our generations.Survivors, not just the strongestest but smart and graceful.We are resilient,Never ashamed of our scars and imperfectionsIt is part of our beauty.
Artist: Olisa Nwoye
Victims of Success
We are victims of our own success by allowing civilization, technology and socio political attributeslead the way. despite our diverse culture, with no moment to pause, contemplate andreflect to know why, how and for whom, we just keep moving.
Artist: Olisa Nwoye
The Money People: The Father of Nigeria
The Money People is a visual and comprehensive series of "our money people". It is a visual account and appreciation of our heroes and why the past and present symbols were chosen for our currency after the pound, shilling and penny were discarded. It aims to look at our money with a renewed sense of national pride and reverence. Herbert Heelas Samuel Olayinka Macaulay was born in Lagos on the 14th of November 1864, the seventh child of Sierra Leonean parents. Sir Herbert Macaulay is immortalised on the One Naira note, which replaced the British pound on the 1st of January, 1973, and was converted to a coin in 1991. The current version of the One Naira coin was issued in 2007. Although it is still in circulation, the coin has lost its purchasing power due to inflation.
Artist: Dara Babalola
The Money People: The Benin Bronze Mask
The other side of the One Naira Note is the Benin mask. The original mask is an ancient portrait sculpture of the Queen Mother Idia of the 16th century Benin Empire. Made of ivory, it is an African traditional mask and symbolises the legacy of the Benin dynasty.
Artist: Dara Babalola
The Money People: A Principled Man
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a teacher, politician, and the first and only prime minister of Nigeria. Because of his great oratory skills, people called him ‘the golden voice’. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa died during the first Nigerian military coup of 1966, and was laid to rest in Bauchi. In his honour, his portrait appears on the Five Naira note, and the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi was named after him.
Artist: Dara Babalola
The Money People: The Mkpokiti dancers
The other side of the Five Naira Note features the legendary Mkpokiti dance troupe of East Nigeria is portrayed at the back of the Five Naira note. The dance troupe was founded in 1951 by Chief Festus Okoli Nwankwo, from Ugwunano village of Umunze, Anambra state. The Mkpokiti dance has been exhibited around the world as the greatest cultural dance in Africa.
Artist: Dara Babalola
Unison
As proud, passionate, hardworking Nigerians,
We get through life’s daily hustles with joy and happiness,
Singing through hardship, suffering and smiling
Through the unique challenges Nigeria poses its people.
Regardless, we are one, we have each other
We will unite, loyal soldiers!
We have no other choice, We are Nigeria!
Artist: Sannart
Unison
As proud, passionate, hardworking Nigerians,
We get through life’s daily hustles with joy and happiness,
Singing through hardship, suffering and smiling
Through the unique challenges Nigeria poses its people.
Regardless, we are one, we have each other
We will unite, loyal soldiers!
We have no other choice, We are Nigeria!
Artist: Sannart
Unison
As proud, passionate, hardworking Nigerians,
We get through life’s daily hustles with joy and happiness,
Singing through hardship, suffering and smiling
Through the unique challenges Nigeria poses its people.
Regardless, we are one, we have each other
We will unite, loyal soldiers!
We have no other choice, We are Nigeria!
Artist: Sannart
From the Back Seat
One thing is clear- united we stand, divided we fall. The passion that exudes from the average Nigerian is fueled by the innate need to survive regardless of who we are or what we do. Pushing on means we move the country forward, together in unity, as patriots marching in a straight line to success.
‘From The Back Seat’ explores the juxtaposition of fast-moving and slow-paced activities of humans and events in African rural and urban daily life settings aimed at highlighting the things we observe but don't see.
Artist: Elizabeth Ofili
From the Back Seat
One thing is clear- united we stand, divided we fall. The passion that exudes from the average Nigerian is fueled by the innate need to survive regardless of who we are or what we do. Pushing on means we move the country forward, together in unity, as patriots marching in a straight line to success.
‘From The Back Seat’ explores the juxtaposition of fast-moving and slow-paced activities of humans and events in African rural and urban daily life settings aimed at highlighting the things we observe but don't see.
Artist: Elizabeth Ofili
From the Back Seat
One thing is clear- united we stand, divided we fall. The passion that exudes from the average Nigerian is fueled by the innate need to survive regardless of who we are or what we do. Pushing on means we move the country forward, together in unity, as patriots marching in a straight line to success.
‘From The Back Seat’ explores the juxtaposition of fast-moving and slow-paced activities of humans and events in African rural and urban daily life settings aimed at highlighting the things we observe but don't see.
Artist: Elizabeth Ofili
Which came first, the people or the land?
What is a country without its people? We need to eliminate the concept of division by class, skills, income, religion and ethnicity. Every human requires food and water to survive and every human has a heart that bleeds, loves and grieves. Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born into it. Your pride for your country should not come after your country becomes great; your country becomes great because of your pride in it.