In conversation with Amaize Ojeikere, we explored the exacting vision of master photographer J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, whose relentless curiosity and commitment to cultural preservation recorded Nigerian cultural history, a legacy showcased in the landmark exhibition An Exacting Eye. This discussion moved beyond the famous Hairstyle Series to examine the power of the artist as witness and the crucial homecoming of this iconic legacy: the formal establishment of a foundation dedicated to its preservation, presentation, and scholarly research.

Moderated by Missla Libsekal, ART X Lagos, Curator at Large.

This conversation revisited two landmark movements that redefined modern art in Nigeria-the Zaria Rebels and the Osogbo School. Emerging from the pre- and post-independence era, the Zaria artists sought a new aesthetic grounded in indigenous forms yet open to modern experimentation. The Osogbo School, which arose in the 1960s, cultivated a vibrant fusion of traditional Yoruba art and contemporary media. Together, their intersecting legacies continue to shape contemporary artistic practice, identity, and dialogue across generations.

The talk is in conjunction with kó’s exhibtion, Osogbo, at the gallery.

Visionary filmmaker Mati Diop joined ART X Cinema Curator Tega Okiti for a conversation exploring Diop's distinct creative sensibilities and ongoing dialogue with the most urgent topics facing local and artistic communities across Africa. The discussion followed screenings of Diop's acclaimed feature length works Dhamoey (Berlin International Film Festival 2024) and Atlantics (Gran Prix, Cannes Film Festival 2019). 

We joined photographer, curator, and writer Akinbode Akinbiyi for a discussion on photographic practice in Nigeria and beyond. Akinbiyi expanded on the influence of J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, a defining artist photographer. Ojeikere's iconic vision influenced the ways of seeing that guide Akinbiyi’s own work. His long-term practice, grounded in the durational documentation of cities, is shaped by this sustained legacy, mirroring Ojeikere's disciplined approach to recording culture.

Moderated by Missla Libsekal, ART X Lagos, Curator at Large.

This conversation explored how realities within African and Afro-Caribbean contexts are shaped not only by where we live but by how we think, perceive, and imagine. It asked how knowledge, identity, and belonging are formed at the intersections of geography and imagination, and what it means to centre local knowledge in a world still marked by colonial hierarchies. Through the practices of this year’s AAB artists, the talk reflected on how creative processes, rooted in local thought yet globally engaged, can disrupt imposed paradigms and open new ways of seeing, knowing, and being.