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Mark Makers: Unsung Pioneers celebrates overlooked Nigerians who have broken boundaries, advocated for their people and dreamed the world differently.
From Jonathan Adagogo Green, Nigeria’s first professional photographer who captured both colonial power and local culture, to August Agboola Browne, a jazz musician turned resistance fighter during WWII, these figures embody the power of intercultural understanding and resilience. We honour visionaries like Nana Asma'u, who revolutionised women's education, and Oladunni Oduguwa, a trailblazing female musician, for reshaping what it meant to be a woman in male-dominated fields. Innovators like Professor Augustine Njoku-Obi, who developed a cholera vaccine, and Mohammed Bah-Abba, whose invention preserved food in rural areas, are celebrated as healers and creators who uplifted their communities. From Jelani Aliyu, a revolutionary e-vehicle designer, to Afi Ekong-Attah, Nigeria's first female gallery owner, these extraordinary individuals redefined what was possible for Africans in science, art, and social activism.
Through their legacy, we are reminded that greatness often stems from courage, collaboration, and the audacity to challenge the status quo.
Mark-Makers is curated by Missla Libsekal – Curator-at-Large, Fikayo Adebajo – Associate Curator and Haily Grenet – Curatorial Production Manager with historical consultancy by Ed Keazor.