If you are visiting Nigeria and art is your thing, we’ve got your back. In the previous article, we looked at Benin, Osogbo and Jos and what they have to offer art enthusiasts. There is a lot more to see when you visit Nigeria especially if you visit these places:
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Ile Ife
Ife Arts – Ancient History Encyclopedia
For centuries, the city of Ile Ife has been known worldwide for its ancient stone, bronze/copper and terracotta sculptures dating 1200-1400 A.D. This popular town in Osun state is an art haven. If you are looking for naturalistic pre-colonial African art, you can find it in Ife.
These art sculptures are from tiny to life-sized figurines. Most of the priceless ancient Ife art can be found in the Palace of the Ooni of Ife at the Royal African Arts centre. If visiting royalty just to see art scares you, you can try the Natural History Museum of Obafemi Awolowo University, and the Omidiran art gallery. These places also contain rural paintings, wood carvings motifs that might be of interest too.
The ambience at Omidiran gallery which is a private gallery of only Mr Omidiran Paul Gbolade’s works along with soothing music in an air-conditioned atmosphere is delightful. The streets of Ife are also covered in murals that you can enjoy viewing on your way to the art gallery from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife.
Kaduna
Nok Arts – Ancient History EncyclopediaKaduna State is the home of the lost Nok civilization one that began around 1,500 BC and ended mysteriously at 500 A.D. The deserted Nok village with its stunning architecture, life-sized terracotta heads/figurine sculptures and rock paintings welcomes all who dare to visit.
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Other places you can experience art in Kaduna include the National Gallery of Art, Kaduna National Museum, Ahmadu Bello University Arts Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Saulawa Art Gallery, Cristo Arts and Painting, Bahyors Art and Gallery and Clement Colours Art. Here you will see monochrome oil paintings, portrait paintings, locally made arts and craft, velvet, water and acrylic painting techniques, abstraction art and many more. Some of these places are in Kaduna City like the Art galleries; others are around the outskirts of the metropolis.
Ibadan
Elsieisy Blog
Around town, you can already appreciate the Bower’s Tower architecture and the beauty of Agodi Gardens. But for art, you may need to check out Topfat Art Gallery, Ololade Art Gallery, Ade-Dag African art Gallery, North Campus Art Gallery in The Ibadan Polytechnic, Ighodalo Art Gallery, Tunde Odunlade Art and Culture Connexions, Centre of Afrikan Art and Designs, Ellen ‘N’ Ellen fitness, art and IT Centre.
With the Culture Centre, the building is part of the art as is the art pieces inside. The Ellen N Ellen fitness, art and IT Centre, there is a room dedicated to various painting artworks and the gym rooms are not left out in the touches of artworks on display.
This makes the work out rooms look a bit more colourful and fun to stare at while working out. The North Campus Gallery is mainly sculpturing out in a yard of green grass, kind of like the art pieces that decorate the Ighodalo art gallery howbeit, less sophisticated than the latter.
For paintings, check out any of the other galleries, especially the Tunde Odunlade Art and Culture Connexions. It is reminiscent of Nike art Gallery, Lagos in its internal structure and vast array of art.
Have you been to any of these towns? Let us know if there was any art hub we missed that others should know about.
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Ann Esievoadje is a freelance writer who is passionate about encouraging a reading culture and personal development. She has authored two books, The Quilt (fiction) and Being Mummy and Me (non-fiction). She manages Pulchra Publishing which offers a content creation/editing, transcription, different forms of writing (including Ghostwriting) service and her blog, Life Love and Anything Goes at annesievoadje.blogspot.com.ng. You can reach her at annesievoadje@gmail.com
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