The Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has described the pioneer of Afro-beat music Fela Anikulapo-Kuti as “a legend whose life showed that art can preserve memory, challenge ideas, inspire courage and transform society.”
Abdulrazaq made these remarks, while declaring open an art exhibition organized by the state government to celebrate his life and legacies. The retrospective exhibition aimed at preserving African cultural heritage and inspiring younger generations, opened on Monday, at the Institute of Contemporary African Art and Film,ICAAF, Ilorin. It’s curated and produced by June Creative Art Advisory,JCAA, and will run until December 31, 2026, with free admission for members of the public.
The governor who also declared the institute opened explained that the establishment of the institute reflected his administration’s belief that development should extend beyond physical infrastructure to include spaces that promote creativity, knowledge and economic opportunities.
He said the creation of the Institute of Contemporary African Arts and Films (ICAAF) by his administration is to advance cultural education and nurture creatives to thrive. .
The governor said,“our ambition is for ICAAF (also called Visual Arts Centre) to advance cultural education, encourage creative enterprise, attract visitors and strengthen Kwara’s place in Nigeria’s cultural and creative landscape. Its success will be measured by the talents it nurtures, ideas it inspires and opportunities it creates.
“Physical infrastructure connects places; cultural infrastructure connects people to their history, expands their imagination and challenges their thinking. We built ICAAF to preserve African stories, nurture talent and showcase our artists and thinkers to the world.
“Opening this institution with an exhibition on Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is particularly meaningful. Fela was more than a musician. Through his music and artistic expression, he challenged conventions and confronted society with questions about power, freedom, identity and justice.”
