When I received the invitation to attend Wake Up! 2, the second of a series of youth art exhibitions curated by Awele Onwordi (pictured above right), I thought it would be a typical art soirée where the guests would leisurely sashay from one artwork to the next.
Imagine my surprise when I stepped into the Angels and Muse gallery at Ikoyi and was greeted by sights and sounds that made me think I had accidentally crashed a house party. All around were young people dressed in casual wear, accessorised with tattoos and piercings.
The curator's statement should have prepared me. As Awele wrote - "despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community."
Mounted on the walls behind them were photographs and animation style paintings in addition to skateboards and football jerseys. In a corner of the room, DJ and music producer Oche commanded an eclectic playlist that included Erykah Badu's Orange Moon, Mowalola's Hit & Run, and Nirvana's In Bloom. The energy was vibrant.
Originally published by African Business.