Opinion

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

34 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

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Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

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Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”

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I wept last night…

Mariam Balogun

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Opinion

I wept last night…

Published

6 hours ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Azuh Arinze,

Yes, I did!

Nobody roughened me up. Nobody also robbed me. But death “did me bad.” It suddenly snatched Dotun Oladipo, managing editor and founder of The Eagle Online, one of the best and leaders in online journalism in our country and a former president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).

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To know Dotun is to know peace. To have Dotun in your team is also to have victory. Just share your feelings/thoughts/burdens with him and watch him carry them with smiles on his shoulder. And guess what: he won’t rest until victory is won.

I became fairly close to him after I joined GOCOP. And till death came calling on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in a very, very shocking manner, “he carried my matter on his head.”

He did quite a lot, but I will share just one experience – and this happened at the Zenith Bank branch in Ogba, Lagos about a month ago. I had an issue to resolve inside the bank, and because his office wasn’t too far away, I called him to ask if he could be of assistance.

He explained that he was at home, fairly far away from where I was. I terminated the call. But he called back immediately, asking me to calm down and explain what happened to him. When I finished, he asked me to wait for him at the bank.

Meanwhile he had inadvertently allowed it to slip that he was getting ready for an appointment on the island when my unexpected call altered his program.

Long story short – he made it to the bank ultimately and in a jiffy helped to sort out the issue before heading to his appointment.

As minor as this may seem to some people, it taught me another lesson in selflessness, which Dotun epitomized all through his life.

I saw him last on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos. Both of us were there for the second edition of my friend, Olumide Iyanda’s Creative Powerhouse Summit.

As soon as I sighted the workaholic hitting hard on his laptop, tucked in a corner of the hall, to avoid any form of distraction, I went for the exchange of our always-warm pleasantries.

I have been reminiscing on that short memory ever since the unpleasant news of his death reached me.

And even as I cried in my bed last night; and after visiting his home very early today to condole with his wife and children. I will continue to hold on to that memory of him.

Fondly called Emeritus by many of us, especially in GOCOP, Dotun was loved by many. My prayer is that the Lord rests his gentle soul.