The National Museum of Unity Ibadan and IFRA-Nigeria are organising an event with the theme “(Re)imagining Heritage, (Re) using the Museum”, which will feature a presentation of the research and artistic creation projects, and a roundtable discussion with the project team and grant beneficiaries. This event takes place as part of the French Embassy Fund project, Nigerian Alternative Heritages.
Practical information:
Date: Wednesday, 20 May, 2026
Place: National Museum of Unity, Aleshinloye, Ibadan,
Time: 1 PM
What to Expect
The research and artistic creation projects aim to reconsider heritage as an idea, thereby questioning the concept of heritage itself – especially when it is described as ‘marginalised’, ‘alternative’, or ‘neglected’. Through the presentations of projects funded around this theme, we will be given an insight into these researchers and artists’ interpretation of the project. Beyond a questioning of the concept of heritage, this will also involve a reevaluation of heritage as a tangible or intangible cultural object, and a reexamination of the museum as a space of engagement for users, where they can ‘be’ and ‘create’. Ultimately, these projects and ensuing presentations will question the purpose that the museum and its objects serve.
The event will begin with the presentation of two research-creation projects. A play: Voices of the Sacred, by the Museum of Unity, Ibadan, and an animation, Animating Artifacts, by Abibat Ibrahim and Sorple Sheed. This will be followed by a roundtable and discussion between the research creation projects representatives and the IFRA- Nigeria team, before the presentation of two more projects: The Museum as a performance piece, by Ayodele Olofintuade and Kehinde Awofeso, and The city beneath, by Mofeyiseke Bolaji and Neec Nonso.
About the Projects
Abibat Ibrahim and Sorple Sheed: Animation, Animating Artifacts
A project that used the art of visual storytelling (animations) to digitise three distinctive museum objects, giving a backstory to each object before they became Nigerian heritage objects, combined with research on the origin of Sango, the Benin bird of disaster, as well as Gelede and Ekoi masks.
Ayodele Olofintuade and Kehinde Afoweso: Documentary, The Museum as a performance piece
The documentary humanises the 'artworks' displayed in the National Museum, Ibadan, not as objects but as ‘beings, tangible, beings, intangible’ - part of a whole. It followed communities, rites and rituals culminating in the creation/sustenance of each òrìṣà. Mofeyiseke Bolaji and Neec Nonso: Exhibition and Augmented Reality: The city beneath A multimodal installation featuring a night market installation, an augmented reality installation, a performance, photo prints, and paintings on the walls.
The Museum of Unity, Ibadan: Play: Voices of the Sacred
A live research-based performance exploring Ṣọ̀pọ̀na, Òrìṣà Oko, and Òrọ̀ through movement, sound, ritual memory, and audience interaction, reactivating marginalised Yoruba sacred heritage within the contemporary museum space for public engagement.
Who Can Join
The target audience includes children from elementary and secondary schools, students from higher institutions, creatives, and young and older adults from the general public.
No registration is required for the event.