Kwara inaugurates contemporary arts institute, honours Fela with exhibition
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on Monday inaugurated the Institute of Contemporary African Arts and Films (ICAAF) in Ilorin, with an exhibition celebrating the works and enduring influence of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
The event, attended by professionals in the creative sector, marked the opening of what the governor described as a legacy project designed to advance cultural education and encourage creative enterprise.
Abdulrazaq said the institute, also known as the Visual Arts Centre, was established to promote cultural education, support creative businesses, attract visitors and strengthen Kwara’s position in Nigeria’s cultural and creative landscape.
He described the decision to open the institution with an exhibition on Fela as particularly significant, noting that the late musician used his music and artistic expression to challenge conventions and address issues of power, freedom, identity and justice.
“The Kwara State Government is truly pleased to host the exhibition, which will last till December 31, in partnership with the June Creative Art Advisory (JCAA),” the governor said.
He commended Fela’s family members and JCAA for the initiative, saying it would celebrate the musician’s enduring influence and help preserve his artistic legacy.
Abdulrazaq also thanked stakeholders in the creative and entertainment industries for attending the inauguration, urging researchers to use the institute as an opportunity to deepen cultural inquiry.
He encouraged young people to see creativity as both a means of self-expression and an avenue for economic opportunity.
