Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has officially opened the Institute of Contemporary African Arts and Films (ICAAF) in Ilorin, saying the facility is designed to promote cultural education, nurture creative talent and create opportunities for people in the arts and entertainment industry.
The governor spoke on Monday while inaugurating an exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Titled Exhibition of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti: A Retrospective, the event was organised by the June Creative Art Advisory (JCAA) in partnership with the Kwara State Government.
The exhibition, which will run until December 31, takes visitors through Fela’s life, family background, musical journey, political activism and lasting influence on African music and culture.
Speaking at the event, AbdulRazaq said the institute, also known as the Visual Arts Centre, was established to preserve African stories, encourage creative enterprise, attract visitors and strengthen Kwara’s position in Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries.
He said the success of the facility would depend not only on its physical structure but also on the talents it develops, the ideas it inspires and the opportunities it creates.
“Physical infrastructure connects places; cultural infrastructure connects people to their history, expands their imagination and challenges their thinking,” the governor said.
AbdulRazaq described the decision to open the institute with an exhibition on Fela as particularly meaningful, noting that the musician used his art to challenge conventions and raise questions about power, freedom, identity and justice.
He encouraged artists, students, researchers and young people to take advantage of the facility, describing it as a place for learning, research, inspiration and creative development.
According to him, the creative industry offers young people opportunities not only for self-expression but also for economic advancement.
The event also featured remarks from Fela’s daughter, Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti, who commended the Kwara State Government for recognising her late father despite his not being from the state.
“Kwara State, thank you very much. Fela was not from Kwara State, but you have recognised him in a way that I think is commendable,” she said.
The founder and convener of JCAA, Seun Alli, explained that the exhibition was designed to help visitors understand the different stages of Fela’s life, from his upbringing and musical development to his activism and efforts to use music to communicate his views.
Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Bola Olukoju, also urged young people interested in photography, printing, filmmaking, fashion and design to explore the institute and use it to develop and showcase their abilities.
She said the exhibition provided an opportunity to revisit Fela’s life and appreciate how his music, ideas and artistic expression have continued to influence generations.
Speaking on behalf of the film and entertainment industry, veteran actor Alhaji Yinka Qodir praised the state for recognising established entertainers and supporting emerging talents. He also highlighted Kwara’s contribution to the Nigerian acting industry, mentioning veteran actor Bello Salami among those who had made their mark.
The event was attended by the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and APC governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi; members of the state cabinet; and actors Ibrahim Chatta and Yahaya Habeeb Olatunji, popularly known as Baba Kamo, among other guests.
The exhibition is expected to remain open at the institute until December 31, giving visitors an opportunity to explore Fela’s legacy while experiencing the new facility.
Through the project, the Kwara State Government says it hopes to expand opportunities for creative learning and help more artists develop their work within the state.
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