An upcoming art exhibition, under the auspices of the West Africa Economic Summit, promises to be a vibrant celebration of the region’s rich cultural heritage and creative potential, showcasing the dynamic role of culture in driving sustainable development and innovation.  reports 

Featuring a rich cultural programme, WAES (West Africa Economic Summit) promises to deliver an unforgettable experience. Hence, beyond the buzz of delegates attending the summit at Abuja’s International Conference Centre (now bearing the President’s name), lies a rich cultural spectacle awaiting unveiling. From June 20 to 21, WAES will feature an art exhibition that is an integral part of the summit’s DNA, promising a fusion of art, economics, and West African flair that will elevate attendees to a new level of experience.

As attendees step into the venue, the palpable creative energy of the sub-region should come alive, attesting to a story that has been unfolding over the past five decades. But this story of the past five decades will not be unfurled in dry timelines, but rather in  a vibrant, living odyssey of colour and form. Works evoking the era of the Pan-African Art Movement’s bold strokes as well as the electric vibrancy of Dakar ’66 and FESTAC ’77 transport viewers to an era of artistic revolution. These reminders of a foundational era where artists, egged on by post-colonial winds of change, first began to assert a complex, indigenous identity should immerse viewers in this rich narrative, offering a nuanced understanding of the region’s creative landscape.

Rallying around the theme Unleashing West Africa’s Creative Economy, the exhibition will, at its very heart, pulsate with a different kind of currency: the vibrant, undeniable force of creativity. Twenty-five West African artists with their diverse mediums attesting to a region refusing to be boxed in, embody the dynamic spirit championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who places the young and creative at the forefront of Africa’s agenda. Their work highlights the creative economy’s immense potential, poised to become a global powerhouse generating revenue, creating jobs, and exporting a unique cultural vision. As visitors explore the exhibition, which evokes five decades of artistic and cultural expression, they should gain a deeper understanding of the sub-region’s rich heritage and visual identity. From traditional roots to contemporary innovations, the evolution of West African art is a story that is worth telling and retelling.

The exhibition for this reason should feel like a walk through layers of a shared soul. It should seethe with resilience etched into every piece, celebrate the rich, heterogenous mosaic of cultures across ECOWAS, and embody hopes of new economic frontiers. Indeed, it isn’t just about aesthetics; it is also a strategic conversation starter. As investors and policymakers move between summit sessions, they will likely find themselves drawn into dialogues sparked by powerful artworks or haunting ambiance. This show, curated by Nduwhite Ndubuisi Ahanonu, scours into the deep, multi-layered heritage that represents the visual language of Africans, both before and after colonisation. Hence, its aim remains to build bridges, fostering bilateral relationships grounded in shared cultural understanding, strengthening Nigeria’s position as a cultural superpower and its leadership of ECOWAS.

So, why does this exhibition matter? Besides being a tour de force of cultural diplomacy, it masterfully weaves together West Africa’s rich heritage and regional solidarity to cement Nigeria’s status as a cultural superpower. But its impact goes far beyond the cultural realm – it is a clarion call to unlock the creative economy’s potential as a major driver of employment and revenue, with global export possibilities waiting to be tapped.

With an all-star cast of 11 artists, including the legendary Bruce Onobrakpeya and a new generation of luminaries like Victor Ehikhamenor, Gerald Chukwuma, Jacqueline Suowari, and Krydz Ikwuemesi, among others, Nigeria takes centre stage. Through their works, and those of their fellow West African artists, the sub-region’s narrative is being rewritten – a powerful blend of creativity, heritage, and collaboration that transcends borders and forges new paths. The region’s artistic prowess shines through, as it tells its own story, on its own terms.

This exhibition, in other words, underscores the dynamic role of culture in driving sustainable development and innovation, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and UNESCO’s cultural policies. Here, it is the sub-region’s creative potential that is taking the centre stage, and the artists are poised to seize its moment. With President Tinubu’s words – “This is not a time for hesitation. It is a time for reckoning” – as a rallying cry, the artists are being called upon to highlight that the region’s potential. “We have spent too long admiring our potential  and too little time activating it,” the president adds.

Thus, the West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja is the apt catalyst for resetting the economic future, with its visionary West African artists being part of the conversation, blending tradition with innovation in works that pulse with energy, whisper ancient patterns, and map futuristic dreams.

Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, offers pragmatic insight: “We don’t need a new wheel, just get the existing one turning.” It is, therefore, time for West Africa to unite and propel its economic future forward, moving in tandem across 15 member states. The momentum is building; the region’s future hangs in the balance. Will it ride the wave of change or get left behind?