About this Event
On January 24, 2026, the Nsibidi Institute and Africa Centre invite you to a landmark cultural gathering that commemorates 100 years of Nigerian popular music and its deep visual, social, and historical footprint.
NAIJA SOUNDS AND VISION SCAPES
A Centennial Celebration of Nigerian Popular Music (1925–2025)
From the seminal recordings of Yoruba Folk songs by Chief Ladipo Solanke, under the Zonophone label in 1925, (three years after pioneer choral recordings of Rev J.J Ransome-Kuti) the modern Nigerian popular music industry emerged.
Through music, imagery, film, and archival reflections, we explore how Nigerian sound has shaped identity, influenced movements, and contributed to global culture over the last century.
Expect a full-day immersive experience featuring:
Museum Installation — tracing the evolution of rhythm, instruments, performance, visual and sonic memory.
Photo Exhibition — historic and contemporary visual narratives of Nigerian music culture.
Panel Discussion — scholars, artists, and cultural workers unpacking 100 years of sound, influence, and innovation.
Film Screenings — four remarkable documentary films illuminating our musical and cultural journey:
Film Lineup:
‘Ije Enu (The Celestine Ukwu Story)’ by Chikezie Ifedobi
* Fatai Rolling Dollar: Legend Unplugged by (chronicling the life of one of Nigeria’s revolutionary composers and instrumentalists) by Femi Odugbemi
‘Bamidele: The Dele Sosimi Story’ by Muni King-Keazor and Ed Keazor
‘My Father’s Book’ (a celebration of the Nigerian disco and boogie era of the 1970s and 1980s) by Kagho Crowther Idhebor
Date: 24th January 2026
2 – 10pm
Join us as we celebrate a century of rhythm, memory, and vision — and honor the artists, communities, and cultural forces that made Nigerian music a global heartbeat.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Africa Centre, 66 Great Suffolk Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 25.16
