PRESS RELEASE
FIVE days after it kicked off, the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, will on Saturday, November 15, confer honour on a large number of “icons” of the Culture sector who, “clocked landmark ages” in the course of the year.
Holding on the platform of the 2025 edition of CORA’s flagship project, the Lagos Book & Art Festival, LABAF, holding from 7 pm at Freedom Park, Lagos Island, as well as virtually, the event, which has been tagged a “Literary Owambe”, will honour the “icons” who clocked 90s, 80s, 70s and 60s at various times in the year.
On the honours list for the celebration, which the LABAF has staged since 1999 when it made its debut, are among others: Frank Aig-Imoukhuede, first federal Director of Culture; Prof Demas Nwoko, the eclectic art designer and architect; the lawyer-playwright, Chief Fred Agbeyegbe and the publisher-writer, Modupe Oduyoye — all of whom clocked 90 this year.
The 80s club has four celebrants — Oba Gbenga Sonuga, theatre director, administrator; Prof Dele Jegede, artist, art historian; Dr Ola Balogun, director, filmmaker; and Prof Olanrele Bamidele, theatre artist, academic – all of whom clocked 80 in the year.
In the 70s category are the writer, medical doctor, Dr Wale Okediran, and the linguist, language technologist, Dr Tunde Adegbola.
The 60s club is the largest with 13 honourees, including Dr Sola Balogun, theatre artiste, academic; Ben Chiadika, actor, film director; Oyin Onime, photographer, culture entrepreneur; Tade Adekunle, theatre artiste, marketing professional; Francis Onwochei, actor, filmmaker; Babatunde Obalana, Theatre artiste, administrator; Olatoun Gabi-Williams, journalist, literary activist; Atunyota Akpobome (Alibaba), comedian, culture entrepreneur; Kingsley Ogoro, filmmaker; Segun Arinze, actor, Voice-Over Artist; Muyiwa Kayode, marketing and branding professional; and Reuben Abati, journalist, public intellectual.
Honouring the Culture House Icons
The celebration is steeped in the CORA’s founding objective: to Educate, Enlighten, and Empower the citizenry, by spotlighting those who have helped build the nation’s cultural foundation. The tributes center on distinguished personalities whose careers span media, performing arts, architecture, literature, and public service.
This segment underscores LABAF’s commitment to preserving and promoting the history of Nigerian arts by recognising its architects.
The Icons are expected to be honoured in the presence of the family members, friends and associates, as well as the general public, including the media.
… Marking 20 years of Green Advocacy through the Green Festival
RUNNING parallel with the tribute to the icons, Day 5, branded the ‘Green Day,’ marks the 20th anniversary of the Green Festival, the children and adolescent segment consistently staged by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) partner, Children and the Environment (CATE) in the past two decades. The Green Festival, curated and directed by Adesola Arti Alamutu, has played host to over 5000 pupils and students, some of whom ae today in leadership positions all over the world.
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Profiles of CULTURE ICONS
The 90s
Frank Aig-Imoukhuede (b. January 8, 1935) is a journalist, poet, author, and administrator, and is Nigeria’s first Federal Director of Culture. His nearly six-decade career includes supervising FESTAC entries and organising the yearly National Festival of Arts. A recipient of the Order of the Niger (OON), his notable works include “Pidgin Stew and Sufferhead.”
Demas Nwoko (b. May 30, 1935), internationally recognised artist, architect, and designer, he was part of the influential Zaria Art Society, promoting “natural synthesis.” His major works include the Dominican Institute and the New Culture Studios in Ibadan. He received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 18th Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2023. He is also an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Fred Agbeyegbe (b. October 24, 1935) is a renowned lawyer, playwright, publisher, and revered patron of the arts from Warri, Delta State. Fondly called ‘Uncle Fred,’ he has authored over 13 plays, including “The King Must Dance Naked,” which explores themes of power and societal superstition. He is known for his mentorship and philanthropy, supporting young artists and creative projects.
Modupe Oduyoye (b. March 18, 1935) is a distinguished linguist, exegete, and philologist from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. His pioneering work bridges African thought and biblical scholarship by applying critical methods while reading the Hebrew Bible through the lens of African creation myths and the Hamitic language group. His notable works include “Yoruba Names: Their Structure and Meanings.“
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The 80s
Oba Gbenga Sonuga (b. February 19, 1945), theatre director, actor, culture administrator, and the reigning Fadesewa of Simawa in Makun Sagamu, Ogun State, served as Director of the Lagos Council for Arts and Culture (1984-1992), where he produced a touring performance of Ori to the United States. He founded the International Centre for the Arts, Lagos (ICAL) after retiring.
Prof. dele jegede (b. April 19, 1945) is a painter, cartoonist, curator, and art historian, known for his role as Art Editor and cartoonist at the Daily Times of Nigeria (1974-1977), where he created the “Kole The Menace” cartoon series. He retired as Professor Emeritus from Miami University in 2015 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cartoonists Association of Nigeria (CARTAN).
Ola Balogun, PhD (b. August 1, 1946) is a journalist, writer, filmmaker, and culture activist, recognised as a pioneer of Nigerian cinema who influenced the growth of Nollywood. His films focus on African cultural richness and human experience. His notable works include Ajani Ogun (1975), a Yoruba-language musical film, and Amadi (1975), the first Igbo-language feature film.
Olanrele Bamidele (Prof) (b. October 27, 1945) is a revered academic and theatre practitioner who rose to become a professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan, retiring in 2011. He is a pioneer of Theatre for Development (TfD) in Nigeria, using indigenous participatory drama as a consultant to agencies such as UNICEF to promote children’s rights and social development. He also wrote thought-provoking columns for newspapers like The Guardian and The Punch.
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The 70s
Wale Okediran (b. April 14, 1955) is a medical doctor, writer, politician, and literary administrator. He has published 14 novels and won the 2010 Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature for Tenants of the House. He is the current Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) and founded the Ebedi International Writers Residency in 2010.
Tunde Adegbola, PhD, (b. August 1, 1955) is a polymath with diverse expertise in language technology, broadcast engineering, and music. He founded the African Languages Technology Initiative (Alt-i), focusing on developing technologies for African languages. He collaborated with Microsoft to localise Windows and Office into Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba and developed speech technologies for tone African languages.
The 60s
Olusola Kayode Balogun, PhD (b. April 19, 1965) is a writer, journalist, and academic with degrees in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan. He was the pioneer Arts Editor of the Daily Sun before joining academia in 2014. He currently lectures at the Federal University Oye Ekiti and his literary contributions include the play The Withered Seed.
Ben Chiadika (b. April 23, 1965) is an actor, scriptwriter, film director, and inspirational speaker. He is well-known for directing notable projects, including Midnight in Shangisha (2025), Chetam (2024), and Tinsel (2008), the longest-running soap opera in Africa. He launched three books on his 60th birthday, highlighting his experiences and lessons learned.
Oyin Onime (b. May 16, 1965) is a journalist turned serial entrepreneur and is regarded as a trailblazing female photojournalist. She started out at Prime People magazine in 1986, and later moved to Climax magazine, where she became the first female photo editor. She took a five-year break to raise her kids, but later resumed at Fame Weekly Magazine, and later joined TheNews magazine. A pioneer staff of Sun newspaper, she finally birthed at the Root FM 97.1 Abeokuta, Ogun State, reputed as the first Reggae music radio station in Nigeria.
Tade Adekunle (b. June 1, 1965), a trained theatre artist and former president of NANTAP, diversified into experiential marketing and is Project Consultant at Keskese Limited. He is the President of the Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) and is a fellow of Theatre Arts (fta). His team created the MTN Music Plus “Noiseless Party” concept, which won an international award.
Francis Onwochei (b. June 4, 1965) is an actor, producer, and director whose career began in 1984 at the National Arts Theatre. He obtained Post-Graduate certifications in Film Aesthetics from the London International Film School and an International Copyright Administration certificate from Harvard Law School. His notable films include Gliteratti (2017) and Drop Zone (2018).
Babatunde John Obalana (b. June 21, 1965) is a theatre artist, arts administrator, and management consultant. He is the brain behind the founding of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), serving as its first Secretary-General and later as the 6th President (2013-2016). He is currently the Managing Consultant/CEO of Red Alert Consult Limited.
Olatoun Gabi-Williams (b. June 22, 1965) is a literary journalist and publicist who promotes African literature through her platform, Borders Literature Online. She is a social advocate who established ‘Sponsor A Child Nigeria’ in 2003. She represents Nigeria at international events and is an arts columnist with The Guardian newspaper.
Steve James, PhD is a dancer, choreographer, and academic with a PhD in Theatre and Cultural Studies. He is the founder and former National President of the Dance Guild of Nigeria (GOND). A pioneer member of the National Troupe of Nigeria (1989–1993), he was inducted as a Fellow of Theatre Arts (FTA) by NANTAP.
Atunyota Akpobome (Alibaba) (b. June 24, 1965) is a renowned comedian, actor, and master of ceremonies. He is pivotal in professionalising the comedy industry in Nigeria and mentoring numerous comedians. He founded the annual January 1 Concert and was the first Nigerian comedian to ring the Year-End Closing Bell at the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2012.
Segun Aina Arinze (b. September 24, 1965) is an actor, singer, and voice-over artist with about four decades of practice. He has appeared in over 250 Nollywood films and is easily remembered for his iconic role as “Black Arrow” in the 1996 film Silent Night. He has served as President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
Kingsley Ogoro (b. August 29, 1965) is a film director, screenwriter, music producer, and former dancer. He is best known for directing the 2003 film Osuofia in London, starring Nkem Owoh. He is the MD/CEO of Klink Studios Ltd, a full-service Film Production, Film Equipment Rental and Broadcast Consulting firm.
Muyiwa Kayode (b. October 22, 1965) is a journalist, writer, and jazz guitarist who co-founded USP in 1998, pioneering brand management consulting in Nigeria. He is renowned for creating the Lagos International Festival of Animation, LIFANIMA, the first of its kind in West Africa. He is the author of The 7 Dimensions of Branding: Brand Building from the African Perspective.
Reuben Abati, PhD (b. November 7, 1965) is a journalist, columnist, TV presenter, literary theorist, and public intellectual. He holds a first-class degree and a PhD in Theatre Arts, as well as a Law degree. He served for about six years as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Goodluck Jonathan and co-hosts The Morning Show on AriseTV.
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ABOUT LABAF: Founded in 1999, LABAF is a 7-day grand literary and cultural “feast of Ideas and Life” with generous book content. The main objective is to deepen the spread of literacy as a vehicle of EDUCATION, ENLIGHTENMENT and EMPOWERMENT. NB: More at www.lagosbookandartsfestival.com.
ABOUT CORA: The Committee for Relevant Art is a group of artists, art enthusiasts, art promoters and art writers committed to the development of the Arts of Nigeria and their enabling environment. Its mission is: To Create an Enabling Environment for the Flourishing of the Contemporary Arts of Nigeria and the Continent. More at: www.coraartfoundation.com
* Issued by LABAF 2025 Media Team.