Aisha Aliyu-Bima’s mission is to present a tour of Northern Nigeria in Arewa?, an exhibition exploring the contemporary art and practice of artists from Nigeria’s northern region. This exhibition challenges the underrepresentation of Northern Nigerian artists in the Nigerian art scene and beyond.
“This underrepresentation and lack of visibility has left a void in the study, research, and engagement of works from this region, alongside the evolution of artistic practices, the declines and resurgences, and the contributions of the artists in this region to a holistic experience of the Nigerian artistic landscape,” curator and researcher Aliyu-Bima says.
Arewa, meaning “The North” in Hausa, describes the geopolitical region known as Northern Nigeria and its people. Aisha Aliyu-Bima says that even as Arewa now holds different meanings, the region’s rich diversity of cultures, ideas, representations, and voices remains true. Arewa is a diverse and multi-layered region of over 150 ethnic nationalities in dialogue with one another.
On view at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum in Lagos, and divided into different sections, the exhibition presents works across different generations of artists working across varied artistic mediums, techniques, and styles. Aisha Aliyu-Bima shines a light on the history of contemporary Northern Nigerian art with Arewa?, an installation that highlights a variety of motifs, cultures, and identities while interrogating the stereotypical narratives and popular preconceptions of Northern Nigeria as a monolith.
“Northern Nigerian’ motifs and artifacts have been greatly represented in Nigerian Arts, with many artists drawing inspiration from events and images such as the Durbars, Fulani Milk Maidens, Hausa embroideries, Gbagyi images, and symbols, Tiv culture, Nupe bronze works, and other numerous and diverse tapestries of minority cultures in their richest presentations,” the curatorial statement reads.
The artists in this exhibition include Jimoh Akolo, Jerry Buhari, Tayo Quaye, Fati Abubakar, Williams Chechet, Aisha Augie, Blaise Gundu Gbaden, Imran Tilde, Dhlimi Munza, Tonie Okpe, Salma Ja’eh, Ben Ibebe, and Kaltume Gana, amongst others.
Iyanuoluwa Adenle is a Nigerian art writer, essayist, and poet based in Lagos. She is currently the head writer at Omenai. Adenle has contributed to a number of art publications, including Tender Photo, Art News Africa, Pavillon 54, and Omenai.
